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Pp. 1957—2382.

LONDON:

PRINTED BY E. NEWMAN, DEVONSHIRE STREET,
BISHOPSGATE.

THE

ZLOOLOGIST:

POPULAR MISCELLANY

NATURAL HISTORY.

CONDUCTED BY

EDWARD NEWMAN, F.LS., Z.S., &c.

VOLUME THE SIXTH.

“Vv

LON. DON:

JOHN VAN VOORST, PATERNOSTER ROW.

M.DCCC.XLVIII.

“‘ Go, from the creatures thy instructions take ;
Learn from the birds what food the thickets yield ;
Learn from the beasts, the Physic of the field:
The arts of building from the bee receive ;
Learn of the mole to plow, the worm to weave ;
Learn of the little Nautilus to sail,
Spread the thin oar, and catch the driving gale.”—Poprkr.

PREFACE.

THE time for addressing my subscribers has again returned, and
with it the necessity for reporting the progress of the ‘ Zoologist,’ and
for passing in review the additions to Natural History made during

the year which is now drawing to a close.

I have again to report favorably of the circulation; it has slightly
exceeded that of any previous year. It is my ardent wish to attain a
still more general circulation, in order to accomplish a plan long since
projected of increasing the quantity of matter without additional
charge. This most desirable object has indeed been partially at-
tained by the increase of smaller type, so that the present volume
contains more matter than any preceding one, although I believe the
number of pages remains as heretofore. If by the exertions of sub-
scribers an additional 250 purchasers could be gained, I could add a
third sheet without any extra charge; and if 500 subscribers could be
added, I should constantly publish four sheets instead of two for a
shilling. The idea of obtaining such an addition to the number of
purchasers is anything rather than chimerical, but its accomplishment
rests entirely with those who already subscribe. There are, throughout
the length and breadth of this truly happy and peaceable country, thou-
sands who have never heard of a magazine of Natural History, yet who
are thirsting for that very kind of knowledge which such a magazine
diffuses, and who therefore would feel infinitely indebted to the friend
or acquaintance who should first invite their attention to the ‘ Zoolo-

gist.’ Iam aware there is nothing new in issuing this solicitation to

vl PREFACE.

my subscribers, neither do I put the case in a different light or more
forcible manner than heretofore ; yet I trust they will pardon me the
repetition, in the knowledge that it is to the interest of all parties, to
the interest of the science, and to the interest of the public at large,
‘that the proposed object should be attained.

I now proceed with the agreeable occupation of noticing the con-
tents of the present volume ; and these I shall attempt to marshal in
the usual order, passing over Quadrupeds as a class in which nothing
particularly new or striking has been recorded.

In Birds, we have had three additions to the British list during
the year: the most remarkable of these is a bustard shot in Lincoln-
shire: this bird was first announced as the Little Bustard (Zool.
1969), by Mr. Roberts, who preserved it, but the same gentleman
corrected the error in a subsequent number (Zool. 2065), and it was
then pronounced to be the Houbara (Otis Houbara), a well-known
African species: subsequently, however, Mr. Gould has minutely
examined the specimen, and thinks it agrees more closely with the
Otis M’Queenii of Persia; but it seems highly probable that these
are but local varieties of the same bird, the difference between them
being extremely slight; in fact Mr. G. R. Gray has given the names
as synonymous in his ‘ Genera of Birds,’ p. 83. This bird will pro-
bably take its station in our lists as the Houbara (Otis Houbara), or, |
among those who adopt sub-genera, as the Houbara undulata of G. R.
Gray. There seems no reason to suspect that this bird had escaped
from an aviary, as was at first suggested ; its visit to this island seems
to have been perfectly spontaneous; yet I do not value so highly as
some of our ornithologists the occurrence within our boundaries of a
bird which has no kind of claim to be considered a native.

The second addition to our birds is the Melodious Willow-Wren
(Sylvia hippolais of Temminck), killed near Dover, and reported to
the ‘ Zoologist’ by Dr. Plomley (Zool. 2228). This exquisite song-
ster is well known as a migrant native in Europe, and its occurrence
on the southern coast of England was always considered probable. I

PREFACE. Vii

trust, that now attention is invited to the subject, other ornithologists

will ascertain and report to the ‘ Zoologist’ the occurrence of this

bird as one of our regular migrants; and at the same time I would
beg to solicit a more minute description of the specimen, in order that
ornithologists generally may satisfy themselves of the identity of the
species.

The third addition to our birds is the American White-winged —
Crossbill (Lozvia leucoptera), a single specimen of which has occurred
in Dorsetshire (Zool. 2300), the bird previously known by this name
being the Two-barred Crossbill of Europe (Loxia bifasciata of Nils-
son). The North-American species can only be considered an acci-
dental visitor.

I have generally refrained as much as possible from expressing
approbation of particular contributions,—and where they are so nu-
merous, so interesting, and so highly important in a scientific point of
view, as in the present volume, the enumeration of valuable papers
would in itself be a task of no small labour; I cannot, however, allow
this opportunity to pass without expressing my warmest admiration
of Mr. Bury’s paper on British Birds occurring in the South of Spain
(Zool. 1958), and Mr. Milner’s observations on the Birds of Suther-
landshire and Ross-shire (Zool. 2014) and of St. Kilda and the Outer
Hebrides (Zool. 2054). I have received several contributions touch-
ing the early arrival of the fieldfare ; two of these have been published :
I beg to state that the general arrival of fieldfares took place, as usual,
on the 30th and 31st of October, and that I fear some mistake has
occurred: I consider it probable that the missel thrush, which by the
middle of September had collected in small flocks of from ten to
thirty, was mistaken for the fieldfare : in this view of the subject I am
supported by Mr. Henry Doubleday, and I know of no ornithologist
whose opinion is entitled to equal weight.

The communications made to the Admiralty by Captain M’Quhe
has turned public attention to the possibility of the existence of a Sea-
Serpent (Zool. 2307). My own views on this subject have long been
known: two years have elapsed since I expressed an opinion (Zool.

Vill PREFACE.

1604), that although the evidence then before the public was perhaps
insufficient to convince those who had hypotheses of their own to
support, yet that it was far too strong for the fact-naturalist, the in-
quirer after truth, to dismiss without investigation. To advance such
an opinion as this,—to admit the possibility of the existence of a sea-
serpent in so enlightened an age as the nineteenth century,—of course
led to my being loaded with ridicule; loaded, but not overwhelmed,
for I immediately afterwards ventured on expressing a still bolder
opinion,—no less than that of suggesting its affinity to a tribe of animals
supposed to be extinct. I stated on the wrapper of No. 54 that the Ena-
liosauri of authors would, if living, present the appearances described.
Almost immediately after this I published the statement of Captain
Sullivan and five other British officers, who deliberately assert (Zool.
1715) that they saw—while on a fishing excursion on the coast of
British America—a sea-serpent, which they supposed to be eighty or
a hundred feet in length; its head, six feet in length, and its neck,
also six feet in length, were the only parts constantly above water,
and resembled those of a common snake: the creature passed them
with great rapidity, “leaving a regular wake.” Nothing is said of any
undulating movement, or of any appearance of portions or coils of
the body. The statement of Captain M’Quhe (Zool. 2307), and
that obligingly furnished expressly for the ‘ Zoologist’ by Lieu-
tenant Drummond (Zool. 2306), essentially corroborate the evidence

of Captain Sullivan and his companions: the length and position of —

the head and neck, and their being kept constantly above water,
closely correspond; the estimated total length corresponds; the non-
observance of any undulation corresponds,—indeed Captain M’Quhe
expressly states that no portion of the animal appeared to be used in
“‘ propelling it through the water, either by vertical or horizontal
undulation.” Thus we have two separate statements closely cor-
responding with each other, and each statement is vouched for by se-
veral British officers whose veracity has never been called in question :
under these circumstances we may afford to dismiss from this inquiry
all those assertions of American captains which have been treated in
this country with such contempt. Resting the evidence solely on the

PREFACE. 1X

authority of British officers, 1 then wish to state my unhesitating
- conviction that a marine animal of enormous size does exist, and that
it differs essentially from any living animal described in our systematic
works ; and here I cannot refrain from expressing my regret that the
statement of Captain Sullivan should have been so entirely neglected
as it has been: it appears to me in all respects equally trustworthy
with the official statement of Captain M’Quhe.

The next question which occurs is this—to what class of verte-
brate animals must we refer this monster of the deep? Is it a mammal,
bird, reptile, or fish? All these classes include animals whose home
is the ocean. To commence with placental mammals ;—we have ot-
ters, seals, walruses and sea-cows, all of which breathe atmospheric
air, and, therefore, when swimming on the surface usually keep their -
nostrils—often their heads—above the water: they also propel them-
selves by means of submerged feet or paddles, and, when inclined,
can move along the surface with rapid, direct and continuous motion.
Professor Owen (Zool. 2312), in accordance with these views, declares
the animal to be a seal, Phoca proboscidia or P. leonina, but his rea-
soning on the point appears to me very inconclusive: he assigns to
the animal a “ capacious vaulted cranium,” whereas Lieutenant Drum-
mond (Zool. 2307) declares the head was “long, pointed, and flat-
tened at the top,” adding that it was “ perhaps ten feet in length, the
upper jaw projecting considerably.” Captain M’Quhe, also, subse-
quently to Professor Owen’s paper, repeats (Zool. 2323) that “the
head was flat, and not a capacious vaulted cranium.” The captain,
who must be annoyed at the insinuation that in an official report he
had magnified a seal into a sea-serpent, emphatically declares that
“its great length and its totally differing physiognomy preclude the
possibility of its being a Phoca of any species.” This idea must
therefore be abandoned; the other marine mammals still remaining
open for future consideration.

Among Birds we have no approach to the animal described.

The Enaliogauri next claim our attention, and, for the present pur-
pose, I could wish to separate them from the Reptiles, because I feel
doubtful of their reptilian nature. For this doubt I could urge many

vI b

x PREFACE.

reasons in connexion with the views I have long since published in
the ‘System of Nature,’ but, waiving all considerations which may
be considered speculative, I would invite the attention of naturalists
to the figure of Ichthyosaurus as restored by geologists, to the shape
of the beak, the situation of the blow-holes, the character of the pad-
dles, the mammalian structure exhibited by a section of the vertebra,
the extraordinary conformation of the sternum, and the smoothness
of the skin; and when they have well considered these important
points, I would inquire whether these distinguishing features are not
rather mammalian than reptilian? and, again, whether they are not
rather marsupial than placental? I have already pointed out the
manupedine, ferine, glirine and brutine groups of warsupials; why
should we not also have a cetine group? Without making any other
use of this suggestion than that of temporarily separating the Enalio-
saurians from the reptiles, I now request the reader’s attention to the
arguments of Mr. Morries Stirling (Zool. 2309) and of F. G. 8. (Zool.
2311), both of whom support the opinion which I had previously
broached as to the Enaliosaurian character of the sea-serpent,—a view
controverted by Dr. Melville (Zool. 2310) and Professor Owen (Zool.
2316), on the ground that the Enaliosaurians are extinct; but here I
may perhaps be permitted to remark, that this fact, being only as-
sumed, does not touch the main question.

Proceeding to Reptiles proper, and referring to the suggestion of
an anonymous contributor to the ‘Times,’ quoted by Dr. Cogswell
(Zool. 2321, note), we find it questioned whether the animal may not
have been a boa; and I may observe that the evidence concerning
the head, which has been repeatedly described as precisely resem-
bling that of a snake or serpent, together with the fact of the animal
holding its head clear of the water, are so many points in favour of
its belonging to the Ophidia; but, on the other hand, we must place
the non-observance of that undulating mode of progression which
every snake must employ,—and it amounts to more than non-observ-
ance, for Captain M’Quhe, who directed his attention to this point
especially, declares that such undulation did not exist. Again, the
enormous length—three times that of a boa—wmilitates against this

PREFACE. x1

hypothesis. Professor Owen lays great stress on the non-existence
of ophidian vertebre ; but as only two ophidians have yet entered the
arena as competitors for the title of sea-serpent,—Saccopharynx fla-
gellum, which I have heard is a bona fide black snake, and Boa con-
strictor, which is received on all hands as a veritable serpent,—I
think the absence of ophidian vertebre-is of no great moment. The
Sauria offer similar coincidences with the Ophidia, and present a simi-
lar discrepancy : their heads and necks might readily be described by
general observers as those of snakes or serpents, but the undulating
motion with which they swim is almost precisely similar to that of
snakes, and holds equally good as an objection to our marine monster
entering their ranks. The Crocodilia and Chelonia have next to be
considered, and these truly possess the submerged limbs requisite for
propulsion in a direct course along the surface of the water; more-
over, natatorial undulation of the vertebral column in crocodiles is
highly improbable, in turtles absolutely impossible: hence, as far as
aquatic progression is concerned, these reptiles agree more aptly than
any other known living animals with the recently-published descrip-
tions of so-called sea-serpents. Yet the comparatively compact form
of both crocodiles and turtles, and especially the orbicular figure of
the latter, quite preclude the idea of their being described—even by
the veriest tyro in observation—as snakes of a hundred feet in
length ; again, in both crocodiles and tortoises floating on the surface
of water, the back, and not the head and neck, must be the part
most prominently and permanently visible. It is therefore mani-
fest that no existing group of reptiles answers the conditions
required by the recently-recorded descriptions of the sea-serpent.
Finally, among Fishes, the mind turns very willingly to the sharks
as offering a solution of the problem; and the record respecting the
sea-serpent of Stronsa (Zool. 2320) has given great weight to this
view, adopted as it has been by such eminent naturalists as Doctors
Mantell and Melville (Zool. 2310). With regard to the Stronsa ani-
mal, I entertain very grave doubts of the decision in question: it cer-
tainly does not seem to have possessed the vertebre of an ophidian,
but then no naturalist desires to make it one: the boa hypothesis is

Xi PREFACE,

applied only to the sea-serpent of the Dedalus. Leaving, however,
this Orcadian monster to its own merits, I may observe, jist, that all
analogy contravenes the idea of a shark having a neck, and secondly,
I would beg of those gentlemen who advocate this hypothesis, to take
their pencils and depict a shark with his head and shoulders clear out
of the water, and his body hanging almost perpendicularly below: I
think the most brilliant fancy could scarcely imagine a shark main-
taining such a position for twenty minutes at a time, and, what is
stranger still, while in this position, ploughing the ocean at the rate
of twenty miles an hour.

After maturely considering these various views, it will be found
that the Enaliosaurian hypothesis presents the fewest difficulties,—in
fine, one only, the supposition that these wonderful creatures have
become extinct. It will be the object of a separate essay, now pre-
paring for the press, to adduce evidence from other sources of the ex-
istence—in sea-serpents seen off the Norwegian coast— of two large
flappers or paddles, closely corresponding in situation with the ante-
rior paddles of Ichthyosaurus, and also of enormous eyes, exactly
as indicated by the fossil remains of that animal; but this, not being
deducible from recent observations, may be reserved for a more com-
plete and careful review of the entire history of these enormous crea-
tures which im all probability will eventually be found to constitute
several genera and species.

In throwing open the pages of the ‘ Zoologist’ to communications
on a subject so uniformly tabooed by the scientific,—in claiming for
that subject a calm and dispassionate investigation,—in expressing
my unhesitating belief that the various narratives, although often con-
flicting, are nevertheless, according to the belief of the narrators, per-
fectly true, — and in attempting to assign the sea-serpent a place in
the System of Nature,—lI feel convinced that all true naturalists will
approve the course I have taken, and will be willing to abide the re-
sult. Discussion must ever have the tendency to dissipate error and
establish truth ; and he who believes himself right need never shun the
ordeal. In this spirit I invite discussion, and shall feel obliged for
any communications tending to elicit or establish truth.

PREFACE. Xill

A most interesting addition has been made to our batrachian Rep-
_ tiles in the Triton palmipes of Daudin. The first notice of this sala-
mander as an inhabitant of Britain occurs in the July number (Zool.
2149), and is from the pen of Mr. J. Wolley; the information is con-
firmed and the range of habitat extended by Mr. Baker (Zool. 2198) ;
its specific identity is settled by M. Deby (Zool. 2231); and, finally,
its northward range to the extreme point of Scotland is shown by
Mr. J. Wolley (Zool. 2265). The addition of a well-ascertained spe-
cies to so small a group as our batrachian reptiles is a matter of great
importance.

Mr. R. Q. Couch concludes his most valuable ‘ Notes on the
Fishes of the District of the Land’s End,’ in the January number
(Zool. 1972); and Mr. J. Couch contributes an interesting paper in
the same number (Zool. 1980), on the ‘ Egg-purse and Embryo of a
Species of Myliobatis, found a few miles from Fowey, on the coast
of Cornwall.

In Crustacea we have had the most important discovery that the
present century has furnished. A number of extremely large and
beautiful specimens of the Cancer dormia of Linneus (the Dromia
vulgaris of Milne-Edwards) have been taken on the coast of Sussex
(Zool. 2325). For this most valuable addition to the Fauna of the
British Islands we are indebted to Messrs. George and Henry Ingall,
whose indefatigable exertions in the cause of Natural History have
been rewarded by great success, as their rich collections abundantly
attest.

It is, however, in Jnsects that our favourite science has made the
greatest advance; and first I must mention Lepidoptera: the past
summer has been unfavourable to the development of this beautiful
class, the temperature lower than usual, the wind frequently boister-
ous, and the rain in many parts of the Kingdom almost continuous:
the occurrence of rarities among the larger and more conspicuous

Lepidoptera has not been observed. One beautiful Geometra,

X1V PREFACE.

Harpalyce sagittaria, entirely new to Britain, is recorded by Mr.
Henry Doubleday (Zool. 2236) as having occurred at Peterborough,
and the same eminent naturalist records |the occurrence of Zeuzera
arundinis (Zool. 2236), the females of which have never previously
been taken in this country, and a single male is unique in his own
cabinet. In turning our attention to the Micro-Lepidoptera, we find
that here the labours of British Lepidopterists have been most ardent
and most successful. Mr. Bedell has described a beautiful species,
Microsetia quinquella (Zool. 1986), taken by himself in some abund-
ance on the oaks at West Wickham, and entirely new to science. Mr.
Logan has described Ephippiphora turbidana (Zool. 2034), taken by
himself near Edinburgh, on the burdock, and new to Britain. Mr.
Sircom has described Lophoptilus Staintoni and Microsetia Bedellella
(Zool. 2037), taken by himself on Durdham Downs, near Bristol, and
by Mr. Stainton on Sanderstead Downs, Surrey: both these moths
are new toscience. Mr. Stainton has contributed largely to our store
of knowledge of these minute tribes. His descriptions of Tortricide
in the January number (Zool. 1987) contain many insects previously
unrecorded as British, and several errors in synonomy are carefully
rectified. In the March number (Zool. 2035) Mr. Stainton describes
Phycita interpunctella, taken by Mr.E. Shepherd in London, and
Chauliodus Iligerellus, taken by Mrs. Stainton on the Surrey Downs:
both of them are new to Britain. In the April number (Zool. 2078)
the same author commences his admirable ‘ Monograph on the
British Argyromiges,’ completed in the course of the volume, with
descriptions of forty British species and figures of their wings: and
lastly, he describes in the July number (Zool. 2164) three species of
Aphelosetia, under the name of obscurepunctella, biatomella, and
rhynchosporella; all of them new to science. ‘The unwearying
assiduity of this talented entomologist has given a great impulse
to the study of our minute moths.

In Hymenoptera, I have to notice the occurrence of Trigonalys
Anglicanus, recorded (Zool. 1994) by Mr. Frederick Smith as having
been captured in Derbyshire: the same unwearied and most accurate
entomologist has concluded his descriptions of British Bees: this

PREFACE. XV

volume contains the genera Halictus (Zool. 2037, 2100 and 2167),
- Hyleus (2200), Cilissa (2207), Ammobates (2212), and Dasypoda
(2241): in the genus Halictus four new species are described,—H.
longulus, found by Mr. Charles Bowring in the Isle of Wight,—
H. prasinus, taken by Mr. Dale at Barmouth, by the Rev. Mr. Little in
Scotland, and by the author at Hawley, in Hampshire,—H. zonulus,
taken by the author near Woolwich, and by Mr. Walcott near Bris-
tol,—H. maculatus, taken by the author in Hampshire ; the whole of
these are new to science. |

In Coleoptera, the result of assiduous collecting has been eminently
satisfactory, several extremely rare species having occurred in some
abundance. The following are novelties: Pytho depressus and Ce-
tonia znea, reported by Mr. J. F. Stephens (Zool. 1996) as having
been taken by Mr. Weaver in Scotland; Tetratoma Desmaretsii is
described (Zool. 2109) by Mr. E. W. Janson, and taken by himself in
Henhault Forest, near London ; Trichius zonatus, described by Mr.
F, Smith (Zool. 2216), and taken by Mr. R. Weaver in Scotland;
Leptinus testaceus, described by Mr. Hardy (Zool. 2277), and taken
by Mr. W. E. Janson, at Box Hill, in Surrey; and Badister peltatus,
recorded by myself (Zool. 2277) as in the cabinets of Mr. Ingall and
Mr. S. Stevens: this insect was described many years since by myself
under the name of Trimorphus Erro.

In Orthoptera, I have to notice the re-appearance of the migratory
locust in small numbers, during the months of August and Septem-
ber; and Locusta subcerulipennis is recorded by Mr. Stephens
(Zool. 1996) as having occurred at Southampton.

In Hemiptera, Mr. Walker has described no less than forty-three
new species of Aphides (Zool. 2217 and 2246) with great minuteness,
specifying the plants on which they feed.

In Zoophytes, Mr. A. H. Hassall has described (Zool. 2223) three
new British species, under the names of Coppinia mirabilis, Campa-
nularia serpens and Sertularia gracilis; but his paper is incomplete,
inasmuch as he gives no information as regards locality, or the cir-
cumstances under which these zoophytes occurred.

XV1 PREFACE.

This rapid summary of those contributions which are more parti-
cularly designed for future reference conveys a very imperfect idea of
the amusement and instruction contained in the volume; but were I
to attempt to classify, or even enumerate, the lighter contributions, I
should extend my address beyond all reasonable bounds, without con-
ferring any corresponding benefit on my readers.

A few words as regards the future. Most earnestly do I solicit the
continued co-operation of my contributors. The earliest announce-
ment of the occurrence of a new or rare Quadruped, Bird, Reptile,
Fish, Mollusk, Crustaceous animal, or Insect, will be most thankfully
received: if new, I hope the announcement will always be accompa-
nied by a description, and, if practicable, by a figure; and if the ob-
ject should not be new, but have been previously described or figured
as British, then a figure or description should be referred to, and the
date, locality and other particulars given with scrupulous care and
accuracy.

I have already ventured to suggest (Zool. 2295) an altered form for
the local lists of birds, and have referred—-as an example of the mode
in which it may be carried out—to the Appendix of the lately-pub-
lished ‘ Letters of Rusticus,’ a work which I presume is now generally
distributed among British ornithologists. I heartily wish that my or-
nithological correspondents would devote some time to the subject,
each, in his own neighbourhood, endeavouring to compile an exact
statistical account of the birds which reside in or visit it: in the pre-
paration of such statistics I consider it a matter of great importance
to ascertain with precision the presence or absence, at the various
seasons of the year, of those which are esteemed the commoner Bri-
tish birds. The occasional appearance of a North-American, or
African, or European species, is to be recorded of course ; likewise
the capture of sea-fowl in a midland county; but the legitimate object
of a local list is to exhibit, at one point of view, the species which
habitually and of choice frequent a given locality, and to indicate
whether their tarriance is constant or seasonal. Even among oc-
casional visitors there is much to be learned: it will be found that

PREFACE. XVII

certain species—-such, for instance, as the brambling, siskin, honey-
buzzard, and others—occasionally appear in considerable numbers in
all the eastern counties: their advent is not strictly seasonal, neither
is their stay regulated by ascertained laws or causes, but, as far as we
yet know, is the result of caprice.

I have to regret the comparative paucity of communications respect-
ing Fishes, Crustacea, Radiata and Zoophytes, and earnestly invite
the attention of naturalists residing near the coast to these interesting

divisions of the animal kingdom.

I must again call the attention of correspondents to the request I
have so frequently made as to the mode of preparing contributions.
Nothing should be introduced that is not intended for publication ;
all other matter should be restricted to a private note: all encomiums
on the ‘ Zoologist’ or its Editor should be strictly avoided; however
kindly intended, their publication is not useful, and striking them out
of the proofs is often both troublesome and expensive: communica-
tions on various subjects should be written on separate pieces of
paper, or, if several are contained on one sheet, they should be so
Separated as to allow of their being parted from each other for ar-
rangement, and nothing should ever be written on the back. All
names of insects must be written in full: a deviation from this rule
has compelled me to lay aside as useless many contributions which
appeared highly interesting. Lastly, the names of persons and
places should be written with peculiar and careful clearness,—thus
reversing the practice adopted in writing to a friend, when a mere
flourish of the pen is sufficient to express a locality or person equally
well known to both. I trust an adherence to these rules will not be
found very irksome; and I hope that I have no contributor who
would not incur some little trouble in our common cause.

And now, in conclusion, I venture to express a hope that the
feeling of unmixed goodwill with which I regard all those who love

vi Cc

XVili PREFACE.

Nature for her own sake, is in some dia returned by my
very numerous readers: the belief, backed by frequent individual
assurances, that such is the case, is an appropriate and abundantly
ample reward for the unceasing, though agreeable, labour of superin-
tending the publication of the ‘ Zoologist.’

EDWARD NEWMAN.

9, Devonshire Street, Bishopsgate,
November 27, 1848.

CONTENTS.

ALPHABETICAL LIST

Baker, WILLIAM
Description of a species of newt, 2198
Barciay, Henry
Habits of the common shrew, 1957 ;
Anecdote of a cat, 2053
Barns, H. G.
Locust at Bembridge, 2116
Barton, STEPHEN
Note on the capture of Lamia textor,
2245
Bateman, THomas
Locust in Derbyshire, 2001
Bates, H. W.

Remarks on local species of Coleoptera
in the neighbourhood of Burton-on-
Trent, 1997

Beaptes, Joun N.

Colias Edusa near Broadway, 1985 ;
Provincial names of birds in Glou-
cestershire and Worcestershire, 2290

BEDELL, GEORGE

Description of Microsetia quinquella,
a new species of moth of the family
Tineade, 1986

Brntiey, WILLIAM

Sagacity of a cat, 2008
Buapon, JAMES

Extremely large red grouse, 2023
Bop, Tuomas Joun

Variety of the common squirrel, 1957 ;
Larva of the death’s head moth,
1985 ; Locust at Whitley and near
Newcastle-on-Tyne, 2001; Bohe-
mian waxwing near Newcastle-on-
Tyne, 2019; Bohemian waxwing at
Earsdon, Northumberlaud, 2064;
Common bittern at Prestwick Car
and Blagdon, Northumberland,
2066; Green sandpiper at Cambo,
Northumberland, 2066; Black-
throated diver at Cullercoats, Nor-
thumberland, 2067; Capture of a
honey buzzard near Beamish, Dur-
ham, 2297

OF CONTRIBUTORS.

Bonn, FREDERICK
Young of the little bitten near En-
field, 1969 ; Capture of Buprestis
mauriticana in Plaistow marshes,
1999; Locust in Cambridgeshire,
2000
Borrer, W., JuN.
White spoonbill in Sussex, 2066 ;
Egyptian goose in Sussex, 2067
Bree, Rev. W. T., M.A.
Rooks building, 2189 ;
names of birds, 2191
Bripeman, W. K.
Amphipeplia glutinosa near Norwich,
2150

Provincial

Briaes, J. J.

Note on cows having twin calves, 1957;
Rare birds in Derbyshire, 1966; Ha-
bits of the stock dove, 2021; Fauna
of Melbourne, 2278; Is the house
sparrow injurious or beneficial to
agriculture ? 2299

BromFieE_p, W. A., M,D., F.L.S.

Note on the natterjack and tree frog,
2304; Inquiry respecting Colias
Edusa, 2331

Buruineuam, D. C.

Inquiry respecting the characters which
distinguish the young of the black-
backed gull from the young of the
glaucous gull, 2027; Inquiry re-
specting the egg and nest of the
thrush nightingale, 2064

Bury, Rev. Cartes, A.M.

Notes on some of the rarer British
birds as observed in the south of
Spain, 1958

Crark, Rev. HaMiet
Coleoptera of Northamptonshire, 2045
CLIBBORN, JAMES

Inquiry respecting the migration of
plovers, 2023 ; White-fronted goose
at Waterford, 2024

XX.

CoeswE.t, C., M.D., F.L.S.

The great sea-serpent, 2316

CoLuins, JOHN

Nyssia hispidaria in abundance near

Huddersfield, 2077
Cooke, NICHOLAS

Female fowl in plumage of male, 1969 ;
Peronea permutana at New Brigh-
ton, 2271; Description of a sand-
piper shot near Bootle, 2303

Cooxson, Isaac

Capture of a snake in a mole trap,
2028; Snakes destructive to mice,
2074; Habits of a sea-gull, 2149

Cooper, Rev. W. W.

Red-throated diver at Worcester, 1969,

2027; Great sea-serpent, 2192
Coucn, Jonatuan, F.L.S.

On the egg-purse and embryo of a spe-
cies of Myliobatis, 1980; Locust
in Cornwall, 2001

Coucn, R. Q.

Fishes in the district of the Land’s

End, 1972
Courtis, WILLIAM

Capture of Vanessa Antiopa at Pon-
der’s End, Enfield, 2032 ; Capture
of three specimens of Calosoma sy-
cophanta at Brighton, 2113

Crewe, H. H.

White variety of the hedge sparrow,

2143
Curtis, Joun, F.L.S.

Capture of rare insects in England
and Scotland, 1984; Difficulty of
rearing Plusia Iota from the larva,
1986

Curt er, M.

Short-eared owl near Worcester, 2063 ;
Summer or tree duck at Tenbury,
2067; On rearing Acherontia Atro-
pos, 2076; Cirl bunting, &c., near
Worcester, 2229

Date, J.

Nesting of the siskin near Durham,

2188
Dawson, Rev. J. F., M.A.

Notes on the capture of Harpalide
and the allied families in the Isle
of Wight, 2110; Capture of Cole-
optera at Whittlesea Mere, 2113;
Notes on the Haltice of the Isle of
Wight, 2114 ; Capture of Lixus bi-
color, Hypera fasciculata, &c., 2275

Desy, JULIAN

Note on the occurrence of Turdus mi-
nor of Latham in Belgium, 1966 ;
Note on Lyctus canaliculatus, 2116 ;
Note on Triton palmipes, 2231

DovusBLepDay, HENRY

Females of Zeuzera Arundinis, 2236 ;
Harpalyce sagittaria near Peterbo-
rough, 2236

Dove tas, J. W.

A word on long series, 1983 ; Captures
of Lepidoptera, 1990; On rearing
Plusia Iota, 2076; Vanessa Antiopa
at Penge, Surrey, 2150; Larve of
Lepidoptera in the catkins of the
sallow, 2199

Drummonp, Epaear, Lieut. R.N.

The great sea-serpent, 2306

Durr, JosEPH

Capture of Vanessa Antiopa at
Bishop’s Auckland, 2032; Locust
at Bishop’s Auckland, 2046; On
the partial migration of birds, 2071;
Sphinx Drurei at Bishop's Auck-
land, 2076 ; Singular proof of rea-
soning in a canary, 2144; Additional
note on the chaffinch, 2144; Hoo-
poe near Sunderland, 2190; On
killing insects by heated air, 2222

Dunn, Rosert

Surf scoter in Shetland, 2067; Glau-
cous gull and Iceland gull, 2070;
Some notes on the birds of Shetland,
2187; Note respecting the gray pha-
larope, the red-necked phalarope
and the great northern diver, 2230

Dounnine, J. W.
Capture of Agrophila sulphuralis, 2199
ELLMAN, JAMEs B.

Hops attractive to moths, 1985 ; Gas-
tropacha quercifolia at Battel, 1986 ;
Locust at Battel, 2002; White va-
riety of the swallow and pale variety
of the martin, 2021; Bittern at
Battel, 2023; Capture of Lepidop-
tera at Battel, 2031; Stormy petrel
at Hailsham, 2073; White variety
of the blackbird, 2142; Little bit-
tern at Ewhurst and Ledlescomb,
2147; Little crake at Seaford, 2148;
Crested grebe at Battel, 2148 ; Note
on an egg of the blackbird, 2188 ;
Capture of Ephyra orbicularia, &c.,
at Battel, Note on Chlorissa punc-
taria, Note on Grammesia trilinea,
Note on Dasychira pudibunda, Net-
tles attractive to moths, 2199; An-
ecdote of a rat, 2223; Vanessa
Antiopa near Battel, Capture of
Pterophorus pulveridactylus at Bat-
tel, Capture of Lepidoptera at
Battel, 2236; Bats flying by day,
2289; Early arrival of fieldfares
and snipes near Battel, 2298;

XXI1

Swallows dug out of hedge-banks,

2302 ; Ivory gull at Hastings, 2304 ;

Sphinx Convolvuli at Battel, 2331
Evans, Rev. ARTHUR

Leicestershire Names of Birds, 2136;
Caprice of a kestrel, 2138 ; Nesting
of the ring ouzel in Warwickshire,
2142

FaLconer, ALEXANDER PyTTs

The cuckoo destructive to the cater-
pillars of the cabbage butterfly,
2021 ; Woodcocks drowned in cross-
ing the Channel, 2023; Dragon-fly
devouring a wasp, 2047

FisHer, W. R., F.L.S.

Inquiry respecting the egg of the
greenshank, 2024; Note on the bi-
maculated duck, 2026 ; On the sup-
posed occurrence of turkey’s bones
at Lough Gur, 2064; Migration of
plovers, 2066; Young of the glau-
cous gull, 2070; Capture of sea-
fowl at the North Cape by foxes,
2071; On the nomenclature of
birds, 2134 ; Egg of the greenshank,
2147; Egg of the ringed guillemot,
2148

Foortirt, W. F.

Provincial names of birds, Notting-

hamshire, 2258
Fox, GEorGE

Mule between cirl bunting and canary,

2020
Frere, Rev. H. T.

Dates of the arrival of migratory birds
at Aylsham in 1847, Gyr falcon—
mistranslation, 2018 ; Curious nest-
ing-place of robins, 2020; Early
nesting of ring doves, 2022 ; Snake
in the hole of a sand martin, 2027 ;
Disease in fish, Abundance of fish
in Norfolk, 2030; Provincial names
of birds, 2186; Capture of Deile-
phila Celerio at South Walsham,
2199

FuLier, Henry

Common cormorant in the Thames,

2149
GartH, James C.

Early appearance of the fieldfare,
Singular variety of the robin, 2298 ;
Hawfinch at Knaresborough, 2300

GoaTLeEy, T.

Early nesting of the robin, 2064; Mer-
lin, 2138 ; Note on the great plover,
Migration of the golden plover,
2147; Nest of the woodcock, 2148

Gorpon, Rev. GEorGE
Breeding of the Salmon, 1970 ; Habits

of the field mouse, 2008; Prolific
pair of blackbirds, 2297; Answer
respecting Larus maximus, 2304;
Suggestions for obtaining Crustacea,
2326

Gouau, THomas

On the arrival of migratory birds in
the neighbourhood of Kendal, 2224 ;
Capture of the velvet and common
scoters on Windermere, 2230

Grecson, C.S.

Capture of Lepidoptera in Lancashire,
2031; Colias Edusa near Liverpool,
2032; Capture of Deilephila lineata
at Hale, Lancashire, and of Gra-
phiphora Pyrophila near Liverpool,
2033; Cillenum laterale at Liver-
pool, 2046 ; Locust near Lancaster,
2047

GREVILLE, R. NorTHMORE

Tenacity of life in Rhagium bifasci-

atum, 2217
Gurney, J. H.

On killing worms before using them

as bait for fish, 2269
Gurney, J. H., & FisHer, W. R.

Ornithological and other observations
in Norfolk for the month of October
(1847), 1965; Ornithological noti-
ces for November, 1966; for De-
cember, 2017; for January (1848),
2027; for February, 2071; for
March, 2134; for April and May,
2183; for June, July and August,
2291

Guyon, GEORGE

Insectivorous propensity of Notoxus

Monoceros, 2000
HamsBroueu, W. E.

Capture of Achatia spreta on willow

blossoms, 2151
HansE tL, P. E.

Discoloured egg of the green wood-

pecker, 2258
Haroine, H. J.

Economy of Melanoleuca dodecea,

2332
Harpy, JAMES

The stoat and the rooks, 1958; Dis-
appearance of swallows at Penman-
shiel, Berwickshire, 1968 ; Medete-
tus regalis, 1992; Coleoptera on
the coast of East Lothian, 1996;
Note on Aphodius contaminatus,
1999 ; Habits of Blemus pallidus,
Spherites glabratus in Scotland,
Unusual habitat for Pristonychus
terricola, 2000 ; Occurrence of ver-
nal Diptera in Berwickshire, with

XXil

descriptions of two new British spe-
cies, 2097; Criorhina asilica near
Penmanshiel, Dilophus tenuis at
Redheugh, On Medeterus consper-
sus, Galls of the meadow-sweet,
Gall of the tansy—with a descrip-
tion of the fly by which it is vcca-
sioned, Parasite of Aleyrodes Che-
lidonii, 2165; Note on Boreus
hyemalis, 2175 ; Distance to which
Diptera will fly in quest of food,
Capture of Tetanocera dorsalis,
2200; Of the manner in which the
female of Psocus quadripunctatus
constructs a web to protect her eggs,
2221; Description of Leptinus tes-
taceus, a recently-discovered British
Coleopterous insect, 2277
Harerineton, H. G.
Child suckled by a Periah bitch, 2130
HassauL, ArTHUR HILL
Definitions of three new British zoo-
phytes, 2223
HAwL_Ley, JoHN
Locust near Doncaster, 2116
Hemsworth, Rev. A. B.

Extraordinary instance of parental
care in a rat, 2132; Partiality of the
common guinea-fowl for toads, 2303

HeEpBurRN, ARCHIBALD

Notes on the quadrupeds and birds of
the northern districts of Inverness-
shire, 2010; Frog at a great eleva-
tion in Inverness-shire, 2027

Hieeins, EpmMunpD THomas

Spotted sandpiper in Yorkshire, 2147 ;

White stork near York, 2229
Hopexinson, J. B.

Capture of Lepidoptera near North-
fleet, Kent, 2328 ; Deilephila Cele-
rio in Cumberland, Lophopteryx
Carmelita in Cumberland, Graphi-
phora Pyrophila and Agrotis nebu-
losa in Cumberland, Ephippiphora
turbidana and Phycita abietella at
Carlisle, 2331

Howpen, James C,

Capture of Coleoptera in Scotland,

2044
Hueues, E. J. R.

Anecdote of a terrier, 2130; Thievish

propensity of the jackdaw, 2258
Hussey, Rev. Arruovr, M.A.

Note on wheatears, 2298; Swallows,

and a plea on their behalf, 2303
IncHBALD, PETER

Calocampa vetusta near Huddersfield,
1986; Lesser spotted woodpecker
near Huddersfield, 2021; Note on

Aspilates purpuraria, 2034; Re-
marks on the apterous females of
our British Geometre, 2077; Cap-
ture of Glea rubricosa on sallow
blossoms, Further remarks on apte-
rous Geometre, 2151; Nest of ho-
ney bees in a blank window, 2245
Janson, Epwarp W.

Rare Coleopterous insects, with obser-
vations on their habits, to which is
appended the description of a spe-
cies hitherto unrecorded as British,
2108

Jounson, F. W.

Rough-legged buzzard in Suffolk,
Ring ouzel in Suffolk, 2063; Bo-
hemian waxwing in Suffolk, Ex-
treme abundance of the mealy red-
pole near Ipswich, 2064 ; Common
bittern at Ipswich, 2066; Variety
of the moorhen, Velvet scoter and
common scoter in Suffolk, 2067;
White spoonbill at Aldborough,
2229; Ferruginous duck in Suffolk,
2230; Masked gull at Aldborough,
2231

JOHNSON, J.

Killing insects by heat, 2245; Pro-
ductive eggs of a female of Smerin-
thus ocellatus, taken from the parent
after death, 2269; Provincial names
of birds in Yorkshire, 2290

Lawson, GEORGE

Note on the building of the rook, 2145;
Hooper or wild swan on the Tay,
Tay, 2148; Fondness of the cat for
Nemophila insignis, 2252

LEADBITTER, J. G.
Tameness and voracity of a toad, 2074
Lrean, Wo.

Frog-eating in England, and inquiry

respecting the edible frog, 2073
Lewis, Rev. W. S.

Remarks on the stinging of gnats,

2237; Bats flying by daylight, 2252
Loean, R. F

Description of Ephippiphora turbi-
dana, a new British moth of the
family Tortricide, 2034

Lonc.Ley, HENRY

Capture of Deilephila Gallii at Rain-

ham, Kent, 1985
Lonetey, W. H. & C. H.
Hermaphrodite specimen of Smerin-
thus Populi, 2270
Luxrorp, Grorce, A.L.S.
Cats and Nemophila insignis, 2289
Matan, Rev. S. C., M.A.
Egg of the Egyptian vulture, 2138 ;

XxXll

Apparent instance of gratitude in
an Indian species of owl, 2140;
Egg of the redwing, 2141 ; Label-
ling eggs of birds, 2186
Manser, E.
Locust near Hertford, 2001
Marais, RoBert
‘Locust near Wisbeach, 200
MELVILLE, A. G., M.D. .
The great sea-serpent, 2310
Micuaku, ALBerT D.

Locust at Cromer, 2046; Vanessa

Antiopa at Cromer, 2076
Miner, W. M. E., M.P.

Birds of Sutherlandshire, Ross-shire,
&c., 2014; Collared pratincole near
Scarborough, 2023; Great shear-
water near Robin Hood's Bay, 2027;
Some account of the people of St.
Kilda and of the birds of the Outer
Hebrides, 2054 ; Egg of the green-
shank, 2066 ; Carabus clathratus in
Sutherlandshire and the Hebrides,
2113 ; White stork near York, 2191;
Egg of the greenshank, 2230

Monrecome_ry, R. J.

Tawny owl in Ireland, 2141; Redstart
in Queen’s County, Reed warbler
near Dublin, Blackcap near Dublin,
2143; Night heron in the county of
Louth, 2147

Morris, Beverey R., M.D., A.B.

Early nidification of the robin, 2019 ;
Curious habit of the rook, 2021;
Anecdute of a turtle dove, 2022;
Note on the black-backed and glau-
cous gulls, and inquiry respecting
Larus maximus, 2070; Note on the
great plover, 2146

Mostey, Sir Oswatp, Bart., F.L.S., &e.

Remarkable instance of voracity in a

trout, 2150
MusketTT, CHARLES

Deilephila Celerio, &c., near Harles-

ton, 1985
Newman, Epwarp, F.LS., ZS.

Little gull and Bonaparte’s gull at
Belfast, 2069; Nomenclature of
species, 2136 ; On the bustard shot
in Lincolnshire, 2146 ; Colias Hyale
near Wolverton, 2236 ; Naturaliza-
tion of Rana esculenta at Epping,
On reptiles swallowing their young,
2268 ; Badister peltatus in England,
2276, 2277; Local lists of birds,
2295 ; Beautiful and extraordinary
variety of the chaffinch, 2298 ; Pro-
posed alteration of name in the
European white-winged crossbill,

and occurrence of the American
white-winged crossbill in England,
2300; Peculiarity in the eyes of
frogs, Capture of an enormous trout
at Drayton Manor, 2324; New
British crab on the coast of Sussex,
2325
NewTon, ALFRED

A few words on the subject of nomen-
clature in ornithology, 2062 ; Note
on the mealy redpole, 2144 ; Wood-
cock’s breeding in Norfolk, 2148;
Buffon’s skua near Thetford, Dates
of arrival of migratory birds near
Elveden, 2149; Arrival of migratory
birds at Elveden, Nidification of
birds near Elveden, Arrival of mi-
gratory birds at Everton, 2227;
Remarkable variety of colour in the
egg of the green woodpecker, 2229 ;
Discoloured eggs of the gréen wood-
pecker, 2301

Parry, ELLEN WEBLEY

Hooper or wild swan nearly seven
years in the possession of Rear-
Admiral Webley Parry, 2024

Peacock, E. sun.

Anecdote of a snake, 1969; Habits of
the pond mussel, 1982 ; Locust near
Hull, 2000 ; Is the sparrow more
useful or injurious to the farmer ?
2188

Percivat, E. F.
Reptiles swallowing their young, 2305
Piomtey, F., M.D., F.L.S.

Melodious willow wren

2228
Poo eg, J osEPH

Scops eared owl near Wexford, 2019 ;
Peewit destructive to the wireworm,
2023; Bewick’s swan in Wexford
Harbour, 2026

Prater, Rev. THomas

Parental affection in the owl, 2141;
Anecdote of a magpie, 2146 ; White
starling near Bicester, 2229; Rose-
ate tern near Bicester, 2230; Hawks
near Bicester, 2297

Reynotps, Tuomas F.
Carnivorous propensity of the hedge-
hog, 2253
RIcHARDSON, JOSEPH
Locust near Thorne, 2001
Roserts, ALFRED

Little bustard at Kirton Lindsay, Lin-
colnshire, 1969; Houbara in Lin-
colnshire, 2065

Roop, Epwarp HEARLE
Great plover wintering in Cornwall,

in Britain,

| XXIV

2023; White wagtail near Pen-
zance, Continental white wagtail
at Penzance, 2143; gray-headed
wagtail near Penzance, 2144;
White stork at the Land’s End,
2147; Temmincck’s stint near Pen-
zance, 2259
RovwnDE LL, H.
Temminck’s stint near Oxford, 1969 ;
Black tern near Oxford, 2191
Rupp, T.S.
Roller near Shelton Castle, 1968
Satmon, J. D.

Red-throated diver near Guildford,

2304
Satter, S. J. A.

Extraordinary assemblage of the

golden-crested Regulus, 2020
Satter, T. Bett, M D., F.LS.

The cuckoo singing by night, 2146;
Ceérura vinula killed with chloro-
form, 2151

SHIPLEY, A.
Cerura latifascia near Leeds, 2236
Sircom, Joun

Habit of the young cuckoo, 1966 ;
Descriptions of Lophoptilus Stain-
toni and Microsetia Bedellella, two
new British moths of the family
Tineide, 2037; Capture of Micro-
Lepidoptera, 2271; Note on Gracil-
laria substriga, 2272

SLATER, J. W.

Curious habit of a Dipterous insect,
1992; On the geographical distribu-
tion of the Cetoniade, 1999; On the
functions of the antenne of insects,
2175; On the sense of touch in
spiders, 2328

SmitTH, FREDERICK

Trigonalys Anglicana in Derbyshire,
1994; Descriptions of the British
species of bees belonging to the
genus Halictus of Latreille, 2037,
2100, 2167; Descriptions of the
British species of bees belonging to
the genera Hyleus and Prosopis of
Fabricius, and also of the genus
Cilissa of Leach, 2200; Appendix
to F. Smith’s descriptions of British
bees, 2209; Descriptions of two
species of Trichius supposed to be

ritish, 2216; Description of the
genus Dasypoda belonging to the
family Andrenide, 2241 ; Ainenlar
monstrosity in the antenne of La-
mia textor, 2245
Smiru, Rev. JAMES
Nomenclature of birds, 2291; Remarks

on birds visiting the river Dovern,

near Banff, 2292; Colour of the

egg of the Egyptian vulture, 2296 ;

Hoopoe and other rare British birds

near Banff, Roller near Banff, 2302
Stainton, H. T.

Capture of Calocampa vetusta at Car-
ron, 1986 ; Descriptions of several
species of British Tortricidae, 1987;
Correction of an error in page 1988,
2078 ; On the method of attracting
Lepidoptera by light, 2030; Descrip-
tion of Phycita interpunctella of
Hubner, a new British species of the
family Tineide, 2035; Chauliodus
Illigerellus of Hubner, a new British
moth of the family Tineidz, 2035 ;
Description of Coriscium alaudella
and C. quercetellum, two new Bri-
tish moths of the family Tineide,
2035; Monograph on the British
Argyromiges, 2079, 2152 ; Descrip-
tions of three undescribed British
species of the genus Aphelosetia,
2164; Note respecting Yponomeuta
sedella, 2272; Remarks on the ge-
nus Argyromiges, 2273

STEPHENS, J. F., F.LS., Z.S., &c.

Capture of Pytho depressus, Cetonia
enea, &c., in Scotland, and of rare
insects elsewhere, 1995 ; Coriscium
quercetellum and C. alaudellum of
Zeller, described many years pre-
viously by Haworth as Gracillaria
substriga and G. cinerea, 2078

STEVENS, SAMUEL

List of captures of rare insects in the
New Forest, 2178; Capture of
Agrotis pascuea at Deal, 2331

STRANGEWAys, RicHArRD
Bohemian waxwing near Yarmouth,
2064
STREATFIELD, J. FREMLYN
Locust in London, 2002
STRICKLAND, ARTHUR

Inquiry respecting the masked gull
and remarks in reference to the
glaucous gull and greater petrel,
2068

Tabor, BERTRAM
Female bullfinch in plumage of male,
1968
Taytor, Ropert
Singular situation of the nest of a
starling, 2145; Anecdote of a rook,
2146
Tuomson, W. T.C.
Colias Edusa and Sphinx Conyolvuli
in Scotland, 1985

XXV

Tomes, Rosert F.

Plumage of the tawny owl, 2019; Dis-
coloured eggs of the green wood-
pecker, 2301

Turner, Rev. Wixuiam, A.M.

Locust in Lincolnshire, 2001; Diffi-
culty of breeding Plusia Iota, 2038 ;
On the diseased larve of Plusia
Tota, 2270; Curious anecdote of
the kestrel, 2296; Aberrant economy
in Tortrix viridana, 2331

Twinn, E. R.

Extraordinary friendship of a cat and
turtle dove, 2131; Fondness of the
dog, 2182

Vaueuan, P. H.

Correction respecting Margaritia mar-
garitalis, 1986; Plants attractive to
Lepidoptera, Dasycampa rubiginea
near Bristol, 2031

Wa ker, Francis, F.L.S., GS.
List of insects produced from oak-

apples, 1995 ; Descriptions of Aphi-
des, 2217, 2246
Wess, J.S.
Provincial names of birds, 2018;
White wagtail near York, 2229
WEBSTER, T.
Another extremely large red grouse,
2066
WeEBsTER, WILLIAM, JUN,
Oared shrew at Birkenhead, 2009
WoLLEY, GEORGE
Oared shrew in Lancashire, 2289 ; A
- Imartin with the middle tail-feather
white, 2303
WoLLey, JoHN
Griffon vulture—correction of a pre-
vious error, 2063; Long captivity
of a specimen of the little owl, 2141;
Description of a species of newt,
2149 ; Narrow-bordered bee Sphinx
in the Highlands, 2199; Note on the
Triton palmipes of Daudin, 2265

ALPHABETICAL LIST OF SUBJECTS.

Abdera bifasciata at Colney Hatch, 2108
Abdera quadrifasciata at Colney Hatch,

2108
Achatia spreta on willow blossoms, 2151
Acherontia Atropos, 1985

¥ ff on rearing, 2076
Acipenser sturio, 1973
Agrophila sulphuralis, 2199
Agrotis nebulosa in Carlisle, 2331

»» pascuea at Deal, 2331
Aleyrodes Chelidonii, parasite of, 2166
Ameiva dorsalis, habits of, 2306
Ammobates bicolor, 2212
Ammocetes branchialis, 1978
Ammodytes lancea, 1972

‘3 Tobianus, 1972

Amphipeplia glutinosa near Norwich,

2150
Anatomy, first steps to, 2047
Anchylopera Lyellana and derasana, 1989
Andrena Aprilina, 2211

” eximia, 2211
Angel-fish, 1976
Animals, complexity of structure in, 2238
Antenne of insects, functions of, 2175
Antithesia leucomelana, 1988

‘5 ochroleucana, 1987

Vi

Antithesia prelongana, 1988
Anthocopa papaveris, 2213
Aphelosetia biatomella, 2165
mn obscurepunctella, 2164
om rhynchosporella, 2165

Aphides, generation of, 2002
Aphis adjuta, 2220

»» adjuvans, 2220

» adscita, 2220

» amica, 2218

» asperule, 2248

» basalis, 2220

» collega, 2218

» commoda, 2219

» conjuncta, 2220

» Consors, 2218

» consueta, 2219

» Cynoglossi, 2217

», Dianthi, 2219, 2246

» dispar, 2251

» diversa, 2251

», familiaris, 2220

» frequens, 2219

» Galeopsidis, 2251

» Glechome, 2247

», lateralis, 2251

», Lycopsidis, 2219

ad

Aphis mali, 2251

5 higrorufa, 2247

» particeps, 2217

» persola, 2246

» Polygoni, 2249

» prunaria, 2250

» prunina, 2250

9 pulvera, 2218

> Rumicis, 2247, 2249

» sejuncta, 2247

» similis, 2249

>» socia, 2217

» sodalis, 2218

» Sonchi, 2246, 2248

» suffragans, 2221

» Veronice, 2248
Aphodius contaminatus, 1999
Archipelago, Indian, zoology of, 2117
Argyromiges alnifoliella, 2096

iy Amyotella, 2271

oe argentipunctella, 2163
9 Boyerella, 2161
‘5 cavella, 2085

93 cerasifoliella, 2158
‘i Clerkella, 2159

‘ comparella, 2155
. connexella, 2086
95 corylifoliella, 2156

- Cramerella, 2096
3 crategifoliella, 2161

9 Demaryella, 2157
ss elatella, 2091
Zs emberizepennella, 2086

‘ Frelichiella, 2088
e hortella, 2153

" ilicifoliella, 2091

i Junoniella, 2095

x Jautella, 2082

‘5 Loganella, 2162

s Messaniella, 2089
4 omissella, 2163

iy padifoliella, 2160
- pomifoliella, 2093
‘4 pomonella, 2092

i‘ quercetella, 2164

of quercifoliella, 2090
es rhamnifoliella, 2160
rm roborella, 2153

ms salicicolella, 2271
a Schreberella, 2083
Pe scitella, 2157

a securiferella, 2094
” Sircomella, 2162

spartifoliella, 2158
Spinolella, 2085
strigifasciella, 2087
sylvella, 2154
tenella, 2152
trifasciella, 2088

XXV1

Argyromiges tristrigella, 2087
o ulmifoliella, 2084
a viminella, 2271

Aspilates purpuraria, note on, 2034

Atlas, Physical, 2243

Avocets at Salthouse, 2292

Bactra furfurana, 1990

Badister peltatus in England, 2276, 2277

Badger in Derbyshire, 2281

Bat flying by daylight, 2252, 2289

Bat, long-eared, in Derbyshire, 2278

Bee-eater in Spain, 1960

Bee-hives, aqueous vapour expelled from,
1992

Bees, British, belonging to the genus Ha-
lictus, 2037, 2100, 2167; Hyleus,
2200

Birds, rarer British in South of Spain,
1958; rare in Derbyshire, 1966; of the
northern district of Inverness-shire,
2010; of Sutherlandshire and Ross-
shire, 2014; provincial names of,
2018; arrival of migratory at Aylsham,
2018; of St. Kilda and the outer He-
brides, 2054 ; migration of, 2071; eggs,
catalogue for, 2132; nomenclature of,
2062, 2136; provincial names of,
2136, 2138, 2186; migratory near El-
veden, 2149; labelling of eggs, 2186;
of Shetland, 2187; arrival of migratory
at Kendal, 2224; at Elveden, 2227;
nidification of at Elveden, 2227; ar-
rival of migratory at Everton, 2228;
provincial names in Nottinghamshire,
2258; in Gloucestershire and Wilt-
shire, 2290; in Yorkshire, 2290; no-
menclature of, 2291 ; visiting the river
Dovern, 2292; local lists of, 2295

Bittern, American, at Yarmouth, 1965;
little, young of near Enfield, 1969;
at Battel, 2023; commun, at Prest-
wick Car and Blagden, Northumber-
land, 2066; at Ipswich, 2066 ; little,
at Ewhurst and Ledlescomb, 2147

Blackbird, white variety of, 2142 ; egg of,
2188

Blackbirds, prolific, 2297

Blackcap near Dublin, 2143

Blemus pallidus, habits of, 2000

Boccius, G., on ‘ Fish in Rivers and
Streams,’ 2193

Boreus hyemalis, note on, 2175

Broderip, J. W.,‘ Zoological Recreations,
2047

Bullfinch, female in male plumage, 1968

Bunting, cirl, near Worcester, 2229

Buprestis mauritanica in Plaistow marsh-
es, 1999

Bustard, great, in Spain, 1961

XXV1l

Buzzard, rough-legged, near Thetford,
2018; in Suffolk, 2063; honey, near
Beamish, 2297

Calocampa venusta near Huddersfield,
1986; at Carron, 1986

Calosoma Sycophanta at Brighton, 2113

Campanularia serpens, 2223

Canary, instance of reasoning faculty in,
2144

Canary and cirl bunting, mule between,
2020

Carabus clathratus in Sutherlandshire and
the Hebrides, 2113

Carcharias glaucus, 1974

a vulgaris, 1973
z vulpes, 1974

Carpocapsa stelliferana, 1989

Cat, anecdote of, 2008, 2053 ; extraordi-
nary friendship of a, for a turtle dove,
2131; fondness for Nemophila insig-
nis, 2252

Cats and Nemophila insignis, 2289

Cerura latifascia near Leeds, 2236

» vinula killed with chloroform, 2151

Cetonia enea in Scotland, 1995

Cetoniade, geographical distribution of,
1999

Chaflinch, 2144 ; remarkakle variety of,
2298

Chauliodus Illigerellus, 2035

Child suckled by a Periah bitch, 2131

Cilissa hemorrhoidalis, 2207

- tremecta, 2208

Cillenum laterale at Liverpool, 2046

Cirl bunting and canary, mule between,
2020

Colias Edusa near Broadway, 1985 ; in
Scotland, 1985 ; near Liverpool, 2032,
2331

Colias Hyale near Wolverton, 2236

Coppinia mirabilis, 2223

Coriscium alaudella and C. quercetellum,
2035 ; identical with Gracillaria sub-
striga and G. cinerea, 2078

Cormorant, common, in the Thames,
2149; at Herringfleet, 2185

Cows having twin calves, 1957

Crag mollusca, 2232

Crake, little, at Seaford, 2148

Criorhina asilica near Penmanshiel, 2165

Crossbill, two-barred, 2300 ; white-winged,
2300

Crustacea, mode of obtaining, 2326

Ctenicerus sanguinicollis at Snaresbrook,
2109

Cuckoo, habit of the young, 1966; destruc-
tive to the caterpillars of the cabbage
butterfly, 2021; singing at night,
2146

Dasycampa rubiginea at ivy bloom near
Bristol, 2031

Dasypoda hirtipes, 2241

Deilephila Celerio near Harleston, 1985 ;
at South Walsham, 2199; in Cum-
berland, 2331

Deilephila Galii near Rainham, Kent,
1985

Deilephila lineata at Hale, Lancashire,
2033

Dilophus tenuis at Redheugh, 2165

Diptera, vernal, in Berwickshire, 2097 ;
flight of, 2200

Ditula Hartmanniana, 1987

Diver, black-throated, at Taverham, 2027 ;
at Cullercoats, Northumberland, 2067;
great northern, in the Dovern, 2294;
in Shetland, 2231; red-throated, near
Guildford, 2304 ; at Worcester, 2027;
speckled, at Worcester, 1969

Dodo and its kindred, 2259

Dog, anecdote of fondness for a kitten,
2182

Dove, stock, habits of, 2021; turtle, an-
ecdote of, 2022

Doves, ring, early nesting of, 2022

Dragon-fly devouring a wasp, 2047

Dromia vulgaris on the coast of Sussex,
2325

Drummond, J. L., ‘ First Steps to Ana-
tomy, 2047

Drypta emarginata in the Isle of Wight,
2110

Duck, bimaculated, 2026; tree, at Ten-
bury, 2067; tufted, at Cossey, 2134 ;
ferruginous, in Suffolk, 2230; long-
tailed, in the Dovern, 2292; scaup,
in the Dovern, 2293; pin-tailed, in
the Dovern, 2295 ; tufted, in the Do-
vern, 2295

Eagle, golden, in Spain, 1959; white-
headed, said to have been seen near
Yarmouth, 2185

Eel, sand, 1972

Eels devoured by rats, 2008

Eggs of birds, catalogue for, 2132 ; label-
ling, 2186

Eggs of the blackbird, 2188; of green
woodpecker, 2229, 2258, 2301; of
greenshank, 2230

} Eges of Smerinthus ocellatus, 2269

Entomological zones of Pyrenees, 1983

Ephippiphora turbidana, 2034; at Car-
lisle, 2331

Ephydra quadrigutta, 2099

Kupecilia dubitana, 1990

Falcon, peregrine, in Spain, 1959; at
Thetford, 2134

Fieldfares, early arrival of, 2298

XXVill

Field sports in Russia, 2254

Fire flaire, 1977

Fish, disease in, 2030; abundance of in
Norfolk, 2030

‘Fish in Rivers and Streams,’ 2193

Fishes and law of kindness, 1971; of the
Land’s End, 1972; voracity of, 2074

Fox in Derbyshire, 2282

Foxes capturing sea fowl near the North
Cape, 2071

Fowl, female, in male plumage, 1969

Frog at a great elevation in Inverness-
shire, 2027

Frog-eating in England, 2073

Frog, edible, at Epping, 2268; tree, turned
out in Isle of Wight, 2305

Frogs, peculiarity in the eyes of, 2324

Galeus vulgaris, 1974

Galls of the meadow-sweet, 2165; of the
tansy, with description of the fly by
which it is caused, 2166

Gastropacha quercifolia at Battel, 1986

Geometre, remarks on the apterous fe-
males of our British, 2077, 2151

Gleza rubricosa on sallow blossoms, 2151

Globe-fish, Pennant’s, 1973

Gnats, stinging of, 2237

Godwit, black-tailed, in Spain, 1963

Golden-eye in the Dovern, 2294

Goosander at Yarmouth, 2027; in the
Dovern, 2293

Goose, gray-legged, curious variety of,
2017; white-fronted, at Waterford,
2024; barnacle, at Salthouse, 2027;
Egyptian, in Sussex, 2067; on Ormsby
Broad, 2134

Gordius marinus on coast of Norfolk, 2183

Gracillaria substriga, 2272

Graphiphora pyrophila near Liverpool,
2033 ; in Cumberland, 2331

Grebe, red-necked, at Surlingham, 2027 ;
great-crested, at Battel, 2148

Greenbone, 1978

Greenshank, inquiry respecting the egg of,
2024 ; egg of, 2066, 2147, 2230

Grouse, red, extremely large, 2023, 2066

Guillemot, bridled, at Yarmouth, 1966 ;
ringed, egg of, 2148

Guinea-fow] feeds on toads, 2303

Gull, masked, in Spain, 1963 ; glaucous,
curious anecdote of, 2017; black-
backed, inquiry respecting, 2027;
masked, inquiry respecting, 2068 ; lit-
tle, at Belfast, 2069 ; Bonaparte’s, at
Belfast, 2069 ; glaucous, in Shetland,
2070; Iceland, in Shetland, 2070 ;
glaucous, young of, 2070; black-
backed, 2070; masked, at Aldborough,
2231; ivory, at Hastings, 2304

Gulls, sea, habits of, 2149
Gyr falcon, 2018 ; at Bicester, 2134
Halictus abdominalis, 2106
Halictus eratus, 2043

r albipes, 2167

BS flavipes, 2042

x. fulvicornis, 2170

3 interruptus, 2167

a levis, 2104

$9 leucopus, 2100

4 leucozonius, 2171

a longulus, 2104

bs lugubris, 2169

bs maculatus, 2172

re malachurus, 2106
3 minutus, 2102

m4 morio, 2101

" minutissimus, 2103
45 nitidiusculus, 2103

5 prasinus, 2169
e quadricinctus, 2040
- quadrinotatus, 2173
fe rubicundus, 2041
5 sexcinctus, 2210
4 sexnotatus, 2174
5 Smeathmanellus, 2101
Pe villosulus, 2105
54 xanthopus, 2173
zonulus, 2171
Haltice of the Isle of Wight, 2114
Hare in Derbyshire, 2287
Harpalide captured in the Isle of Wight,
2110
Harpalyce sagittaria near Peterborough,
2236
Hawfinch in Spain, 1960 ; at Knaresbo-
rough, 2300
Hawks near Bicester, 2297
Hedgehog, carnivorous propensity of,
2253 ; in Derbyshire, 2278
Hedge-sparrow, white variety of, 2143
Hemiramphus europeus, 1978
obtusus, 1978
H ermaphrodite Smerinthus populi, 2270
Heron, night, in county Louth, 2147
Honey bee nesting in a blank window, 2245
Hooper, anecdote of, 2024; on the Tay,
2148
Hoopoe in Spain, 1960 ; at Ormsby, 2185 ;
near Sunderland, 2190; near Banff,
2301
Hops attractive to moths, 1985
Houbara in Lincolnshire, 1969, 2065, 2146
Hybrid between cirl bunting and canary,
2020
Hyleus annularis, 2203
» annulatus, 2202
» cornutus, 2204
» dilatatus, 2204

XXix

Hyleus hyalinatus, 2206

» plantaris, 2205
» punctulatissimus, 2205
» signatus, 2206
» variegatus, 2202

Hypera fasciculata at Deal, 2275

Ibis, glossy, in Spain, 1962

Insects, long series of, 1983; Lepidop-
terous, 1990; Dipterous, curious
habit of, 1992; produced from oak-
apples, 1995; captured in Scotland,
1995 ; Coleopterous, on the coast of
East Lothian, 1996 ; Coleopterous, in
the neighbourhood of Burton-on-
Trent, 1997; Lepidopterous, attracted
by light, 2030; taken in Lancashire,
2031; at Battel, 2031 ; Coleopterous,
taken in Scotland, 2044; in North-
amptonshire, 2045; Coleopterous,
2108; at Whittlesea Mere, 2113; on
the functions of the antenne of, 2175;
Captures of rare in the New Forest,
2178; Lepidopterous, in the New
Forest, 2178; Coleopterous, in the
New Forest, 2179 ; Lepidopterous, at
Battel, 2199, 2236 ; Lepidopterous, at
Northfleet, 2328

Insects killed by heat, 2222, 2245

Jackdaw, thievish propensity of, 2258

Johnston and Berhaus, ‘ Physical Atlas,’
2243

Kestrel, anecdote of, 2296 ; caprice of,
2138

Kilda, St., inhabitants and birds of, 2054

Lamia textor near Bristol, 2245; extra-
ordinary malformation in, 2245

Lamna cornubica, 1974

Lamprey, 1978 ; silver, 1978 ; mud, 1978

Lant great, 1972

Lark, crested, in Spain, 1960 ; short-toed,
in Spain, 1960

Larus maximus, 2304; inquiry respect-
ing, 2071

Larve in the catkins of the sallow, 2199

Lepidoptera, method of attracting by
light, 2030 ; plants attractive to, 2031

Leptinus testaceus, 2277

Lixus bicolor at Deal, 2275

Locust near Hull, 2000; in Cambridge-
shire, 2000 ; near Thorne, 2001 ; near
Hertford, 2001 ; near Wisbeach, 2001 ;
in Lincolnshire, 2001; at Whitley,
2001; near Newcastle-on-Tyne, 2001;
in Derbyshire, 2001: in Cornwall,
2001; at Battel, 2002; in London,
2002 ; at Cromer, 2046; at Bishop’s
Auckland, 2046; near Lancaster,
2047 ; near Doncaster, 2116 ; at Bem-
bridge, 2116

Lophopteryx carmelita in Cumberland,
2331

Lophoptilus Staintoni and Microsetia
Bedellella, 2037

Lyctus canaliculatus, note on, 2116

Macroglossa fuciformis in the Highlands,
2199

Magpie, anecdote of, 2146

Margaritia margaritalis, 1986

Martin, pale variety of, 2021

Martin with white tail feather, 2303

Melanoleuca dodocea, economy of, 2332

Medeterus regalis, 1992
te conspersus, 2165

Merlin, 2138

Melborne, fauna of, 2278

Mice, snakes destructive to, 2074

Microscopical Society’s Report, 2126,
2180

Microsetia Bedellella, 2037

3 quinquella, 1986

Moles destructive to wireworms, 2009, 2279

Mollusca, crag, 2232

Moor hen, variety of, 2067

Moths attracted by hops, 1985 ; case-bear-
ing propagation of, 1986 ; plants at-
tractive to, 2031; attracted by nettles,
2199

Mouse, field, habits of the, 2008; long-
tailed field, in Derbyshire, 2283 ; com-
mon, in Derbyshire, 2285

Mule between cirl bunting and canary,
2020

Mullet, abundance of at Coldingham,
2075

Mustela levis, 1975

Mussel, pond, habits of, 1982

Mutilla europea, habit of, 1994

Myliobatis aquila, 1977

Myliobatis, egg-purse of, 1980

Natterjack on Shalford Common, 2304

Nettles attractive to moths, 2199

Newt, description of a species of, 2149;
description of a new species of, 2198

Nidification of birds at Elveden, 2227

Nightingale, thrush, inquiry respecting
the eggs and nest of, 2064

Noctilio mastivus, habits of, 2004

Nomenclature, ornithological, 2062, 2136

Notoxus monoceros, inseclivorous propen-

' sity of, 2000

Nyssia hispidaria, abundance of near
Huddersfield, 2077

Oak-apples, insects produced from, 1995

Ocys tempestivus at Colney Hatch, 2108

Opadia funebrana, 1989

Ornithological occurrences in Norfolk,
1965, 2017, 2027, 2071, 2134, 2183,
2291

XXX

Ornithological nomenclature, 2062, 2136
Orthagoriscus mola, 1973

mi oblongus, 1973
Orthotania Buolinana, 1990
us Turionana, 1990

Osmia cornuta, 2213

Osprey in Spain, 1959; at Hickling and
Horsey, 2185

Otter in Derbyshire, 2281

Otters caught in a bow net at Cringleford,
2185

Ouzel, ring, nesting in Warwickshire,
2142; in Suffolk, 2063

Owl, little, in Spain, 1959; tawny, plumage
of, 2019 ; scops eared, near Wexford,
2019; short-eared, near Worcester,
2063 ; anecdote evincing gratitude in,
2140; parental affection in, 2141;
tawny, in Ireland, 2141 ; long capti-
vity of the little, 2141

Partridge on sea beach, as if about to mi-
grate, 1985

Paterson, Robert, ‘ Zoology for Schools,’
2047 -

Periah bitch, anecdote of, 2130

Peronea permutana at New Brighton,
2271

Petrel, stormy, at Hailsham, 2073

Petromyzon fluviatiliss,1978

marinus, 1978

Peewit destructive tu the wireworm, 2023

Phalarope, gray and red-necked, in Shet-
land, 2230

Philalcea incarnana, 1989
ss acereana, 1989

Phloiophilus Edwardsii at Colney Hatch,
2108

Phora fuscipes, 2099

Phycita abietella at Carlisle, 2331
» interpunctella, 2035

Pipe-fish, straight-nosed, 1972 ; anecdote
of, 2075

Pipistrelle in Derbyshire, 2278

Plover, Kentish, in Spain, 1962; little
ringed, in Spain, 1962 ; great, 2147;
golden, 2147; great, wintering in
Cornwall, 2023

Plovers, inquiry respecting the migration
of, 2023; migration of, 2066

Plusia Iota, difficulty of breeding, 1986,
2033 ; on rearing, 2076 ; diseased lar-
ve of, 2270

Polistichus vittatus in the Isle of Wight,
2111

Pratincole, collared, near Scarborough,
2023

Pristonychus Terricola, unusual habitat
. of, 2000

Pseudotomia coniferana, 1988

Pseudotomia dorsana, 1989
i" floricolana, 1989
ne simpliciana, 1988
Psocus quadripunctatus, nest of, 2221
Pterophorus pulveridactylus at Battel,
2236
Pyrenees, entomological zones of, 1983
Pytho depressus in Scotland, 1995
Quadrupeds of the northern district of
Inverness-shire, 2010
Quail, Andalucian, in Spain, 1961
Quail and young at Drayton, 2292
Rabbit in Derbyshire, 2287
Raia batis, 1977
‘5, Chagrinea, 1977
» Clavula, 1977
» maculata, 1977
» Wicrocellata, 1977
», oxyrhynchus, 1977
» radula, 1977
Rana esculenta at Epping, 2268
Rat, extraordinary instance of parental
care in, 2132; anecdote of a, 2223;
brown, in Derbyshire, 2285
Rats feeding on eels, 2008
Ray, cramp, 1976; eagle, 1977; painted,
1977; sandy, 1977; sharp-nosed, 1977;
spotted, 1977
Recreations, Zoological, 2047
Redpole, mealy, 2144 ; extreme abundance
of near Ipswich, 2064
Redstart, black, in Spain, 1960
Redstart in Queen’s County, Ireland, 2143
Redwing, egg of, 2142
Regulus, fire-crested, in Spain, 1960 ;
golden-crested, extraordinary assem-
blage of, 2020
Reptiles swallowing their young, 2268,
2305

Rhagium bifasciatum, 2217

Rhinoceros, escape of, 2253

Rhyacionia hastiana, 1990

Ring ouzel in Suffolk, 2003; nesting in
Warwickshire, 2142

Robin, early nesting of, 2019, 2020, 2064 ;
singular variety of, 2298

Roller near Redcar, 1968; near Banff,
2302

Rook, curious habit of, 2021; nesting of,
2145; anecdote of, 2146

Rooks, nesting of, 2189

‘ Russian Field Sports,’ 2254

Salmon, breeding, 1978

Sandpiper, green, in Spain, 1962; at
Cambo, Northumberland, 2066 ; spot-
ted, in Yorkshire, 2147; wood, near
Yarmouth, 2185; near Bootle, 2303

Scoter, velvet, in Suffolk, 2067 ; common,
2067; surf, in Shetland, 2067

XXXI

Scoters, velvet and common, on Winder-
mere, 2230

Scyllium canicula, 1973
* catulus, 1973
¥ melanostomum, 1973

Sea-adder, 1972; painted, 1972; great,
1972 ; small, 1972; stiff, 1972 ; worm,
1973

Sea-fowl captured near the North Cape
by foxes, 2071

Sea-serpent, Captain W oodward’s account,
2028 ; objections to Captain Wood-
ward’s account, 2192; Lieutenant
Drummond’s account, 2306 ; Captain
M’Quhe’s account, 2307; Captain
Henderson’s account, 2308 ; Captain
Beechey’s note on, 2309; Mr. Stir-
ling’s account, 2310; Dr. Mantell’s
hypothesis, 2310 ; Dr. Melville’s hypo-
thesis, 2310 ; supposed to be a Plesio-
saurus, 2310; its existence universally
believed in Norway, 2311; Professor
Owen’s hypothesis, 2312; Dr. Cogs-
well’s resumé of the evidence, 2316 ;
Captain M’Quhe’s reply to Professor
Owen, 2323

Sericoris Douglasana, 1990

Sertularia gracilis, 2223

Shanny, extraordinary habit of, 2029

Sharks.—Small spotted dog, 1973; larger
spotted dog, 1973; black-mouthed
dog-fish, 1973; white shark, 1973;
thrasher, 1974; blue shark, 1974;
porbeagle, 1974; miller dog, 1974 ;
smooth hound, 1975 ; picked dog or
spear dog, 1975; hammer-headed
shark, 1975; long-tailed shark near
Berwick-on-T weed, 2075

Shearwater, great, near Robin Hood's
Bay, 2027

Shrew, common, habits of, 1957; oared,
at Birkenhead, 2009; in Derbyshire,
2280; water, in Derbyshire, 2280 ;
oared, in Lancashire, 2289

Shrike, great gray, in Spain, 1960; at
Carrow, 2018

Siskin nesting near Durham, 2188

Skate, 1977; long-nosed, 1977

Skua, Buffon’s, near Thetford, 2149

Smerinthus ocellatus, eggs of, 2269

is populi, hermaphrodite, 2270

Snake, anecdote of, 1968 ; in the hole of
a sand-martin, 2027; captured in a
mole-trap, 2028

Sparrow—is this bird more useful or inju-
rious to the farmer ? 2188, 2299

Sphecodes rugosus, 2209

Spherites glabratus in Scotland, 2000

Sphinx Convolvuli in Scotland, 1985; at
Battel, 2331

Sphinx Drurei at Bishop’s Auckland,
2076

Spiders, touch of, 2328

Spilonota amenana, 1988
iJ rusticana, 1988
‘ trigeminana, 1988

Spinax acanthias, 1975

Spoonbill, white, in Spain, 1962; in Sus-
sex, 2066; at Aldborongh, 2229

Squatina angelus, 1976

Squirrel, common variety of, 1957; in
Derbyshire, 2283

Starling, singular nesting-place of, 2145 ;
white variety of, 2229

Steganoptycha immundana, 1989

Stilt, black-winged, in Spain, 1962

Stint, Temminck’s, in Spain, 1963 ; near
Oxford, 1969; near Penzance, 2259

Stoat and rooks, 1958 e

Stoat in Derbyshire, 2282

Stork, white, in Spain, 1962; at the
Land’s End, 2147; near York, 2191,
2229; near Yarmouth, 2291

Strickland, H. E., and Melville, A. G.,
* Dodo and its Kindred,’ 2259

Sturgeon, 1973

Sun-fish, oblong, 1973; short, 1973

Swallow, white variety of, 2021

Swallows at Penmanshiel, 1968 ; scientific
dictum of Dr. Johnson respecting,
2064 ; dug out of hedge-banks, 2302 ;
a plea in their behalf, 2303

Swan, wild, anecdote of, 2024; on the
Tay, 2148; Bewick’s, in Wexford
Harbour, 2026

Swift, alpine, in Spain, 1961

Sylvia hippolais near Dover, 2228

Syngnathus acus, 1972

Bs anguineus, 1972
9 equoreus, 1972
a lumbriciformis, 1973

a: ophidion, 1972
So Typhle, 1972
Tern, gull-billed, 1963; black, near Ox-
ford, 2191; roseate, near Bicester,
2230
Terrier, anecdote of, 2131
Tetanocera dorsalis, 2200
Tetratoma ancora at Colney Hatch, 2109
Tetratoma Desmaretsii in Henhault Fo-
rest, 2109
Tetrodon Pennaatii, 1973
Thornback, 1977
Tit, blue, white variety of, 2027; great,
apparent migratory movement of, 2071
Toad, tameness and voracity of, 2074

XXX

Torpedo nobiliana, 1976

Tortrix pillerana, 1987

Tortrix viridana, aberrant economy of,
2331

Trichius fasciatus, 2216
i zonatus, 2216

Trigonalys anglicana in Derbyshire, 1994

Trigon pastinacea, 1977

Triton palmipes, 2231, 2265

Trout, voracity of, 2029, 2150; at Dray-
ton Manor, 2324

Turdus minor of Latham, 1966

Turkey’s bones at Lough Gur, supposed
occurrence of, 2064

Turnspit dog, anecdote of, 2053

Turtle dove, extraordinary instance of
friendship for a cat, 2132

Vanessa Antiopa at Bishop’s Auckland,
2032; at Ponder’s End, Enfield, 2032 ;
at Cromer, 2076; at Penge, Surrey,
2150 ; near Battel, 2236

Vole, water, in Derbyshire, 2285; field,
in Derbyshire, 2287

Vulture, Egyptian, in Spain, 1959; egg
of, 2138, 2296 ; griffon, 2063

Wagtail, gray-headed, in Spain, 1960 ;

near Penzance, 2144; white, near
Penzance, 2143; near York, 2229

Warbler, reed, near Dublin, 2143

Waxwing, Bohemian, near Lowestoft,
2017; near Newcastle-on-Tyne, 2019 ;
at Earsdon, Northumberland, 2064 ;
near Yarmouth, 2064; in Suffolk, 2064

Weasel in Derbyshire, 2281

Wheatears, note on, 2298

Wireworms destroyed by moles, 2009

W 00d, Searles V., ‘ Crag Mollusca,’ 2232

Woodchat in Spain, 1960

Woodcocks drowned in crossing the Chan-.
nel, 2023 ; breeding in Norfolk, 2148 ;
nesting of, 2148 ; nesting near Faken-
ham, 2185

Woodpecker, green, remarkable egg of,
2229, 2258, 2301; lesser spotted, near
Huddersfield, 2021

Worms, killing them before using them
as bait, 2269

Y ponomeuta sedella, 2272

Zeuzera arundinis at Holme Fen, 2236

Zygena malleus, 1975

Zoology for Schools, 2047

Zoophytes, new British, 2223

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THE ZOOLOGIST

FOR 1848.

Habits of the Common Shrew.—Early in October T caught in a plantation, a shrew
(Sorex araneus) in a mousetrap baited with a nut; I put it into a tin bath with some
mould in it and a piece of turf, and have been much interested in watching its habits.
Like all the insectivorous animals, it is very impatient of hunger, and its eagerness
for food renders it tame. It ate a worm from my hand whilst in the trap. I fed it on
cockroaches and spiders, which it appeared to like better than worms. The quantity
it would eat was surprising. Sometimes two or three dozen cockroaches were given to
it in the evening, and in the morning all were gone except the legs, wings, &c.,
although the bath was covered up so that they could not get out. In its habits
it was very active, always on the move, and usually making a shrill squeaking noise
whilst hunting for food. It appeared to follow its prey by scent, and not much
by sight. In eating a cockroach, it seized it behind the head, and then began to eat
from the head downwards, eating all the body except the legs and wings. Shrews are
very pugnacious. I put a dead one into the bath, when the living one seized
it directly by the head, trying to shake it. When frightened, it emitted a disagreeable
musky smell; and this is, as I conclude, the reason why cats will kill the shrews but
not eat them. After keeping it about a fortnight, during which time it remained in
perfect health, I let it go, being about to leave home.— Henry Barclay ; Leyton,
Essex, October 17th, 1847.

Variety of the Common Squirrel.—I have to day seen a fine variety of this interest-
ing little animal. It is of the usual colour, excepting that the mystachial bristles,
the nose and upper lips, the fore feet, two joints of the toes in the hind feet, and the
whole of the claws are white. There is a band of white, about an inch in breadth,
near the middle of the body, proceeding from the white of the belly, and nearly meet-
ing on the back. The tail has also, towards the tip, a band of the same colour, two
inches in breadth, which, when the tail is arched over the back is parallel with
the patches on the sides. It was shot in the neighbourhood of Hexham, Nor-
thumberland.— Thomas John Bold ; 42, Bigg Market, Newcastle-on-Tyne, Novem-
ber 27th, 1847.

Note on Cows having Twin Calves. — A supposition exists amongst many country ~
people, which has been strengthend in some measure by the remarks of scientific men

vi B

1958 Birds.

(See ‘ Bell’s British Quadrupeds,’ p. 517), “ that if a cow produce twin-calves, one of
each sex, the male is perfect and the female barren.” Being accustomed to receive
the opinions and assertions of such men as Bell and John Hunter with the utmost de-
ference, and consider them beyond the reach of contradiction, I have been very
reluctant to offer the following remarks, and my only motive for so doing is, that
I am fully convinced of their accuracy. The assertion then alluded to, I am con-
vinced requires further investigation, and is in many instances without foundation; and
as far as my experience serves me, it appears that a female in such a case will just as
frequently breed as not. Several instances of one so doing have come to my know-
ledge. The most remarkable came under my immediate observation. One of our
dairy cows, fattened in the summer of 1844 and sold to the butcher, was dropped at
the same time with a bull, and was the fruitful mother of five calves in five successive
years. A young cow, if she does not breed, is called in these parts a “ maiden” or
“ martyn heifer.’"—J. J. Briggs ; Derby.

The Stoat and the Rooks— On the 17th of September, while walking to church, I
had my attention drawn to a party of rooks, seated on a hill-side not far off. They
kept up a constant chattering, and appeared to be in considerable agitation and rest-
lessness. On approaching, I found the cause of this commotion was a stoat, which,
sallying every instant from a bush of furze close at hand, was endeavouring to secure
one of the rooks, by springing at it, as it sat, or into the air, if it rose. It was amus-
ing to see the half-alarmed, half-jesting bearing of the rooks, as they gazed on their
puny but supple assailant, or leaped lightly into the air when he made too close a dash
at any of them. Small as he was, he did not cease practising his athletics, till he dis-
persed the conclave. The result, perhaps, convinced him of the folly of attempting to
breakfast on a rook.—James Hardy ; Penmanshiel, near Cockburnspath, Berwickshire,
October 5th, 1847.

Notes on some of the rarer British Birds as observed in the South of Spain.
By the Rev. Cuaries A. Bury.

Some time has elapsed since my name last appeared in your pages. And some of
your readers, I am given to understand, have been pleased to express regret at my si-
lence. You, Mr. Editor, know that that silence has not resulted from any diminution
of interest in the welfare of the ‘ Zoologist.’ I could, were it worth while, assign more
than one reason for my apparent idleness; but one must suffice. That one, how-
ever, will probably be deemed good and sufficient by your readers: viz., I had nothing
worth communicating. What I now send you may not be worthy of insertion. In-
sert or reject it, as you please,—it will at least assure you that the ‘ Zoologist > has my
unabated good wishes.

Supposing you to pay me the compliment of printing this communication, I proceed
to allay any anxiety that may have been felt on my account by my zoological friends,
and to remove any hard thoughts my long silence may have given rise to, by informing
them that I migrated last autumn with our summer songsters (I am no songster my-
self) toa warmer clime. In short, that on October 17th, 1846, accompanied by my
better half, and my faithful Newfoundland dog, I embarked at Southampton for the
south of Spain. Now as one’s natural propensities will attend one, go where we may,

Birds. 1959

I determined, if no more important occupation offered, to amuse myself by acquiring
what information I could on the ornithology of Andalucia. And having so amused
myself during my daily walks for six months or more, I will give the readers of your
pages the benefit of my observations. My observations, I repeat, for be it known unto
you that whatever I have learned has been almost exclusively from personal observa-
tion ; scarcely a word of information to be relied on could I obtain from Spaniards.
The very sportsmen, who lived by their gun, confounded half a dozen species under
one name. For instance, all the duck tribe, however widely differing in size or plu-
mage, were ‘patos.’ This is to be accounted for by the fact that in Spain birds are es-
timated exclusively by size; all distinctions between tough and tender, well and ill-
flavoured are merged in the cocino ; and a woodcock upon table is known not to be a
sparrowhawk only by the length of his bill,—one will fetch as much as the other in the
market. The flamingo (in the estimation of a Spaniard) is equally good with the
goose or the bustard. I have seen upon table, and partaken of, the kestrel, gray
shrike, hoopoe, starling, &c. ; and had I not curiously examined heads and legs, should
not have suspected what I was eating.

I had fully anticipated meeting in Spain with some of our rarer birds, and was not
disappointed. To these my attention was chiefly directed. Had circumstances per-
mitted of my making excursions into the wild country, especially around Seville, I
should, doubtless, have fallen in with more species, and my account of those I did
meet with would have been less bald. Such as it is, however, I proceed to give
it you.

The Egyptian Vulture (Neophron percnopterus), I saw in pairs, usually on the
coast, but sometimes inland, in the neighbourhood of Malaga. It was not numerous,
and did not make its appearance till March; I presume it breeds in Spain, but could
not learn. There was a tame neophron, kept at the public slaughter-house at Malaga,
which seemed to fear neither biped nor quadruped. I had a fancy for bringing this
bird home, and commissioned a young fellow-countryman to strike a bargain for me ;
but I presume the owner thereof was unwilling to part with it,as I heard nothing from
my juvenile agent.

The Golden Eagle (Falco chrysaétos) seemed to be numerous in the mountainous
districts between Malaga and Granada. On one occasion there were two pairs
in sight at one time. Iam certain of the species; for one bird approached within
sixty yards.

The Osprey (Falco halizétos) I saw icmiansss in the neighbourhood of Malaga in
the month of March.

The Peregrine Falcon (Falco peregrinus) I saw but once, and that on the banks of
the Guadalquivir, November 12th.

The Little Owl (Strix passerina) frequented the olive orchards around Seville
throughout the winter. I have called this bird the little owl, because a friend whom I
left at Seville, tells me that after I was gone he obtained Strix passerina, and that it
became very plentiful close to Seville ; identifying it with the bird we had seen during
the winter in the olive orchards. I think, however, he was mistaken; and that the
little fellow we used to see was the scops eared owl (Strix scops). I did not succeed
in obtaining a specimen: for though this little owl is described as “ strictly noc-
turnal,” I found it too “ wide awake ” in the daytime to allow me to get a fair shot.
I one day saw as many as seven or eight in the same olive orchard. When first dis-
turbed it would fly out of the olive tree in exactly the opposite side to that on which I

1960 Birds.

was standing. Its flight was jerking and rapid, but seldom exceeded one hundred
yards. It always alighted on a large horizontal branch ; and then would sit peeping
and peering, bobbing its head up and down, and keeping far too sharp a look out to
allow me to approach within convenient distance. Although I spent some hours in
the pursuit at different times, I got no more than two shots; and those I—
missed !

The Great Gray Shrike (Lanius excubitor) was not uncommon during the winter
around Seville; though I saw male birds only. In March and April it was not to be
found about Malaga.

The Woodchat (Lanius rutilus) was first seen by me April 13th, and from that date
male birds were abundant. The female had not arrived, or, at least, I could not find
it, by the end of the month. The habits of this bird seemed closely to resemble
those of the red-backed shrike. Butterflies and Tipule appeared to be its favourite
food. ;

The Black Redstart (Sylvia Tithys) was very abundant about Seville all the
winter. I saw it throughout Andalucia. The males were in beautiful plumage before
the middle of February.

The Fire-crested Regulus (Regulus ignicapillus) I saw once on an olive tree near
Seville. I was sufficiently near to distinguish it plainly from its congener, the gold-
crest, which I did not see in Spain.

The Gray-headed Wagtail (Motacilla neglecta) made its appearance in small flocks
at Malaga in April.

Short-toed Lark (Alauda brachydactyla) I saw for the first time April 5th. It
became plentiful subsequently. Its note is sweet, but does not equal that of the wood-
lark. It sung when soaring; and rose to a considerable height. It frequented the
sandy plains near the sea at Malaga.

The Crested Lark (Alauda cristata) was very abundant throughout Andalucia. Its
note is plaintive ; uttered both on the wing, and when settled. I have observed it to
alight on either bush or tree. It can hardly be said to congregate, although many
individuals might frequently be seen in the same field. Many dozens congregated
daily in Seville market.

The Hawfinch (Lowia coccothraustes) I saw once in Cadiz market.

The Hoopoe (Upupa epops) I saw first in the neighbourhood of Malaga, March Ist.
In a few days after it became tolerably abundant. I obtained a pair as specimens ;
and found their crops well filled with the larva of some large coleopterous insect.
The flight of the hoopoe resembles that of the jay. It is seen to most advantage on
the ground, when its erect gait and the constantly repeated elevation and depression of
the crest give the bird a most interesting appearance. I do not think this bird had
commenced building when J left Malaga May 4th, although it seemed to have paired
previously to its arrival in March.

The Bee-eater (Merops apiaster). No one bird pleased me so much as did this very
beautiful fellow. A flock seen at some elevation over head against the clear blue sky
of Andalucia is a sight almost worth encountering the inconveniences of the Bay of
Biscay for. As they skim along, forming occasional gyrations, they appear almost
transparent. The bee-eater made its first appearance in the neighbourhood of
Malaga April 10th. It frequented in numbers the banks of the Guadaljore, some-
times settling on the low-growing willows, and sometimes congregating on a high tree.
Before leaving the country I visited one of the breeding places. This was situated in

Birds. 1961

a high bank or cliff on one of the tributaries of the Guadaljore. The cliff was some
sixty feet high, and was perforated much after the fashion of a colony of sand-
martins. From a friend I learned that the holes were from three to four feet deep.
My excursion was made during the third week in April; and the birds had not then
commenced building, though they abounded in the vicinity. Indeed I am not
sure that the females had arrived, as all the specimens I obtained proved to
be males.

The Alpine Swift (Cypselus alpinus) I saw but once in Spain. I was sketching on
the heights near Malaga, with my gun by my side; and raising my eyes to take a sur-
vey of the prospect before me, my attention was arrested by an unusually large swift
skimming about with a number of its congeners. As it turned in the sunshine (just
out of shot) its white belly was too apparent—,that is, for my peace of mind, and the
completion of my sketch ; which has in consequence come to England in an unfinished
state: for I found it impracticable to keep one eye on my board, and the other wan-
dering after the bird. Subsequently at Berne I had full opportunity of observing the
flight of this bird. There it was abundant ; and more than once did I sit and watch
its gyrations around the spire of the cathedral. The flight of the Alpine swift, though
nearly resembling that of our common species, is readily distinguished from it. It is
as rapid, but steadier. While the common swift appears always in a bustle, hurrying
past you as if the existence of the universe depended on its being in time; the flight
of the Alpine swift is deliberate and graceful. Its note is not unlike that of the kes-
trel, but not so loud, or in so high a key.

The Andalucian Quail (Hemipodius tachydromus). I hoped, Mr. Editor, to have
fully informed myself, and enlightened your readers on the habits of this pretty and
interesting late addition to the British fauna; and therefore, in all my walks into the
country, and in all my visits to the town markets, I kept my eyes wide open in search
of it. I ascertained that such a bird existed, and was known by the name of Torillo—
Anglice, little bull; so called from its note, said to resemble the bellowing of the
veritable bull; but I heard it not. Neither did I see the bird for weeks after I had
been in Andalucia. Every quail my dog flushed was to my hopes a torillo; but disap-
pointment only succeeded disappointment, until in January we visited the remarkable
Moorish ruins of Alcala, some three leagues from Seville. Here, wandering in the
gipsey quarter, we stumbled upon a cage, containing a real live torillo! All sorts of
questions were put and answered; the substance of information gained was that the
said torillos were plentiful in the neighbourhood. I do not mean to say that my rest
was disturbed, but I certainly dreamed of the torillos I was to shoot the next day, ac-
companied, as I was to be, by an experienced casador. Many a weary mile did I
trudge next day, but no torillos did I see; nor anything else scarcely. And the only
other example that I did see was suspended in a poultereyr’s stall at Cadiz. At Malaga
I learned from two English gentlemen sportsmen that this bird was to be found in the
neighbourhood, but was never abundant; that it frequented the uncultivated lands
abounding with the Palmeta plant; and they considered it to be a constant resident.
I made in company with one of these gentlemen a long day’s unsuccessful search
for it.

The Great Bustard (Otis tarda) I saw on the banks of the Guadalquivir in parties
of from ten to fifty. In summer this bird approaches very near to Seville, when it be-
comes an especial object of pursuit to the casadores. A lady told me she had known

1962 Birds.

her husband come home in the evening laden “ like an ass” with five of these birds.
All agreed that this bird was very difficult of approach.

The Kentish Plover (Charadrius cantianus) I obtained out of a small flock on the
plain immediately outside the walls of Seville. It was abundant on the sea-shore at
Malaga.

The Little Ringed Plover (Charadrius minor) also I obtained at Malaga. I occa-
sionally saw small flocks at the mouth of the Guadaljore.

The White Stork (Ciconta alba) wasjust making its appearance at Seville, where it
breeds in numbers, when we left February Ist.

The Spoonbill (Platalea leucorodia). I saw only a solitary example as we as-
cended the Guadalquivir in November. It does not winter in Spain.

The Glossy Ibis (/bis falcinellus). I bought in the market at Malaga, April 21st,
an adult male specimen. It had been shot at the mouth of the Guadaljore, by a
more fortunate casador than myself. The same man contrived to kill at one shot, a
day or two subsequently, two magnificent flamingos.

The Green Sandpiper (Totanus ochropus) was abundant throughout the winter on
all the snipe grounds, very much to the annoyance of the shooter: for immediately on
its emitting its note, (and it. usually kept an exceedingly sharp look out), all
the snipes in the neighbourhood tock the hint. It goes by the name of the ‘ snipe’s
monitor.’

The Black-winged Stilt (Himantopus melanopterus). I crave your sympathy fellow-
students of Ornithology, while I relate my sad tale. Visiting, April 22nd, a lagoon at
the mouth of the Guadaljore, which I was in the habit of frequenting, because birds
of many species frequented it too, the first peep showed me at some distance what,
though standing deep in the water, I could not fail to recognize as the black-winged
stilt. I determined to exercise Spanish caution in making my approach. The
ground was favourable: for a bed of the low-growing broom reached to within twenty
yards of the bird. I concealed my friend, made my dog crouch, doffed my sombrero,
and commenced with stealthy crawl to make for my object. When I guessed I must
be within shot, I raised my head softly and cautiously, when, lo! a stupid redshank,
which I had not seen, rose shrieking, close to my side. Away, of course, went the stilt,
crossing the lagoon and the river. Again and again did I get all but within shot ;
and hour after hour passed away in pursuit: at last the bird settled on the opposite
side of the river, where I could not possibly get near it; I therefore sat down,
and watched its proceedings with my glass. Getting tired of this, I was under the
necessity of frightening the bird from its present position, with the hope it might take
up another more favorable to my wishes _[ fixed my gun,— the stilt rose, and with
it another bird, which from difference of uote, and similarity of appearance, I judge
to have been the spotted redshank, new to me, and therefore almost as valuable as the
stilt. Away they went, in company, up the river,—I saw them alight some half mile
from me, and was off in pursuit ; when, observing two fishers coming down the river,
who would certainly reach the spot before me, I altered my tactics. The birds, when
flushed, would doubtless come down the river ; down therefore squatted among the
canes close on the river’s brink, my friend, dog, and self, to await their approach. On
came the fishers; up got the birds; and here they come, directly towards us! F ancy,
ye brother collectors, my feelings ; two rare birds, the first of their respective species I
had seen alive, borne directly towards me with rapid wing! On they come, the red-

Birds. . 1963

shank leading, the stilt not ten yards behind. Click,—click, went the locks of my gun,
—I allowed them to cross me ; then sprang from my covert; bang — at the redshank ;
bang —at the stilt. Alas! forgive me, ye sportsmen ; pity me, ye ornithologists;
both birds continued their flight! The one only turning a summerset, the other
dropping one of its long legs. Had they been two snipes, in short, had they been any-
thing but a spotted redshank and a black-winged stilt, no doubt I should have killed
them both, despite a certain mistiness which seemed to obscure my vision; and
for which I will leave thuse who have been similarly circumstanced to account. Well,
so it was, but not a solitary instance of disappointment on that self-same lagoon ; for
I could tell of I know not what species of heron falling before my gun amid the canes,
too thick and too strong to allow of entrance to my trusty Newfoundland ; and I must
have told of the consequent loss of the bird. The stilt, however, alighted in sight ;
and scarcely had it alighted, when I observed a casador stalking it. But, away it
went; and away went I to join the Spaniard. I did sv, and promised him a dollar, if
he would bring me the bird next morning. Next morning arrived, and with it the
easador with abundance of redshanks, dunlins, &c., but no stilt. That evening at
11 p.m. we were to start for Granada. At 7 p.m. the casador again appeared, with
the stilt alive. He had caught it; for weakened by its wounds, it was unable to rise.
I had one hundred matters to settle before starting ; no wonder then that the poor stilt
was skinned hurriedly. I could not get the head through the neck. I attempted to
extract the brain, and succeeded but imperfectly. On my return from Granada the
skin was spoiled! So much for the black-winged stilt! You will, perhaps, not
deem this long story worth inserting. Its moral is, the extreme wariness of the
bird,

The Black-tailed Godwit (Limosa melanura) I saw in the market at Cadiz.

Temminck’s Stint (Tringa Temminckii). A pair of these little fellows frequented a
stream near Seville. They were very shy, and I had some difficulty in obtaining
one of them.

The Black Tern (Sterna nigra) frequented the harbour of Malaga.

The Gull-billed Tern (Sterna Anglica) I obtained at Malaga.

The Masked Gull (Larus capistratus) was abundant in the same locality.

A friend of mine has suggested that I should wind up with a few observations on
the habits of birds as affected by climate. It is an interesting subject ; and the idea
may probably be new to some of your readers.

Birds, like men, are certainly affected by circumstances, though probably not to a
like extent. The experience of every bird-fancier will testify how greatly the disposi-
tion and habits of his pets are changed by his treatment. And this change is not con-
fined to the young birds reared from the nest; even the adult, caught and reclaimed,
alters greatly in no long time. The taste in food, the choice of company, and tints of
plumage undergo more or less of change.

But are birds thus susceptible while in a state of nature? . No doubt when
driven by necessity, they adapt themselves to existing circumstances.

A pair of birds, accustomed to build their nest in the hedgerow, if removed from a
cultivated district, and transferred to some boundless and treeless plain, will accommo-
date themselves to their altered position, and build upon the ground. I imagine, too,
that if the same pair, natives of a temperate, were removed to a tropical clime, the
period of nidification would be affected. I surmise this; for I am not sure that I have
unquestionable facts to fall back upon, from the occasional instances which occur in

1964 Birds.

our own land of premature nidification when the temperature in early spring has been
unusually high. Now, I observed in Spain last winter certain deviations of habit in
species with which I am tolerably familiar. Whether these deviations were the result
of difference of climate, or of change of other circumstances, I am not prepared to say :
your readers shall have the facts, and may draw their own inferences. In the com-
mon snipe, for instance, to which I paid particular attention, and of which a good
many dozens fell to my gun, it did appear to me that the general habits or manners
were different from those of any snipes whose acquaintance I have courted in
this country. The Spanish snipe would much less frequently “le” to the gun. It
seldom got up within satisfactory distance to the gunner, unless he had marked
it down, and stole upon it. When flushed, the English snipe usually takes a long and
high circling flight, and then drops almost perpendicularly, not unfrequently very
near the spot it sprung from. Not so the Spaniard, (though, be it remembered, he is
no Spaniard by birth, but has come southward in November); no; up he gets, some
thirty or forty yards from you, and down he is again only some hundred and fifty yards
off — that is, provided you have not been clever enough to bring him down within a
less distance — to tantalize you with the hope of another and a nearer shot. Then,
again: in England IJ never saw a snipe on the ground before flushing it. In short,
many a time have I, on approaching the spot on which I have accurately marked a
snipe down, stopped and scrutinized most carefully with the hope of detecting the
little skulker, and never succeeded yet. Not so was it in Spain: there I could see
snipes running about on the ploughed lands, or on the margin of the pools, wading up
to the knees in water, or preening their feathers, as they stood on one leg on the sand
or on the mud; so that I am now familiar with the terrestrial, as well as aérial move-
ments of the snipe. There they were, four of them, one day in the city-ditch of
Seville, taking their pleasure in full view, and within twenty yards of persons innume-
rable constantly passing and repassing. I know a snipe can be familiar in this coun-
try in very severe weather ; for I have known snipes to be caught in steel traps in a
farm-yard: but it was not severe weather, and consequent short commons at Seville
which produced this familiarity, bordering at least upon contempt. The jacksnipe was
equally bold ; for I saw him too in the self-same ditch. I may be wrong in attribut-
ing these differences of habit to difference of climate. They may have resulted from
the known or supposed absence of danger: for it was not till quite lately that the Spa-
nish sportsman considered the snipe an object worthy of his gun, or, it may be,
within its and his own capabilities,—at least, so testifies Mr. Ford, our highest autho-
rity in Spanish sports. That birds possess a certain amount of discrimination I am
pretty confident. If they be not capable of reasoning, they do somehow or other infer
pretty correctly whether they are, or are not the object of the gunner’s pursuit.

I remember an incident, apparently in point, which struck me forcibly at the time:
some years ago I was in the habit of taking an early walk; and my usual path led di-
rectly through a very well-stocked preserve. It is not to be supposed that I could
pass and repass daily among some hundreds of pheasants, and not make my observa-
tions on their growth and change of plumage, especially as there were among them
many of the pied variety, at that time new to me. So little did these birds regard my
presence, that they would allow me to approach within forty or fifty yards with-
out showing other sign of alarm than the mere elevation of the head. Well, the last
morning of September arrived, — I walked as usual ; and as usual admired the. gor-
geous display of cock pheasants, now in full and brilliant plumage. I remember stop-

Birds. 1965

ping and counting, and, I will not say dropping a tear, yet in something akin to pity,
- wondering how many of the fine fellows before me would fall to the gun next day. It
so happened that I did not walk in that direction for three or four days subsequently ;
but, on my next appearance, the instant I was seen every cock pheasant disappeared,
while the hen birds continued their breakfast, as unconcerned at my presence as they
were wont to be in September. Had not the cocks learned from the experience of the
two or three days preceding, that they were the objects of pursuit to the proprietor and
his friends; and therefore learned to regard man somewhat differently than they re-
garded him previously to October Ist? I am at a loss otherwise to account for
the alarm of the cocks, and the equanimity of the hens. The one inferred danger in
the presence of man, thongh incorrectly so far as I was concerned ; the other might
feel for the cocks, but did not fear for themselves. So may it have been with the
Spanish snipes. ‘hey may not have heard of the introduction into Spain of the per-
cussion cap; nor have learned that with its aid the Spanish sportsman can occasion-
ally knock down a snipe on the wing; and moreover that said sportsman was acquir-
ing a taste for such litile exhibitions of skill. And, it may be, that their unwilling-
ness to allow me to approach them, originated in the association of ideas: they con-
nected an English shooting-jacket with an English gun-barrel, and perhaps inferred
greater danger than was wont to attend the explosion of a Spanish piece. I might
remark on the differences observed in some other species; but my “ tailing off” has
already extended to an unconscionable length.

CyHares A. Bury.
Cheshunt, Dec. 4th, 1847.

Ornithological and other Observations in Norfolk for the month of October, 1847.—
The red-necked phalarope was taken at Weybourn about the 3rd instant; and on the
9th the ringed or bridled guillemot (Uria lacrymans) occurred at Yarmouth. This
species is, we believe, new to the Norfolk list. It was observed that the white mark on
each cheek which forms the “ bridle,” is not merely a line, but an indentation or groove
in the feathers throughout its length. We have lately seen an egg, taken at Bridling-
ton, which is said, on good authority, to belong to this species. It is white, with a
few minute spots of dark brown irregularly disposed over its surface, and is much
about the size of the eggs of the common guillemot. This bird is said to breed regu-
larly on the rocks at Bridlington, but in a different and less accessible situation than
that chosen by the latter species. An example of the American bittern (Botaurus len-
tiginosus), another interesting addition to the birds of Norfolk, has also been killed at
Yarmouth ; but not having seen the bird, we are not at present able to add anything to
the bare mention of its occurrence. Coveys of the common partridge have, on one
occasion to the number of seven, and on another of ten, been lately found among the
boats on Yarmouth beach ; and the same species has been killed in various parts of
that town. Mr. Yarrell remarks that this bird is said to be migratory at the limits of
its geographical range, although stationary in central Europe; and quotes M.
Malhérbe’s Fauna of Sicily, to show that it visits that island every spring and autumn,
on its passage from North Africa to Italy and back. This being the case, we have
little doubt from the circumstance related above, that the common partridge is also
occasionally migratory with us; and the supposition is strengthened by the facts

ve C

1966 Birds.

which we have elsewhere noticed, (Zool. 1317) that its congener, the red-legged par-
tridge, sometimes exhibits the same propensity. We are assured by an intelligent and
highly respectable correspondent at Yarmouth, that late on the evening preceding the
day on which the locusts were found in considerable numbers about that place, he
heard a kind of confused humming in the air, which he afterwards confidently attri-
buted to the noise made by the passage of the flight of those insects, then passing over-
head. An example of the peregrine falcon (the young female of the year) has been
taken near Yarmouth.—J. H. Gurney, W. R. Fisher ; October, 1847.

Ornithological Notices in Norfolk for November, 1847.—Towards the end of last
month a female spoonbill was killed at Salthouse ; this bird is said to have resorted, at
intervals, to a marsh at that place for nearly four months previous to its capture. An
immature male specimen of the white-headed eagle was shot at Westwick on the 10th
instant; in its stomach were found the remains of a herring. About the same time a
pair of waxen chatterers were killed at Runton, near Cromer; and another pair of the
same species were killed at Horsea about the end of the month. Shortly after the
middle of the month a gray lag goose (male) was also killed at Horsea, being the first
Norfolk specimen of that species which has come under our notice in a recent state.
And about the same time an immature glaucous gull occurred at Horsea.—J. H.
Gurney, William R. Fisher ; November, 1847.

Rare Birds in Derbyshire. —In February, 1845, I saw the following individuals at
Mr. Cook’s Museum, Derby : — a dotterell, killed near Twyford ; a rose-colored pastor,
shot near Matlock ; a great northern diver, shot off the Derwent near Derby ; and a
fire-crested Regulus that had been killed some years ago in the vicinity of Derby.—
J. J. Briggs ; Derby.

Habit of the Young Cuckow.—The following anecdote communicated to me by Mr.
Dunn, the intelligent steward of James Clayfield Ireland, Esq., Brislington Hall, will
probably interest many of your readers. In the nest of a hedge-sparrow, some years
ago, was deposited au unusual egg. In process of time this was hatched, and, by some
means, before the bird’s own eggs. The stranger was of a singular form “ ewactly like
a toad, with a deep cavity in its back.” One morning, while looking into the nest, he
was struck by observing this unfledged creature wriggling about until it bad got one of
the eggs into the hollow in the back, when, by a sudden jerk, it threw it out of the
nest. The egg was repeatedly replaced, when the same means were had recourse to
for its ejectment. I am indebted for this fact to the circumstance of an egg of the
cuckow having been deposited this year in the nest of a robin, built in a hole of a wall
near Rose Cottage, Brislington, the residence of the Rev. R. Astley. This had also
ejected the natural possessors, possibly by the same means: the bird was carefully
watched until fully fledged, when it was for some time secured by a sort of cage: the
robin continuing to feed it with maternal care. It made its escape towards the end of
June, remaining for a day or two in one of the high trees near the cottage. — John
Sircom, Jun. ; Brislington, October 4th, 1847.

Note on the occurrence of Turdus minor of Latham, in Belgium.— Having received
a few days since from Namur a present of several dozen thrushes and fieldfares des-
tined for the table, I had the curiosity to inspect the parcel before passing it to the
cook. One of the birds, by its small size, immediately attracted my attention. A
nearer investigation showed me that it was very distinct from all our other indigenous
species of the genus Turdus, so that I took a description of it, after which I had it
carefully stuffed. Being desirous to discover its name, I perused attentively all the

Birds. 1967

works on.the birds of the northern hemisphere which I could consult, and have come
to the conclusion that it is no other than Turdus minor of Latham. This bird has
been a great puzzle to ornithologists in general, and that for two principal reasons ;
firstly, because Latham’s description is not quite characteristic ; and secondly, because
the species is so, rare, that Brehm is the only author who mentions it as a European
bird.* This bird differs at first sight from Turdus viscivorus, Linn., by its three outer
tail quills which are not tipped with white; from Turdus pilaris, Linn. and Turdus
migtatorius, Liwn. by its head, which is neither ash-colored nor gray; from Turdus
musicus, Linn. by its wing-coverts, which are not terminated by a whitish band, and
by its breast, which is not brightly tinted with yellow; from Turdus iliacus,
Linn. by the absence of the rufous stain on the flanks, and by the triangular
shape of the dusky spots on the breast; from Turdus torquatus, Linn., T. merula,
Linn., T. atrogularis, Temm., T. Naumannii, Temm., T. Sibiricus, Pall., T. solitarius,
Swain., and T. aureus, Hol., by the general colour of the plumage; from Turdus pal-
lidus, Pall. by the absence of a band on the wing-coverts as well as of white tips to the
tail-quills ; from Turdus auroreus, Pall. by the inferior wing-coverts, which are not
brown; from Turdus dubius, Brehm. and T. ruficollis, Pall. by the breast, which is not
tan-colored ; from Turdus minor, Richardson, by its back, which is not “ yellowish-
brown, verging to orange-brown,” and by the spots on its breast, which are clearly de-
fined ; from Turdus Wilsoni, Bonap., by the second wing-quill, which is not equal to
the fourth, and by its back, which is not brown; from Turdus silens, Swain., by the
‘second wing-quill not being equal to the sixth, and by the quills, which are not tipped
with white. It is, besides, much smaller than any of these birds, the Turdus minor of
the ‘ Fauna Boreali-Americana’ excepted. This very rare thrush was unknown to
Temminck. The head, nape, back, and rump are oil-green, of an uniform tint; the
upper wing-coverts are of the same colour, and do not present the slightest traces of
transverse bands as in Turdus musicus ; the cheeks are yellowish, sprinkled with small
dusky spots ; the chin and throat are white, slightly tinted with yellow and spotless ;
the breast is white, inclining a little to very pale yellowish, and covered with nume-
rous small dark triangular spots ; these spots are smaller towards the throat, but be-
come larger towards the lower parts, where their form becomes transversely oval; they
cease along the middle of the abdomen, but extend some way along the flanks, where
they soon verge into a large dusky-gray cloud which occupies the posterior portion of
the flanks. The abdomen and under tail-coverts are pure white; the wing-
quills are blackish, their exterior edge being very slightly bordered by a brown-
_ish line as in Turdus iliacus; the rectrices are brown above, grayish-black beneath ;
the under wing-coverts are white, with a few ashy spots; a black line preceded by a
narrow yellow one descends from the angle of the bill, and extends along the sides of
the throat; the upper mandible is blackish, the lower one yellow at the base ; the ric-
tus bears three or four stiff hairs; the legs, which are remarkably slight, are pale
brownish. There exists no white supra-ocular band. The first wing-quill is rudi-
mentary ; the second is longer than the fourth; the third is the longest ; the fifth is
much shorter than the fourth ; the sixth is much shorter than the fifth. The size of
its body does not appear to be more than half that of Turdus musicus when they are
laid side by side, and the bill is proportionally shorter than in that species. Latham’s

* From a specimen killed in 1829 in the duchy of Anhalt Cothn near the Elbe.

1968 Birds.

description of this bird says that it has dusky spots on a white ground on the breast ;
that the remainder of the under parts are white; that the back is olive brown ; that
the tail and wing-quills are brownish; and that the length is about seven inches.
This answers to my bird, but these words might be applied to at least twenty different
sorts of thrushes, were it not for the small size indicated.

Comparative dimensions of T. iliacus, T. musicus, and T. minor.

T. iliacus. T.musicus. T. minor.

in. — lin. in. lin. in. lin.
Total length 9 O 9 2 6.47
Length of wing from the alias 4 6 4 956 4 0
Length of tail... “8g “ee aati Rr l 2 3
Length of tarsus Lav ly 2 10
Length of hallux 0 3 Q 48 0,42
Length of its nail 043 O 2 0.2
Length of middle toe with the fail Ly A bi iO 0 6
‘Length of bill from angle 60 sh Oh % 0 5
Length of bill along the upper ridge ... O 53 Mig 0 4

— Julian Deby ; Laeken, October 20th, 1847.

Occurrence of the Roller near Shelton Castle (Redcar ?).—Last July a pair of rollers
were seen in a plantation called ‘* Forty Pence,” belonging to John Thomas Wharton,
Esq., of Shelton Castle. One of which was shot by Mr. Rickaby, who farms the land
adjoining the said plantation, and is now in the possession of Mr. Lawrence Wetherell,
of Guisboro’. This proved, on dissection, to be a female having eggs in it, conse-
quently we may infer that the other seen was a male, and that they would have bred
in that locality if they had not been disturbed.— 7. S. Rudd; Redcar, November
4th, 1847.

Disappearance of Swallows at Penmanshiel, Berwickshire.—The swallows left us
about the 9th of September, immediately after their last broods had become fledged,
and the martins disappeared from the coast a day or two after. I was much surprised,
however, on the morning of the 3rd instant (October) to see five or six of the swallows
glide rapidly past, uttering their usual sharp note, and disappear to the south. This,
doubtless, was a party of loiterers, on their way to overtake our departed sum-
mer friends —James Hardy ; Penmanshiel, by Cockburnspath, Berwickshire, October
5th, 1847.

Female Bullfinch in Plumage of Male.—A few months back I wrote to Mr. Water-
ton to ask him to have the goodness to explain to me the following fact: I have in my
possession a bullfinch which I always thought was a cock, but one morning, on looking
into the cage, I saw an egg in it. Great was my surprise; I took out the egg and ex-
amined it; it was not a perfect egg, it was soft. The bird has never been, as far as I
know, with any other bird: I inquired of the man who used to have charge of him, if
it had ever been with another bird, and he answered negatively. A few mornings af-
ter that, I found another egg like the other, not perfect. I wrote to Mr. Waterton
twice, and mentioned in one of my letters, that perhaps lime was the cause of an im-
perfect egg ; he said he did not think that quite the case. I must make a great many
excuses to you for not writing sooner, as Mr. Waterton said the fact was most worthy
of investigation. I should not myself have thought it anything worthy of looking into
if he had not said so. Perhaps you might be so kind as to give me some information

Reptiles. 1969

on the subject— Bertram Talbot ; Alton Towers, near Cheadle, Staffordshire, October
22nd, 1847.

Female Fowl in Plumage of Male.—Last autumn I saw at the house of Mr. Parting-
ton, gamekeeper to Lord Lilford, a domestic fowl in male plumage, which Mrs. Par-
tington assured me had laid several eggs. It had the appearance of a young game
cock after the first moult, but the colour of the feathers was not quite so rich. Its
spurs and wattles were fully developed, but the comb not so much so in proportion.
There are two facts with regard to this bird which I think worth recording in the
‘ Zoologist.’ The one is, that it assumed the male plumage so early in the second
moult; the other is, that it did not commence laying until after it had completed that
moult. Ihave lately ascertained that this bird has been killed, and that upon opening
it, a cluster of eggs in embryo was found. In White’s ‘Natural History of Sel-
borne’ (pages 93 and 94) some instances similar to the above are given, with this ex-
ception, that the youngest age named at which the hen changed her plumage for that
of the cock is thirteen years. The passage commences thus: “ There is a re-
markable physiological fact in the animal economy,—that of the females of many
species assuming somewhat of the character of the male when they become aged.” —
Nicholas Cooke; Hope Mills, Warrington, November 25th, 1847.

Occurrence of the Little Bustard at Kirton Lindsey, Lincolnshire.— A most beauti-
ful male specimen of the little bustard (Otis tetrax) was shot at Kirton Lindsey on the
7th of October last: its length from the tip of the back to the end of the tail was
twenty-three inches; the expansion of its wings forty-four inches; its weight two
pounds and a quarter: it has a splendid row of feathers down each side of the neck :
its craw was filled with caterpillars of the common yellow underwing moth, small
shelled snails, &c.— Alfred Roberts ; Brigg, Lincolnshire, Dec. 7th, 1847.

Occurrence of Temminck’s Stint near Oxford.—I beg to forward a notice of the oc-
currence of Temminck’s stint (Tringa Temminckii) near Oxford. A pair of adult
birds were killed upon the banks of the river Isis in Port Meadow, August 24th.
They were shot by a lock-keeper named Bossom, and have been set up by Mr. Orman,
St. Aldates, Oxford.—H. Roundell ; Christ Church, Oxford, Oct. 27th, 1847.

Occurrence of the young of the Little Bittern near Enfield. —I have lately re-
ceived a specimen of the little bittern (Ardea minor, Linn.); killed September 18th,
1847, on the river Lea, near Enfield, by a bargeman. It is a young bird of the year,
and I think has been bred in the neighbourhood, as there is some remains of the nest-
ling down, and it is not fully fledged.—F'redk. Bond ; Kingsbury, Oct. 11th, 1847.

Occurrence of the Speckled Diver at Worcester. — A specimen of the speckled diver
was shot about a fortnight ago in the Severn, just opposite the Deanery, Wor-
cester. It is now in the possession of a gentleman residing in this parish—W. W.
Cooper ; Claines, near Worcester, Dec. 15th, 1847.

Anecdote of a Snake. — I have recently been told the following anecdote by a gen-
tleman, for whose veracity I can vouch, which I think is strongly illustrative of the sa-
gacity of thesnake. If you think it worthy of a corner in the ‘ Zoologist, you will
oblige by giving it one. Some time since, as the servant men belonging to my friend
were coming in to dinner, they had to pass through a small plantation, about one hun-
dred paces from the house, in which they saw two young snakes and an old one; they

1970 | Fishes.

succeeded in killing the young ones, but the old one escaped, and the men not being
able to find her, took the young ones and went to their dinner, leaving them outside
the kitchen-door. When they had dined, they were astonished to find the old snake
with her dead offspring. She must either have followed them in the distance, or,
which I think is more probable, have smelt their foot-prints, and so discovered
the bodies of her children.—E. Peacock, Jun. ; Messingham, Kirton Lindsey, Lincoln-
shire, Dec. 7th, 1847.

Breeding of the Salmon. — Indebted to a friend for the perusal of ‘The Angler’s
Companion to the Rivers and Lochs of Scotland,’ by Thos. Tod Stoddart, Blackwood,
Edinburgh, 1847. I have been so struck with his observations in the tenth chapter
on the breeding of salmon, that I shall here endeavour to lay them briefly before
the readers of the ‘ Zoologist.’ They tend to such a revolution of the generally re-
ceived opinion on the subject, and at the same time support the analogy of nature, that
they become very interesting, and call upon all, who have the opportunity of so doing,
to make further and fuller inquiry. He agrees with Mr. Shaw, of Drumlanrig, and
claims a priority in the advocacy of the theory, that the parr is the young of the sal-
mon; but differs entirely from the opinion of Mr. Shaw, — an opinion almost univer-
sally entertained, — that the ova can be or ever have been naturally or artificially im-
pregnated after they shall have been passed from the ovarium of the female to the ex-
ternal air, however ripe or mature they may have been, or however carefully extracted
and treated thereafter. After quoting at large the well known account given by Mr:
Shaw of his experiments with the ova of salmon, Mr.Stoddart contends that the whole
of them and the conclusions drawn from them, are based upon the false but popular
notion that the ova of the salmon, previous to their being emitted, are in an unimpreg-
nated state — that, until brought then into actual contact with the milt, they are, in
fact, perfectly barren and unproductive. Mr. Stoddart holds it a palpable anomaly,
that no direct act of coition should take place between the milter and the spawner and
that, long previous to the effusion of the ova; and that it is scarcely an argument to.
say that fish are deficient in organs suited for this act. He argues, or rather asks, if
worms and animals both above and below fish in the scale of creation have such or-
gans why should the finny tribe be without them. He denies that they are so desti-
tute, states it as a well ascertained fact that three-fourths of the salmon and grilse
which ascend Scottish rivers are female fish, and that one and all of these, without ex-
ception, are found to carry ova more or less developed according to the season of the
year or age of the fish. “ Nay, more, after having spawned, and while still in the kelt
state, before their return to the sea, many, I do say not all, have the new roe distinctly
developed.” These numbers preclude the idea of a pairing off in the breeding season.
He quotes Mr. Shaw, as admitting the fact that a female adult salmon was taken from
the river, in the act of spawning, in absence of the male, which he (Mr. Stoddart)
maintains is not at all an unfrequent case, but which, on the common theory of expel-
ling unimpregnated ova, would show an utter waste and prodigality. The salmon
thus engaged is likened to the hen-bird laying her ova — whether barren or fertile ;
and the prevalent notion, of the mode in which the ova of fish are fertilized, is held
up as being as ridiculous as if the barn-door cock had to fertilize the egg after it had
been dropped from his mate. Again, it is stated as being very absurd to think that in
the midst of a resisting and decomposing medium, such as water, the vivifying power

Fishes. ; 197]

of impregnation could be communicated by, and be made to depend upon, the contact
of two bodies disagreeing so much in their nature and specific gravity, as do the milt
and roe of fish. While both he and Mr.-Shaw admit that the milt of the male
parr seven or eight months old, is fully matured, but that the roe of the female of the
same age is just developed and barely distinguishable to the naked eye, Mr. Stoddart’s
solution is that the milt of the male parr is thus thoroughly matured in order that by
an act or acts of coition, previous to entering the salt water, the ovaria of his contem-
poraneous mate may be vivified—thus anticipating her return from the sea as a grilse,
to deposit not a bed of inert slough, but active and endowed spawn. Mr. Stoddart
supposes that polygamy obtains among the salmon tribes, and states that in the
Blackwater, near Contin, Rosshire, he saw a collection of above fifty fishes among
which were only three males, and these, notwithstanding the immense disproportion in
point of numbers, so jealously inclined towards each other, as to prefer fighting fu-
riously among themselves, to engaging in acts of duty and affection towards the other
sex ; while many of the females seemed in the act of spawning unattended by any of
the milters. He allows that the female, when on the redd, or in the act of spawning,
is frequently attended by a male fish, which hovers faithfully in her rear, and, without
making any attempt to disturb her, drives off every other male fish or common trout
that may approach; but affirms that it is not until after the female has shed
her spawn that there is any act of coition, and that the effect of this act is the im-
pregnation of her deposit of next year and not of that which has been already left on
the redd. Towards the end of this chapter Mr. Stoddart remarks, that were the com-
monly received opinion the correct one, as regards the impregnation of the ova of fish,
our streams would be swarming with hybrids, and that the pure and legitimate breeds
would be lost or soon thrown into the back ground. The ‘Angler in Ireland,’ and the
late Sir Anthony Carlisle, and also Mr. Younger, of St. Boswell’s, are referred to as
expressing opinions favorable to those adopted by Mr. Stoddart. To this gentleman
himself and to those who have read his interesting and instructive volume, I may ap-
pear to have barely done justice to the subject laid down in his pages. This appear-
‘ance may arise from the narrow limits to which I have here confined myself. I trust,
however, I have not misrepresented his statements. I shall be satisfied, if, by this
short notice, I succeed in turning the attention of others to a point in Natural History,
whose continued obscurity and debatableness are good grounds of reflection upon the
host of observers that are now abroad, in summer at least, by the sides of almost every
stream in Scotland.—G. Gordon ; Birnie, by Elgin, Dec. 2nd, 1847.

Fishes and the Law of Kindness.—In a quarter of the town of Hingham, known as
Rockynook, there is a pond, where a little girl, not six years old, who resides near the
bank, has tamed the fishes to a remarkable degree. She began by throwing crumbs
in the water. Gradually the fishes learned to distinguish her footsteps, and darted to
the edge whenever she approached ; and now they will actually feed out of her hand
and allow her to touch their scaly sides. A venerable turtle is among her regular pen-
sioners. The control of Van Amburgh over his wild beasts is not more surprising than
that which this little girl has attained over her finny playmates. The fishes will have
nothing to do with any but their tried friend. They will trust no one else, let
him come with provender ever so tempting. Even fishes are not so cold-blooded but
they will recognise the law of kindness, and yield to its all-embracing power.— Boston
Transcript, United States.

1972 Fishes.

Notes on the Fishes in the District of the Land’s End.
By R. Q. Coucn, Esq., M.R.C.S.L., &c.

(Concluded from page 1831).

Great Lant, Sand Eel, Ammodytes Tobianus. Common on all parts
of the district from St. Ives to Gunwalloe. I have seen a speci-
men fourteen inches long.

Lant, Launce, A. Jancea. Abundant in sand near low-water mark.
This is a more gregarious species than the last. In July and August
they frequent our bays in small companies, and are eagerly pur-
sued by the pollack. It burrows in the sand, and like all fish of our
‘shores with similar habits, it has a pulsating sanguineous sac at the
base of the caudal fin. Marsupial. f

Great Sea-Adder, Syngnathus acus. Common in deep water and
rocky ground. TI have taken it commonly in a trawl and trammel net,
in crab-pots, and have found it washed on shore after a summet’s
storm. It frequents marshy and weedy bottoms, and the borders
of rough ground. Marsupial. :

Sea-Adder, S. Typhle. Not uncommon in different parts of
Mount’s Bay, St. Ives’ Bay, and Whitsand Bay, Land’s End. Habits
similar to the last.

Painted Sea-Adder, S. equoreus. Abundant in fifteen or twenty
fathoms water, and very common in fifty fathoms, and at mid-channel.
This species is said to be rare; but its scarcity depends on its
inhabiting deep water, where it is rarely seen by the naturalists. In
May and June, and frequently in July, and occasionally in August,
these fish rise to the surface of the water however it may be, and bask
themselves in the sun. They retain their position at the surface by
clasping with their tails the cords and buoys of the crab-pots, sticks,
or any other substance they may find floating at the surface. The
whole of the caudal portion of the body is coiled round the stick or
cord, and the heads lie either horizontally or at right angles to
the surface. In some seasons, the buoy-ropes of the crab-pots are
literally obscured by them from the surface of the water down as far
as the eye can penetrate.

Stiff Sea-Adder, Straight-nosed Pipe Fish, S. ophideon. Not un-
common in moderately deep water; with similar habits to the S.
eequoreus.

Small Sea-Adder, S. anguineus, Jenyns. Occasionally in company
with S. equoreus.

nN

el

Fishes. 1973

Worm Sea-Adder, S. dumbriciformis. Common under stones near

low-water mark, .

Pennant’s Globe Fish, Tetrodon Pennantii. I have never seen
this fish; but three specimens are recorded to have been taken on the
Cornish shores. Donovan mentions one, and Pennant and Dr.
Boase obtained specimens in Mount’s Bay.

Short Sun Fish, Orthagoriscus Mola. Common in the summer off
the Land’s End and Mount’s Bay.

Oblong Sun Fish, O.oblongus. This is a rarer fish than O. Mola, but
it is not unfrequently met with off Mount’s Bay. I have seen speci-
mens measuring only three feet in length, and others more than five.
There appears to be either a variety of this, or a distinct species that
occasionally visits our shores. It is intermediate in form to the two
now mentioned. I have frequently heard the fishermen speak of it,
but I never saw a specimen but on one occasion, and that. was
in Mount’s Bay: we were unable to secure it, but it was more oval
than O. Mola, and considerably less so than O. oblongus. The
determination of this must therefore be left to a more fortunate
opportunity.

Sturgeon, Acipenser sturio. Rare; taken occasionally at Hayle,
and in the Bristol Channel, and in Mount’s Bay; but very rarely in
the latter spot.

Small Spotted Dog, Scylliwm canicula. Frequently called “rough,”
or “row-hound,” Most frequent on the southern shores.

Larger Spotted Dog, S. catulus. Common. Commonly called
“ nurse-hound.” Frequents deep water and rough ground ; it takes
its food by prowling, and feeds chiefly by night.

The Black-mouthed Dog Fish, S. melanostomum. _Has: been taken
on the south coast of Cornwall, but not within the district. of the
Land’s End.

The White Shark, Carcharias vulgaris. Not uncommon off the
Land’s End and Tol-pedn-Penwith during the summer and autumnal
months. It has been taken in Mount’s Bay. The largest specimen
I ever saw was near Cape Cornwall; its exact length we could not, of
course, ascertain; but a gentleman who was with me estimated it at
twenty feet. He had visited warm climates, and recognised the
monster while it swam close to the rocks, as an old acquaintance, and
the terror of our sailors. It swam near or rather at the surface. The
fishermen inform me that they see several every summer, and that
they carefully avoid them. Several sharks of smaller size, which were
seen at the same time, the boatmen thought to be the young of the

VI D

1974 Fishes.

larger kind. In appearance, these last so greatly resembled a speci-
men I had seen and examined several years before, that I have but
little doubt that they are identical. A figure of the specimen to which
I refer, is annexed to assist ichthyologists in determining the point.

Thrasher, C. vulpes. Not very uncommon during the summer and
autumnal months. The presence of this extraordinary creature is
soon ascertained, by the noise it makes in beating the water with its
enormously long tail.

Blue Shark, C. glaucus. Abundant during the latter part of sum-
mer and early in the autumn. ‘They are frequently taken by
the drift-net boats during the pilchard fishery. T have seen so many
as seventy taken by the Mount’s Bay boats during a single night’s
fishing, and these have varied in size from two to five feet. They are
not, strictly speaking, gregarious, but unite from the accidental cir-
cumstance of their being in pursuit of the same prey. It is from
their pursuit of the pilchard that they become entangled in the fisher-
men’s net.

Porbeagle, Lamna cornuhica. Common during the summer ; asso-
ciating in companies to pursue their prey.

Miller Dog, Galeus vulgaris. Common in July and August, and
less so in September. In habits it resembles the blue shark, but is
not so rapacious, probably owing to its being less powerful. It differs,
however, in more frequently devouring dead food, and living nearer
the ground. It frequently attains a large size, growing to about six
feet in length. During the winter, it keeps in deep water over a sandy
soil. The young are frequently confounded by the fishermen with the
picked dog, to which, however, the resemblance is not so great. The
ova are developed quickly, and in companies varying from twenty to
thirty-three, or even more. ‘The young are excluded alive in rapid
succession: they attain their full size in about two years, but breed
when about half-grown.

Peake. | 1975

— Smooth Hound, Mustela levis. Common in summer and autumn
during the pilchard fishery. The teeth vary in form from the gene-
rality of the sharks, and approach those of the thornback ray in
their general arrangement ; and hence this species is frequently called
by our fishermen “ ray-mouth hound.”

Picked Dog, Spear Dog, Spinax acanthias. Very abundant at
all seasons, In winter it retires to deep water, and feeds near
the ground; in summer it approaches the shores in multitudes. It
breeds through the summer and autumn. It brings forth its young
alive, and in pairs. The ova are developed in the ovaries with regu-
larity, there rarely being more than two of one size. ‘The develop-
ment is rapid; and by the time the young are born, two new ova are
ready to descend through the oviduct. In referring to the young of
this species, a remark may be made on a fetal peculiarity, which is
applicable to the young of all the British sharks and rays, but which
is chiefly interesting from its similarity to the foetal growth in Batra-
chian reptiles; beautifully illustrating the unity of the operations of
nature. The young of this species, while still 72 wtero, have the tem-
porary external branchize, which are so observable in the tadpole.
These filaments are simple threads, varying to about three-fourths of
an inch in length, and are traversed by a simple reflected blood-
vessel: they are attached only to the anterior gills of each branchial
cavity: they disappear just before birth. The young are born alive,
and for the first few days, or perhaps weeks, when they are so weak as
to be unable to protect themselves, the fishermen inform me that the
old ones remain with them in sheltered and sandy bays, or immediate
neighbourhood, slowly wandering from spot to spot. The young
imitating the old in almost every particular. When, however, the
young have acquired some degree of firmness, this comparative inac-
tivity is exchanged for that activity and energy so characteristic of
the race. The old and young together, course large shoals of the
smaller fish with extraordinary perseverance, and on which when
caught the old alone can feed. This habit of joining the old ones in
pursuit of prey, may be called instinct, but the young are educated to
it from birth. I have seen this strange commixture of old and young,
when they have been captured with a seine, and on one occasion
twenty thousand were so enclosed.

The two dorsal spines are powerful weapons of defence; when
attacked, the creatures are said to bend themselves into an arch or
bow, and then violently to spring asunder in opposite directions.

Hammer-headed Shark, Zygena Malleus. A specimen of ham-

1976 Fishes.

mer-headed shark has been taken in Mount’s Bay by a mackerel
boat, and the skeleton is preserved in the museum of the Penzance
Natural History Society, but whether it be the Malleus or not I can-
not determine, not having had an opportunity of examining it in
a recent state.

Angel Fish, Squatina angelus. This strange looking fish, be-
side bearing the name of angel fish, is frequently called a “‘ monk,”
and still more commonly a “sea-devil.” This strange contrariety of
names is unaccountable, unless, indeed, we suppose that the original
name was sea-monk, which from its hooded appearance might be the
case ; and that one set of religionists might have named it “ angel” in
compliment to this resemblance, and another “ devil,” from opposite
views ; the odium theologicum being quite capable of extending to
the two extremes. It is avery voracious fish; feeding on sandy soils;
its chief food is the smaller flat fish inhabiting such localities. In the
sandy spots about the Land’s End, where the sand is granitic and
shelly, they are of a much lighter colour than when taken in Mount’s
Bay and other parts of the Channel.

Cramp Ray, Torpedo nobiliana? Six specimens taken within a
very short time at the eastern side of Mousehole Island Mounts ; four
of which I had an opportunity of examining. All the specimens
examined did not at all answer to the description of the Torpedo vul-
garis of Fleming. ‘The specimen selected for description, measured
three feet three inches from the snout to the end of the tail; and two
feet two and a half inches in its greatest breadth. The colour varied
in the different specimens, but the general tint in the whole was
a darkish purple or neutral tint, variously clouded, but without spots.
The eyes are approximated, and about three inches from the median
point of the snout ; the temporal orifices are crescentic in form, larger
than the eyes, immediately behind which they are situated, they con-
verge posteriorly and have plain margins. Dorsal fins, two, near the
caudal ; the anterior one the largest. The caudal fin is large, being
about eight inches in its transverse diameter. The body is very
thick, fleshy, solid, and composed of two portions or lobes on each
side, the largest being the most anterior. The skin is’ smooth
and slimy; the under surface is white, uneven, and variegated with
deep pink. The mouth is small, crescentic, two inches and.a half
from angle to angle. Teeth small, numerous, and conical.

Compared with Mr. Yarrell’s figure (p. 410, first edition), all the
specimens examined were wider in proportion to the length, and the
form of the pectoral fins more irregular. ‘The eyes are smaller, tem-

-

Fishes. 1977

q poral orifices closer to the eyes, semilunar and not fringed. The

snout is more prominent than is there represented. From a careful
examination, I should think the species under consideration will prove
to be the Torpedo nobiliana or new British Torpedo of Yarrell. A
specimen is preserved in the museum of .the Natural History Society
of Penzance.

It is very remarkable that so many specimens should have been taken
in the course of one summer within half a mile of each other. It
will be found, I think, not so rare a British fish as is commonly
supposed. :

Skate, R. batts. Common. When it grows to a large size it is not
used as food, being too coarse, but is consigned ‘to the crabbers for
the baiting their crab-pots. The whole of the rays are generally
thought to be fish of slow movements, or that they move only by sud-
den springs, and yet I have frequently seen mackerel and other active
species in their stomachs, with every appearance of having been swal-
lowed alive.

Long-nosed Skate, R. chagrinea.. Not uncommon. This species,
like several others of the Raiidez, possesses secondary sexual characters,
which alter with age. In the male the teeth, which in youth are flat,
like those of the female, become sharp and conical, especially towards
the median line. .

Sharp-nosed Ray, R. oxyrhynchus. Burton Skate. Common.
Most, if not all the rays, rise to the surface of the water and bask in
the sun during the summer and autumn.

Spotted Ray, R. maculata. Sandy Ray. Common. The large
spot is frequently deficient, and occasionally there are many of
them. ,

Sandy Ray, R. radula. This is quite distinct from R. maculata.
The form alone being sufficient for specific separation. Rarely used
as food. It keeps in deep water over a sandy soil.

Painted Ray, R. microcellata. Two specimens taken in Mount’s
Bay.

Thornback, R. clavata. Common.

Fire Flaire, Zrzgon pastinacea. A single specimen examined, from
Whitsand Bay. Sennen.

Eagle Ray, Myliobatis aquila. I trawled up the head of a species
of Myliobatis, off Limorna, but too much injured to determine the
species. Since then an egg-case has been taken at Fowey with the
young or embryo init, so that no doubt now remains of our having a

1978 Fishes.

Myliobatis, if not M. aquila. An account of this specimen, by my
father, will appear as a postscript to the paper.
Lamprey, Petromyzon marinus. Common. Used only as bait.
Silver Lamprey, P. fluviatilis. Common in the streams in spring.
Mud Lamprey, Ammocetes branchialis. Common.

Species omitted.

European Hemiramphus, Young Greenbone, Hemiramphus Euro-
peus. This species was first made known as British, by my father,
in a paper in the ‘ Transactions of the Linnean Society,’ and it has
been figured by Mr. Yarrell in the Supplement to the first edition of
his ‘ British Fishes.’ It has since been taken by Mr. Edward Clarke,
of Ipswich, and by myself in Mount’s Bay. 1 caught several in
a pool during the early part of the pilchard season, and consequently
about August. There is a great deal of interest attached to this spe-
cies, from its general figure and character ; it seems to belong to the
genus Hemiramphus, and yet no specimen of that genus has ever been
captured in the European seas. On showing my specimens to
the fishermen, they immediately called it the young of the Belone vul-
garis, which it very greatly resembles ; it differs chiefly in the remarkable
deficiency of the upper jaw. If it belongs to the Hemiramphus, the
spawn must be deposited in our seas, and near the shores ; and it is to
be hoped all naturalists will be on the alert to discover so remarkable
a creature. They swim about at the surface in companies, and haye
much the habits of the garfish. The fins are similar and similarly
situated in both. My father’s specimens were taken in July, Mr.
Clarke’s in August, and those I took were captured the first week in
August. The following is closely allied to it.

Hemiramphus? obtusus. This species was also taken in Au-
gust, 1846 in a pool near low-water mark in Mount’s Bay. This
my father also first described in 1841. His account was read before
the Linnean Society in June, 1842. Hesays, “Their length is half an
inch; head proportionally large, especially across; the body slender ;
eye large; snout in front of it short and abrupt; upper jaw arched ;
under stout, projecting to a considerable extent, but in some speci-
mens more than in others. the point declining, and the sides not ap-
pearing to be formed of parallel rami of the jaw, but rather of a carti-
laginous substance ; vent placed posteriorly ; body, which is equal
from the head to this point, tapering thence to the tail; lateral line,
so far as it could be distinguished, straight; dorsal and anal fins

Fisheh | 1979

single ; posterior, opposite, the latter beginning close behind the vent,
and both reaching nearly to the tail, their membrane at first broader,
but narrowing in its progress; pectoral fins and tail round. The
colours of different specimens varied greatly ; some being dark, with
a tint of green; others cream-coloured, but sprinkled with specks,

-&c.” The ventral fin small and very obscure, to be seen only in the
larger specimens. Those specimens I saw myself were of a yellowish
sap-green colour.*

a. Hemiramphus? obtusus (magnified) viewed laterally. b. The same viewed dorsally. c. Head of the
same. d. Hemiramphus Europeus. e. Head of the same. /. Head of Belone vulgaris.

The relative shortness of the upper jaw varied in the different speci-
mens, and generally speaking, the smaller the specimen the shorter the
jaw. At the time I examined them, it occurred to me that they were the
younger stage of the H.Europeus. I have seen the young of the
Belone vulgaris about six or seven inches long, and though both jaws
were not equal, yet they were sufficiently so to prevent any appear-
ance of deformity, which is so characteristic of the present species. If
the young of so common a species as B. vulgaris, why are they not
more abundant? and if they belong to a distinct fish, how is it that it
has never yet been discovered? These queries I shall endeavour to
answer during the next summer.

* In a letter to me, dated December 13th, 1847, Mr. Jonathan Couch expresses
a doubt whether this little fish can properly be classed with the Hemiramphus.—
E.N.

1980 | Fishes.

The list of the fish ascertained, as belonging to the Land’s End, is
now brought to a close. ‘The notes have extended to a greater length
than was at first intended, and yet they have been greatly abridged
lest I should overstep the bounds at the service of such investigations.
From the peculiar and extreme western position of the district, and
from its being almost surrounded by water, the opportunities for
ichthyological investigations are great, and such as would interest ob-
servers in other parts of the kingdom ; it is these considerations alone
that tempted me to exceed the bounds formerly intended for these

notes.
R. Q. Coucn.

Penzance.

P.S. On the Eggpurse and Embryo of a Species of Myliobatis, by
Jonathan Couch, Esq., F.L.S., §c.—Early in the month of August of
last year (1845), Mr. Peach was so obliging as to send me a purse or
case of the ovum, of what appeared to be a species of rayfish, such as
I had never seen before, and which he had obtained from a trawl
vessel, that had been fishing, a few miles south of Fowey, in
Cornwall.

So little is known of the distinctions of these egg-cases so charac-
teristic of the rays and some kinds of sharks, that it is probable no
museum in Europe will be found to contain specimens of even a ma-
jority of them ; and as the one or two eminent naturalists who have
had an opportunity of examining the curious structure of the surface
of this specimen were unable to refer it to any of the known cartilagi-
nous fishes, and the accident of finding such a one on a beach may
be the only proof of the probable presence of the parent, I have
thought it well to give a minute description.

The length of the case was 6} inches; the breadth 43 inches;
length of the processes at the anterior angles 23 inches, flat, or thin,
and tapering to their terminations; but as the anterior border of the
case is concave, these tendrils appear simply as elongations of its sur-
face. ©The posterior margin is straight; and consequently the origin
of the tendrils is better marked. They are narrower than the anterior;
and end in a thin and slender cord, their length being 7 inches. I
have seen the purse or case of the common skate (R: batis) much
longer than this, but in no instance more than two-thirds as wide; and
consequently in proportion this is the widest of any. The longer ten-
drils also exceed in length those of any of the rays that I have seen ;
though they yield to those of the common oviparous shark (Scylliwm

Fishes. 1981

_ eanicula), or that of the large-spotted dogfish or nurse-hound (Scyl-

lium catulus), as represented in Mr. Thompson’s figure. But the
greater distinction isin the structure of the surface, which in the cases
of all the rays that I have examined, is smooth or plain, with a lon-
gitudinal direction of the fibre. In the present instance this structure
is peculiar and beautiful ; the surface being thickly set with raised lon-
gitudinal lines, closely crossed with dots or raised lines ;—that is, each
longitudinal line is very thickly studded with raised marks, points or
short lines, which do not pass from one longitudinal line to another,
but sink into the minute channels between them. This description,
however, applies only to the middle of the surface, for towards
the ends and sides the longitudinal lines become thus joined ; and
the reticulations form fine and beautiful squares, which are still finer
on the border; and on the extreme margin they disappear. ‘The
colour, when I received it, was very dark, but browner at the bor-
ders. There were a few small Serpule and Flustre attached to the
surface.

It was a considerable time, after I obtained this case, when I
became aware that at the time it was found, it contained an embryo,
which on my further inquiry was kindly submitted to my examination.
The ovum or yolk, which had been immersed in a bottle of Mr.
Goadby’s preserving fluid, was as large as an ordinary orange, but
somewhat compressed: the foetus comparatively small, and conse-
quently far from being fully developed. The mouth was placed far
under a projecting snout, which rose into an elevated vertex. The
eyes large, projecting laterally from the sides of the head. The
head distinct, joined to the body by a neck. Pectoral fins with
_a shoulder, as in the genus Squatina; the anterior angle advancing
near to the eyes; their outer margin a little sloped, and passing
backward in a direction corresponding with the outline of the body.
Ventral fins small and slender. The situation of the branchiez is well
marked dorsally, with five lines, showing the number of orifices ;
branchial fibres long, as in the early state of other embryotic chon-
dropterygious fishes.

The body is narrow, with a dorsal ridge that runs down the caudal
portion to the end; and at a third of its length from the body this
ridge begins to be bordered, as with a narrow fin, that seems to
decrease again as it proceeds. This caudal portion has also a ridge
beneath, which begins close to the vent; and on both sides there is
a membranous border. The tail is long and PaTOM; tapering, but
without an obvious fin towards the end.

VI E

1982 Mollusks.

There can be little question that this fish belongs to the genus My-
iobatis of Cuvier, which is characterized by having the pectoral
expansion separated from the head, which organ becomes thus ex-
serted, after the manner of the genus Squatina, but from which latter,
among other important particulars, the present differs in having
the mouth placed far beneath the snout. In the adult state also, it is
marked by a small dorsal fin, and close behind it, is a lengthened spine
situated anteriorly on the caudal elongation. That in an embryotic
specimen the dorsal fin should be obscure, is not to be wondered at;
for in numerous specimens of several species of the common rays
that I have obtained from the egg-case, I have constantly found the
caudal elongation to differ much from what is seen in the adult fish ;
and I believe that all of them are at that period destitute of the ordi-
nary spines. It is probable that the direction of the expansion in the
pectorals, in this species, is subject to variety in different stages
of growth; or these parts may have been compressed by the walls of
the case ; for in Mr. Yarrell’s figure of what may be supposed the same
species (‘ History of British Fishes, vol. ii. second edition), and in one
of Gesner’s figures, in his ‘ Nomenclator Aquatilium, (p. 121)’ which
is copied from Belon, the pectorals are represented as extended at
right angles from the body; while in another, in the same volume, the
extremity is directly obliquely backward; as it is also in the sketch
taken from the present specimen. It may be from this direction of
the wings that this fish has been fancifully compared to a bird;
and hence it is denominated a sea-eagle. Ruysch, whose figures are
for the most part copies from preceding authors without being im-
provements on the originals, has at Plate 9, fig. 9 given a tolerably
characteristic likeness ; and he remarks, that this fish has been called
sea-toad, from the resemblance of the form of the head to that crea-
ture ; and the comparison seems appropriate, from the elevation of its
head, and the lateral and projecting eyes. The same author, from his
own authority, says that this fish is viviparous ; an assertion which the
foregoing account shows to be incorrect.

JONATHAN CoucH.
Polperro.

Habits of the Pond Mussel. — Having lately had a pond drained to within a few
inches of the bottom, I have had frequent opportunities of observing the economy of
the Anodon or pond mussel, of which there are great numbers in the mud. Their
manner Of locomotion, though slow, is extremely regular, their tracks being very dis-
cernible in the soft mud. Ifthe Anodon is furnished, as its congeners are, with a bys-

Insects. 1983

sus, it certainly never makes use of it, at least not in this situation, as I have never
found any of them attached by it, either to one another or to extraneous substances, to
the latter indeed, in this instance they cannot, as the pond is in the peat moor, and
there is neither stone nor any other substance on which it could possibly fix itself; in
specimens which I have opened I have not succeeded in finding it, although I have
in every case observed the small foot, its essential instrument of locomotion. I have
never heard any good account of the food of this mollusk, and its manner of eating:
from my vwn observation it appears to protrude a retiform substance through which it
very probably takes in animalcule, or perhaps decaying animal or vegetable matter.
The Anodon is found in great abundance in this neighbourhood, as well in the Trent,
which at high tides is here salt water as in our ponds and drains. It furnishes a very
favourite repast for the herons, which evince great dexterity in opening the shell. It
attains a considerable size, some I have seen being five inches in length. — #. S.
Peacock, Jun; Bottesford-on-Trent, Lincolnshire, March 16th, 1847.

A word on long series. — Allow me to enter my protest against the practice which
now obtains among our collectors of British Lepidoptera of keeping in their cabinets
unreasonably long series of every species. I admit that the old system of having only
four or five individuals of a species is not to be defended when such species is variable,
but on the other hand, the keeping of twenty specimens answers no scientific purpose
when the characters of a species are constant. It may be all very well for those who
have no other purpose than making a cabinet a series of pretty pictures, and the con-
trast presented by whole rows of species may be very gratifying to their feelings. But
besides the degradation thus inflicted on science, rare species are confined to the
possession of few persons until they have made up their “row,” instead of being
diffused among and increasing the knowledge of many. I may add, without intend-
ing any self-laudation, that if I had kept the fashionably-long series of twelve or twen-
ty, thousands of specimens would now be in my cabinet instead of being diffused
through the kingdom, and the collections of my entomological brethren would be to a
like extent deficient, at least as far as I am concerned. When speaking to one of the
plus gentlemen lately on this subject and showing the folly of the system, the best an-
swer I could get was “ that Mr. did it, and therefore it must be proper; ” and
this, I believe, is the best reply that the majority of its adherents could give. In fine,
“it is a great evil, which is increasing and ought to be diminished.”—J. W. Douglas ;
19, Nelson Square, Peckham, November 20th, 1847.

On the Entomological Zones of the Pyrénées.—At the meeting of the Académie des
Sciences on the 10th of May, 1847, was read a paper on the above subject by
M. Léon Dufour.

“Insects,” says the author, “like plants, are amenable to certain meteorological
conditions which favour, modify, or altogether prevent their fixed residence in certain
determinate zones. I say fixed residence, in opposition to a temporary station—a va-
grant and transitory habitation like that of certain Hymenoptera, Diptera, and Le-
pidoptera, which, during their active aérial existence, are the free denizens of many
zones, of which they are never more than the nomadic inhabitants.

“Insects possess a great advantage over plants in being endowed with a power of
locomotion, whereby they are enabled to extend their zone of residence; but as a re-

1984 | Insects.

sult of the superiority of their organization and its physiological consequences, though
chiefly from their sensibility to external influences, they are unable to endure certain
low degrees of temperature wherein many plants will grow and perpetuate their spe-
cies. Thus, at the culminating points where Ranunculus glacialis and Saxifraga
groenlandica are found, that is to say at an elevation of about 3000 metres, I have
never met with insects permanently established, such as certain Carabites, Curculio-
nites and Forficulites, whose young are freely produced 500 or 600 metres lower
down ; the entomologist would consequently lose both his time and his labour in
hunting for these on the summits of the Pic d’Ossan, of the Monne, of the Pic de
Geré, of the Piquette d’Endrellits, the Pic du Midi, &c. He might by chance, on
some sunny day towards the end of August, capture a rapidly flying Bombus, which
had ventured into those elevated regions to plunder their flowers, or he might meet
with a common Syrphus, or a butterfly belonging to the embrowned genus of Satyrus,
rapidly traversing such localities and eluding attempts to enclose it in the net.

“ The climatal conditions of these altitudes are incompatible with the maintenance
of animal life in insects with a permanent domicile. Snow which covers the summits
of mountains and their approaches for at least half the year, is opposed to all the ne-
cessary conditions of life and means of subsistence of the perfect insect, and more es-
pecially to those of the larva, whose power of locomotion is more restricted, and its
susceptibility much greater. Thus the region called by botanists the upper alpine
zone would yield nothing or next to nothing to entomological researches.

“Plants, by the normal development of their periods of evolution, appear to me to
define, much better than all the lines laid down upon maps, the general mean tempe-
rature and the climatal constitution of localities. Under these two relations, the palm,
the olive, the fig, the maize, the vine, the oak, the beech, the birch, the fir, the rhodo-
dendron, the Ranunculus glacialis, &c., are to me more significant, more veridical,
than degrees of latitude, longitude, and altitude, which necessarily lose somewhat of
their mathematical precision when the question of the variable locality of a vegetable
or animal organism is under consideration. Vegetation in itself, either directly or in-
directly, influences the existence of insects. Those insects which are essentially phy-
tophagous, seldom pass by a plant adapted for their support; and when the particular
species best fitted to supply their wants is absent, by an admirable and providential bo-
tanical instinct they know how to have recourse to another species of the same genus,
or, in default of this, to another genus of the same family. And as to insects destined
to feed upon living prey, or to exist in some organic detritus, they also are in like man-
ner amenable to the influence of the harmonions law of nature.”

M. Dufour establishes two entomological zones for Pyrenean insects.

“1. The sub-alpine entomological zone. This comprises not only the forests of beech
and fir, but the bogs and water, in short all the country below and of an equal altitude
with these forests.

“2. The alpine entomological zone. This rises above the pine forests and com-
mences with the rhododendron — the only social shrub of the Pyrénées.”— Revue
Encyclopédique, May, 1847.

Capture of rare Insects in England and Scotland. — It may be useful to your ento-
mological friends to know that the following rare insects have been taken in England
and Scotland. |

Lophyrus Pini, Linn., Lophyrus pallidus, Ilig. I bred both sexes in 1846 from
caterpillars collected in Scotland.

Insects. 1985

Torymus caliginosus, Walk. The females I took in June, 1842, on the coast of
Dorsetshire and in Hampshire. Previously, the genus was only known as an inhabi-
tant of the South of France.

Coriscium quercetellum, Zell. 1n August and October, 1835, I captured two near
Heron Court, Hampshire.

Coriscium alaudellum, Dup. I took a single specimen about the same time.
These two Tinee are unrecorded as British.

Callicera enea, Fab. A beautiful specimen of this genus, new to Britain, was
taken by Captain Chawner near Petersfield, Hants, and is in my cabinet.—J. Curtis ;
Hayes, near Uxbridge, Nov. 30th, 1847.

Occurrence of Colias Edusa near Broadway.—On the 27th of July I first saw a soli-
tary specimen of Colias Edusa near this place by the side of a bye road ; afterwards I
captured several in different fields both male and female: they were for the most part
on the common red clover. This is the first time I believe that this butterfly has been
seen in this neighbourhood. -Cynthia Cardui has been very abundant, almost every
clover field containing several of them. I have also obtained for the first time here,
Argynnis Aglaia and Paphia.—John N. Beadles ; Broadway, Oct. 5th, 1847.

Occurrence of Colias Edusa and Sphinx Convolvuli in Scotland. — On the 3rd of
September last I had the good fortune to capture a fine specimen of Colias Edusa on
a steep bank near the sea in the neighbourhood of Lamlash, Island of Arran ; the
first, as far as I can learn which has been taken in Scotland. At the same place, and
about the same time, I had an ineffectual hunt of about an hour’s duration after
Sphinx Convolvuli, whose light body and pink bands were very perceptible in
the bright moon-light— Wyville T. C. Thomson; 8, High Street, Musselburgh,
October 19th, 1847.

Occurrence of Deilephila Celerio, &c. near Harleston.—Two specimens of the above
rare insect were seen at a honeysuckle then in bloom in May last, at Shotford Hall,
near Harleston; one of which (a very fine one) was captured, and the other caught
in the net, but escaped before it could be secured. The captured one enriches the
collection of Mr. Gurney, at Shotford Hall, where I have lately seen it. | Very fine
specimens of the scarcer Lepidopterous insects have been taken in this neighbourhood
this summer. I took a pair of the Thecla Rubi at Haverland in June. I think these
insects are not so scarce as is generally supposed, from their exercising a kind of de-
ception, in suddenly dropping down amongst the grass when disturbed, and not re-
suming the wing till quiet is restored. The Machaon has been about as common as
usual, Norfolk being one of its principal localities. — Charles Muskett ; Norwich,
October 1st, 1847.

Capture of Deilephila Galii at Rainham, Kent.— My cousin captured a fine female
specimen of Deilephila Galii hovering over the flowers of the Verbena, about seven
o’clock in the evening, on the Ist of September last, at Rainham, Kent.—Henry
Longley ; 1, Eaton Place, Park Street, Grosvenor Square, Oct. 8th, 1847.

Larva of the Death’s-head Moth.— On the 2nd inst. I had a small larva of Acheron-
tia Atropos brought me from Berwick Hill, a village about nine miles north-west.—
T. J. Bold ; Newcastle-on-Tyne, Oct. 5th, 1847.

Hops attractive to Moths—While sugaring lately, I was surprised to find very few
insects at the composition, in one part of a wood adjoining a hop-garden, while on the
opposite side it was very attractive: this induced me to examine the hops, and I found
feeding on the bloom, Xanthia fulvago, Xanthia flavago, Xanthia croceago, Xanthia

1986 Insects.

aurago, Agrotis suffusa, Lemuris typica, &c., &c. — J. B. Ellman ; Battel, October
4th, 1847.

Occurrence of Gastropacha quercifolia at Battel. — On the 15th of June, this insect
suddenly appeared in the town in tolerable quantity, at dusk. Several were caught
and brought to me; I never heard of their being seen afterwards, though I was
on the look out every evening for more than a week.—James B. Ellman, Battel, Octo-
ber 4th, 1847.

Occurrence of Calocampa vetusta near Huddersfield: — Calocampa vetusta has again
made its appearance in the neighbourhood of Huddersfield. It was attracted to the
sugar on the evening of the 9th of October. The caterpillar of this autumnal visitant
is stated to feed on the genus Carex. Westwood figures it on C. Vahlii, an Alpine
species, met with on the Clova mountains and other Scottish ranges. Now as this
Carex is necessarily restricted as to locality, it is evident the caterpillar must find other
nutriment. In these parts we have an unusual abundance of the commoner kinds,
such as C. precox, panicea, vulpina, flava, &c. The question is, on which of these
does it feed, or does it feed indiscriminately on them all? If any of the contributors
to the ‘ Zoologist’ could state which of the commoner species supply food to the
caterpillar, I doubt not, by a little attention to the herbage growing near such spots as
are likely to furnish the perfect insect, it might be found by no means so local or so
uncommon as is generally supposed. — Peter Inchbald ; Storthes Hall, Huddersfield,
October 9th, 1847. .

Capture of Calocampa vetusta at Carron.—I fancy Calocampa vetusta will no longer
be considered a scarce insect ; upwards of one hundred specimens were taken by my-
self and two friends in five nights, from the 21st to 25th of September, at Carron,
N. B.—H. T. Stainton ; Mountsfield, Lewisham.

Difficulty of rearing Plusia Iota from the Larva.— Mr. Henry Doubleday informs
me that it is impossible to rear this moth from the caterpillars, one of which he sent
me, and having bred two specimens of Tachina modesta from it, I apprehend the
failure is caused by this parasitic fly—J. Curtis ; Hayes, near Uxbridge, November
30th, 1847.

Description of Microsetia quinquella, a new species of Moth of the family Tineada.—
Expansion of wings 2—23 lines ; anterior wings deep black, with the base and three
spots silvery-white ; one placed towards the
posterior angle of the inner margin, another
on the costa near the base, and a third some-
what central near the apex; cilia silvery;
posterior wings and cilia dusky; head black.
It bears some resemblance to subbimaculella.
I found this beautiful and very distinct species
in considerable plenty on the trunks of oaks in
the heath-field at West Wickham, on the 30th
of June last.—George Bedell ; 4, Waterloo Place, Coburg Road, Dec. 16th, 1847.

Correction respecting Margaritia margaritalis—In the list of my captures which you
kindly inserted in the last number of the ‘Zoologist,’ I stated that I had captured
three specimens of Margaritia margaritalis ; Mr. H. Doubleday has since had the good-
ness to examine one of these species, and he informs me that the species is Margaritia
cinctalis and not the true margaritalis, which has a ferruginous tip to the wing. I

Insects. 1987

think it would be best to correct this error at once, to prevent any mistake arising
hereafter.—Philip H. Vaughan ; Redland, October 11th, 1847. |

Propagation of Case-bearers.—In March, 1846, Dr. A. Speyer received a number of
the cases of Taleporia lichenella, (Linn.)* containing partly pupe, partly larve.
The moths came out in the latter half of April, and proved all females, as had been ob-
served also on a former instance. Four individuals, whose development and oviposi-
tion had been particularly observed, were put in a box by themselves. The young ca-
terpillars came out of the eggs in vast numbers early in June. They were fed at first
with some bits of old wood and bark overgrown with lichens, which were moistened
once a day ; afterwards with dead Lepidoptera, which they devoured eagerly. In Oc-
tober, having arrived at their full growth, they ceased to feed, and remained quiet all
the winter. About the beginning of March they began to move about again, and a
few weeks after spun the web for their change. At the usual period, the end of April,
the moths came out, and as before nota single male among them. Their eggs were
laid as usual in the empty cases, and a month after the box was swarming with young
caterpillars. Every precaution was taken throughout to ensure their total separation
from any possible access of the other sex. It appears, therefore, that in this species at
least there may be two successive generations of females independently. — Journal of
the Stettin Entomological Society for 1847, p. 18—21.

Descriptions of several species of British Tortricidae. By H.T.Sratnton, Esq.

Tortrix pillerana, Hu. Without going into the much disputed point of the identity
of viburnana and galiana (I think them distinct),there can be no dispute that under this
name in Mr. Bentley’s cabinet (now in the possession of Mr. Shepherd) there exists a
very distinct species from either. The palpi being about twice the length they are in
viburnana or galiana ; these specimens are all like sorbiana in colour and markings,
but smaller in size. This insect was figured in Wood as luteolana, fig. 1677, but the
palpiare notshown. Humphrey’s figure, Nos. 13 and 14, Plate 79, shows neither palpi
nor markings,

Ditula Hartmanniana, Linneus. This is the scriptana of Hubner ; it occurs on the
trunks of willow-trees at the beginning of August, and does not seem to be an uncom-
mon insect, though generally considered so. D. semifasciana, Haworth, in like
manner, I believe, frequents sallows.

Antithesia ochroleucana, Hubner. This species very much resembles Betuletana, but
feeds on the rose, and is by no means an uncommon species. Why it should so long
have been passed over in this country I am at a loss to discover, as it does not at all
resemble any other rose-feeder. As this species has not before been described in this
country, I add a short description of it. Expansion of the wings eight lines; anterior
wings deep-brown black (some specimens with a bluish shade), varied more or less
with ochre, which assumes in some specimens the appearance of an indistinct fascia,
a little before the middle. The apex of the wing, from the middle of the costa to the
anal angle, is ochre-coloured, with a row of black dots on the costa and a few clouds on

(er

* Psyche triquetrella, Treitschke.

1988 Insects.

the disk; cilia fuscous. Posterior wings grayish-brown, with paler cilia: thorax
black-brown, varied with ochre. This insect appears from the middle to the end
of June.

Antithesia prelongana, Guenée. Expansion of the wings eight lines; anterior
wings deep blue-blach, with an indistinct white fascia a little before the middle, which
has two black blotches on it, one soon after leaving the costa, the other contiguous to
the inner margin (which gives the insect the appearance of having a square white spot
on the costa, and a small white mark near the middle of the disk) ; apical portion of the
wing white, from near the middle of the costa to near the anal angle, with numerous
bluish-black clouds; cilia bluish-black. Posterior wings fuscous, with paler cilia.
This is about the size of corticana, but the anterior wings are narrower ; it is not a
very uncommon species in the North of England and Scotland. I do not know what
plant it frequents: it appears early in June.

Antithesia leucomelana, Guenée, Weaverana, Dale. Expansion of the wings
seven lines; anterior wings blue-black to beyond the middle, with an interrupted
ochreous fascia a little before the middle ; beyond the dark portion of the wing is a
very conspicuous black dot placed about the middle; apical portion of the wing
ochreous, with fuscous clouds; cilia fuscescent. Posterior wings fuscous, with paler
cilia. A pretty and very distinct species: I have met with this in the Isle of Arran,
and believe it frequents the mountain sallow.

Spilonota amenana, Hubner. Expansion of the wings eight lines ; anterior wings
(in fine specimens) of a beautiful flesh colour, with the base dark fuscous to near the
middle, and an indistinct curved cloudy fascia a little beyond the middle, on which
near the inner margin is a conspicuous black. blotch, forming with some black dots
near the hinder margin an ocellus (as in aquana), on which at the apex is a bluish
blotch ; the costa with numerous short fuscous streaks or dots ; cilia at the apex deep
blue-back, changing to fuscous, and flesh colour towards the anal angle. Posterior
wings gray. This insect has been taken at Sanderstead and Riddlesdown, and also
on the coast by Mr. Allis, in Cumberland; by Mr. S. Stevens, at the Isle of Portland ;
and by Mr. Edleston, on the Cheshire coast.

Spilonota rusticana, Fabricius. To this species is referrible the quadrana of Ste-
phens, being the Scotch variety of this insect, and always much darker than the gene-
rality of English specimens. '

Spilonota trigeminana, Stephens. Apparently identical with argyrana, (Stephens).
The latter name has. been used for a species of Pseudotomia, so that it will be prefer-
able to retain the name trigeminana.

Pseudotomia simpliciana, Haworth. Under this name we had collected together
several species known and described on the continent; it is useless to attempt descrip-
tions of them here, as neither by figure nor description could J render the differences
between the species discernible. There are probably half a dozen, or more, species
that we have been in the habit of calling simpliciana, but I only know the names of
four, viz., plumbagana, Treitsche, and senectana, ulicana, and caliginosana of
Guenée.

Pseudotomia coniferana, Ratzburgh. Expansion of the wings 5—6 lines. Head,
thorax, and anterior wings deep glossy brown black ; the costa with four short silvery
white streaks, the first and second indistinctly geminated, the fourth very clearly so,
the third quite simple; on the inner margin opposite the first streak on the costa is a
small silvery-white crescent, within which is a short black streak ; near the anal angle

Insects. : 1989

is another short streak nearly meeting the second costal one, and between this streak

and another very near the hinder margin is an ocellus with three black dots ; cilia

silvery. Posterior wings dark fuscous, with paler cilia. This insect appears in June
and July, frequenting fir-trees. It appears not very uncommon in the North, and I
have one specimen taken at West Wickham wood by Mrs. Stainton.

Pseudotomia dorsana, Fabricius (not Haworth, Stephens). Size and colour of coni-
ferana ; on the costa are four short simple streaks, and near the apex a fifth gemi-
nated ; on the inner margin arises a streak at right angles to the margin and meets
the first costal streak ; near the anal angle is another streak which meets the second
costal one; ocellus as in coniferana. The streaks on this insect give it the appear-
ance of two incurved silvery fascia, one about the middle, the other a little beyond.
Closely allied to the preceding; I believe it frequents the same localities, but I have
never met with it.

Pseudotomia floricolana, Hubner. This is the notata of Westwood ; of course the
latter name sinks.

Steganoptycha immundana, Fischer. A species nearly allied to tetraquetrana, but
the termination of the basal fascia is always more abrupt on the inner margin; the
anterior wings are also narrower. ‘The spot is situated as in tetraquetrana and angu-
lana (which I believe are only one species) near the anal angle; in unipunctana the
spot is near the apex.

Anchylopera Lyellana, Curtis, and derasana, Stephens, are one species. The true
derasana of Hubner is unculana of Haworth.

Philalcea incarnana, Hubner. I have never seen a British specimen ; it differs
from sociana in the ground colour of the anterior wings being flesh-colour instead of
white: perhaps some of your readers will be able to inform me if they have ever met
with it. The incarnana of Stephens is a suffused variety of sociana. Westwood
gives incarnana, Hubner, as a synonyme for amenana, Hubner, conceiving the two to
be the sexes.

Philalcea acereana, Guenée. Closely allied to sociana, but differs from that spe-
cies in having the outer margin of the basal fascia less irregular; also in having in
the ocellus three or four black dots, which are totally wanting in sociana. It occurs
in July and August, and was taken last summer in some plenty, by Mr. Bedell, near
some poplar trees in the Albany Road.

Opadia funebrana, Treitschke. An obscure species, probably existing in many cabi-
nets by mistake for Cnephasia nubilana, yet it has a distinct ocellus. Expansion of
the wings 6—7 lines. Anterior wings dingy gray, with numerous darker markings,
and a golden gloss in certain lights; near the hinder margin is a distinct ocellus,
with four black dots, and on the costa, near the apex, is a short golden streak ; cilia
glossy golden brown: posterior wings fuscous, with paler cilia; head and thorax
tawny brown. In June, 1845, I beat one specimen out of a small lilac, which I for-
tunately observed at the time was distinct, and secured: this specimen has been sub-
mitted to Guenée, and pronounced by him to be funebrana. This remained unique till
this summer, when I found another in one of my duplicate boxes, which had been
looked over by Messrs. Douglas, Bedell and Weir, none of them detecting this placed
with two or three nubilana. J mention this cireumstance to show how easily the in-
sect may be overlooked.

Carpocapsa stelliferana, Curtis. I obtained a specimen of this insect from Scotland
this summer ; it seems more allied to the genus Pseudotomia.

WI F

1990 Insects.

Bactra furfurana, Haworth. This is the fuscana of Chant.

Sericoris Douglasana, Guenée ; the tenebrosana of Douglas (see Zool. 1266). This
latter name had been previously used, and was changed by Guenée. Not an uncom-
mon species ; frequents fir trees in June.

Orthotenia Turionana, Linneus (not Haworth, Stephens). This beautiful species
seems very rare in this country. I only know of one specimen, which was taken by
the Rev. W. Johnson, off a fir tree at Birch Wood, several years ago. The head and
thorax are rufous ; anterior wings silvery-gray, with numerous darker dashes ; at the
anal angle is a decided buff tip ; posterior wings pale, with a darker margin: size of
Buoliana.

Orthotenia Buoliana, W. V.; the Turionana of Haworth, Stephens, &c. The last
silvery fascia is more incurved in this species than in gemmana, in which it is nearly
straight : the posterior wings of gemmana are also darker.

Rhyacionia Hastiana, Linneus, figured in Wood as areolana, N. 1679. Wood’s
figure 1132 has nothing whatever to do with this insect, neither do I know what it is.

Eupecilia dubitana, Hubner. In many cabinets confused with angustana, yet the
head, thorax and base of the anterior wings are deep black. In fine specimens, the
ground colour of the anterior wings is flesh-colour. The insect figured in Wood, N.
1138, is the Cnephasia littoralis of Curtis, as is also the Orthotenia venustana of
Douglas (see Zool. 1266).

H. T. STarntTon.
December, 1847.

Captures of Lepidoptera in 1847.—The following list of captures of small Lepidop-
tera, usually accounted rare or local, may serve to point out their localities and times
of appearance.

At Charlton Sand-pit.

Argyrolepia margaritana. Among thistles, July 16.

Spilonota Faenana. Flying at dusk, July 23.

Pseudotomia Artemisiana. Flying, July 23.

Amaurosetia miscella. On Chenopodium, by sweeping, August 3.

At Sanderstead Downs.
Spilonota nigricostana. In bushes, June 27.
Pseudotomia proximana. Flying along hedges, June 27.
Anchylopera unculana. Hedges, June 13.
Peronea umbrana. Blackthorn bushes, October 3.
Orthotenia caricana. Flying, May 13 and August 4.
Depressaria damella. Juniper bushes, July.
Depressaria propinquella and purpurella. Corn and hay stacks, October 3.
Cleodora falciformis. Flying, June 13.
Argyromyges rhamnifoliella. Flying, June 27.
Argyromyges Housella. Juniper bushes, July 5.
Lampronia margine-punctella. Flying, June 27.

; About Mickleham.
Pseudotomia Saturnana. Flying, June 6.
Carpocapsa grossana. Beech trees, June 6.

_——_ =

Insects. 1991

Sericoris bifasctana. Scotch firs, July 7.

Peronea trigonana. Hedges, October 17. :

Depressaria Alstremeriana. Beat out of a wood-stack in Norbury Park, Nov. 4.
Anacampsis pinetella. Scotch firs, July 7.

Adela Latreillella. In grass, sweeping, June 6.

Lampronia atrella. Among herbage, June 6.

West Wickham Wood.

Pseudotomia populana. Sallows, August 22.

Steganoptycha immundana. Birch, August 22.

Anchylopera diminutana. Sallows, June 20.

Anchylopera.uncana. Among heath, May 22.

Sericoris Douglasana, Guenée (tenebrosana, Douglas). Spruce firs, July 7.

Peecilochroma occultana. Larches, July 7.

Cheimatophila castaneana. Among heath, April 12.

Depressaria umbellana. Furze bushes, September 26.

Depressaria liturella. August 8.

Anacampsis decorella and Lyellella. Beat out of the thatch of an old shed, Sep-
tember 26.

Theristis acinacidella. Beat out of the thatch of an old shed, August 22.

Argyromyges nivella. Birch trees, August 22.

Argyromyges semiaurella. Birch trees, September 19.

Batia flavifrontella. Fir trees, July 5.

Tinea ustella. In broom, June 20.

Telea subfasciella. Scotch firs, June 11.

Gracillaria cinerea. Beating bushes, September 26.

Dulwich Wood.
Anchylopera obtusana. Hedges, June 20.
Philalcea nevana. Hedges, June 11.
Anacampsis alternella. Hedges, June 20.
Taleporia cembrella. Pupa cases found on a fence in March, appeared April 9.
Batia Panzerella. Hedges, June 11.

Albany Road, Camberwell.
Philalcea Acereana. Ona fence under poplar trees, July 15.

Downs near Stoat’s Nest.
Philalcea amenana. Brambles, August 4.
Depressaria apicella. Junipers, August 4.
Argyrolepia rutilana. Junipers, August 4.

Three miles beyond Croydon, near the high road.
Orthotenia pinetana. Spruce firs, July 11.
Aphelosetia triatomea. In grass, July 5.
Blackheath.
Anacampsis diffinis. Among furze bushes in a gravel-pit, May 30.
Peckham Rye.
Lampronia melanella. One on a fence, June 1—J. W. Douglas ; Peckham, De-
cember 22, 1847.

1992 Insects.

Curious Habit of a Dipterous Insect.—Whilst watching the many dipterous insects
that visit the flowers of the golden-rod, I noticed a very curious act of piracy. A
large fly (whose name I have not heen able to ascertain), with enlarged thighs, well
suited for leaping, would settle on the plant, and remain for some time on the leok-
out. Suddenly it would seize a smaller fly engaged in gathering honey, and detain
it for a short space, without doing it any apparent injury. On watching more nar-
rowly, I found that the predatory fly compelled its victim to disgorge its store of ho-
ney, and thus obtained a kind of food which it was either unable or unwilling to
gather from the blossoms.—J. W. Slater.

Medeterus regalis.—I took several specimens of this rare fly on the 9th of August,
towards evening, in Cockburnspath, Tower dean, Berwickshire. It frequents in com-
panies the faces of the rocks by the side of the burn, especially those in the shade,
which the rivulet bedews with its spray as it works forward its troublous passage. It
is usually to be observed squatting, but when alarmed it gets up on its long crane-
like legs, prepared to start off to a new retreat. A few mornings after, I noticed seve-
ral others on the banks of the river Eye, in the same county.—James Hardy ; Pen-
manshiel, by Cockburnspath, Berwickshire, October 5, 1847.

Aqueous Vapour expelled from Bee-hives.—“ There is one circumstance connected
with the economy of the bee-hive which does not appear to have engaged the atten-
tion of naturalists. It is the transpiration of vapour from the interior of the hive, at
certain seasons, during the act of ventilation. Every bee-keeper must have noticed
that at the latter part of the summer there is often a deposit of blackish carbonaceous
matter on the footstool of straw hives, which is extended a few inches from the en-
trance-hole. This deposit is accumulated there in the course of a few months.
When it first attracted my attention, I supposed that it was occasioned by the bees
alighting at that spot, and accidentally shattering some of their loads of pollen; or
that, perhaps, it might be rejected excrementitious matter; but I afterwards satisfied
myself that it does not arise from either of these causes. The pollen conveyed by the
bee is rarely or ever shattered in its transit, while the bees are always particularly
careful to romove obnoxious materials from the interior of their dwelling or its imme-
diate vicinity. Other circumstances have since led me to believe that it results from
the accumulation of small quantities of wax that had adhered to the feet of the bees
that have just left the combs and are passing outwards, and that its dark appearance —
may perhaps be due to the same cause as that which discolours the combs in the in-
terior, and changes them, in the course of a few months, from a delicate yellow to a
dark brown, and even to a blackish hue.

“ When a hive is examined very early in the morning, at the end of summer, after
a fine cool night, we usually observe at the entrance-hole a stream of moisture passing
from it, sometimes in drops. This is more or less abundant at different periods, ac-
cording to the temperature of the preceding day, the activity of the bees, and the
coolness of the night. There seems reason to believe that this fluid results in part
from the respiration of the bees, and the extraneous transpiration from their bodies,
generated during the night in the form of vapour, which is condensed and deposited
as it comes into contact with the cold night air during the ventilation of the hive.
It has already been stated by Huber, that the vitiated air of the hive is removed by
the fanning of the bees, and that by.this process a double current of air is established.
The respired air is removed by the one, while fresh air enters by the other. My own
observations have fully satisfied me of the correctness of these statements, and I have

Insects. 1993

little doubt that it is to the contact of these two currents that the deposition of mois-
‘ture at the entrance of the hive is due. In order to ascertain the quantity of fluid
expelled from a hive in one night, I made an experiment, which, although not free
from objections with reference to the hygrometric condition of the air during the
night, satisfied me that the quantity is often very considerable. I cut off the bottom
of a glass phial, and then ground the edges carefully, so as to fit accurately to the
front of one of my wooden hives: the phial was then affixed to the entrance-hole, with
its contracted neck left open, so that all the air which escaped from and entered the
hive passed through it. By this means a part of the vapour that was expelled from
the hive was condensed in the phial, and the experiment, to a certain extent, was suc-
cessful. During eleven and a half hours of the night of the 1st and 2nd of Septem-
ber, from half-past six in the evening till six in the morning, there was condensed in
the phial about a dram and a half of fluid, besides what had escaped from the open
mouth of the phial in the form of vapour. The temperature of the vapour within the
phial, as it issued from the entrance-hole of the hive, at half-past six o’clock in the
morning, was 69° Fahr.; that of the external atmosphere was then only 59°5° Fahr.
The temperature of the vapour within the phial was ascertained at a distance of four
inches from the hive, the thermometer being held free within the neck, and not in
contact. At eight o’clock on the following morning, when the temperature of the
external atmosphere was 61° Fahr., the vapour in the phial was 71°5° Fahr., while a
thermometer inserted through the tip of the hive, and which had remained untouched
for several days, showed that the interior of the upper part of the hive was then only
69° Fahr. The bees at that time were perfectly quiet. Thus the expelled atmosphere
of the phial, as on the preceding morning, was 10°5° Fahr. above that of the open at-
mosphere, and 2°5° above that of the top of the hive. At six o’clock of the evening
of the same day, when the temperature was sinking, and was then only 53°9° Fahr.,
that of the vapour in the phial, taken as before, was only 59°. The hive had then
become quiet for the night, and its temperature was reduced. The temperature of
the expelled air was thus shown to depend much on the degree of activity or quies-
cence of the bees, and consequently on the greater or smaller amount of their respira-
tion. The bees were now in a state of rest, and respired but little; while in the
morning they were becoming active, and preparing to enter upon their labours.
During this night the temperature of the atmosphere sunk down to 32° Fahr.; and
when I again examined it in the morning, September 4th, at six o’clock, it had risen
only to 41°5° Fahr. The hive was then quiet; the bees had been reposing all night,
and were disposed to pass into their state of semi-hybernation. The temperature of
the interior, at the top of the hive, was then only 54° Fahr., and that of the vapour in
the phial, even at the entrance-hole of the hive, was but 59° Fahr.; and the quantity
of vapour condensed within the phial scarcely amounted to so much as three minims.
These concordant circumstances seem to prove that the vapour expelled from the hive
results in chief part from the respiration of the bees, and the extraneous transpiration
from their bodies ; that this is most abundant when the bees are most active and are
respiting freely, and when the greatest amount of heat is evolved by them. On the
contrary, as the activity of the bees is diminished, the temperature of the hive becomes
reduced and the quantity of air deteriorated, and the vapour expelled is lessened.
And may we not also conclude from the fact, that the vapour, which thus seems to be
the result of respiration by the bees, and which is condensed and deposited as it issues
forth, holds in solution a superabundance of carbonaceous matter, which is deposited

1994 Insects.

within it, and occasions the discoloration of the combs and of the entrance to the
hive ? ”—George Newport, F.R.S., in ‘ Transactions of the Linnean Society,

Occurrence of Trigonalys Anglicana in Derbyshire—I have much pleasure in re-
cording the capture of an exceedingly rare hymenopterous insect, Trigonalys Angli-
cana, Shuckard. The first British specimen belonging to this genus was described
by Mr. Shuckard, in his Monograph on the Aulacide (Entomologist, p. 123): that
gentleman had at the time some doubts as to its having been captured in England,
or at least he says, “‘ it may or may not have been imported with plants from America.”
My specimen was taken by Mr. H. W. Bates, in a wood called Repton Shrubs, Derby-
shire, about the end of June ; so this clears up the doubt, I think, as regards Mr. Shuc-
kard’s insect. The genus Trigonalys was characterized by Mr. Westwood, in the Proc.
Zool. Soc., 1825, and founded upon an insect from Brazil. Mr. Westwood says that
it has the neuration of Myrmosa. Our species differs somewhat from thé type, T. mela-
noleuca, in this respect. A second species is described by Spinola, in Guerin’s Mag. de
Zool., 1840, under the generic name of Seminota, the species being Leprieurii, but he
afterwards adopted the generic name of Trigonalys: this species was from Cayenne. In
the same work, in 1840, the Marquis de Spinola described a third species, Trigonalys
Hahnii, which is quite distinct from the British species. T. Hahnii has been cap-
tured in France. Four species of this genus are therefore known and described. The
situation of this genus has been variously assigned by different authors, Mr. Shuckard
and Mr. Westwood placing it in the Evaniade ; Spinola placed it provisionally near
the Braconides; St. Fargeau placed it between Stigmus and Pemphredon, and Gue-
rin-Meneville thinks it should follow Mutilla; but I think the reasoning of Shuckard,
and the characters pointed out by him, are conclusive that it ought to be placed near
the Evaniade. The following description and figure may serve to point it out to en-
tomologists should it chance to
fall in their way. Entirely of
a deep black, brilliantly glossy
on the head and abdomen.
Antenne inserted on the exter-
nal side of a couple of small
flat facial processes. Thorax
densely punctulate, making it
subopaque ; metathorax rugose,
with a central longitudinal ca-
rina, and two lateral, curving
and divergent. Wings hyaline,
with a dark cloud covering the

Trigonalys Anglicana. basal half of the marginal cell,
and the apical half of the first, and the entire second and third submarginal cells.
Antenne consisting of twenty-five joints—Frederick Smith ; 5, High Street, spend
ington, December, 1847.

Habits of Mutilla Europea.—Christius, in his Natural History of Insects, p. 144,
has stated that this species lives in company with humble-bees, the larve of the two
being commingled in the cells; and he breaks out into expressions of wonder at this
seemingly amicable association. Later authors have either overlooked this account,
or they did not give it credit; for neither Latreille, Lepeletier St. Fargeau, nor,
Westwood, have anything positive to state as to the economy of the Mutille. Drew-

Insects. 1995

sen has recently verified the statement of the old author, and observed the circum-
stances of this association more particularly. From a nest of Bombus Scrimshiranus,
which he had brought into the house that he might make his observations on the bees
more easily, he obtained but two bees (both workers), while as many as seventy-six
of the Mutille, forty-four males and thirty-two females, came out of it. Their grubs
were found alone in cells closed with the usual web, and as the grub of the bee only
can produce this, it appears that the Mutilla is carnivorous, devouring not the provi-
sion laid up, but the full-grown grub of the bee. The female Mutille pass the win-
ter torpid and rolled up in burrows under ground, while the males die off immediately
after pairing. — Journal of Ent. Soc. of Stettin, 1847, p. 210.
List of Insects produced from Oak- Apples (continued from Zool. 1457).—
December, 1846, and January, 1847.
Callimone nigricornis, 3 or 4.
Eulophus gallarum, 3 or 4.
February.
Eulophus gallarum, 7, 1 male and 6 females.
March.
Callimome nigricornis, 31, 30 males and 1 female.
Eulophus gallarum, 37, 20 males and 17 females.
Do. 14 males and females.
April.
Callimone nigricornis, 563, 378 males and 185 females.
Eulophus gallarum, 1661 males and females.
May.
- Callimome nigricornis, 153, 13 males and 140 females.
Callimome equalis, 1 female.
Callimome tarsalis, 2 females.
Callimome flavipes, 1 female.
Callimome chlorinus, 1 female.
Pteromalus Naubolus, 9, 5 males and 4 females.

Pteromalus ovatus, 1 female.
Do. 2.

Eupelmus urozonus, 41, 19 males and 22 females.

Eulophus gallarum, 3.

Bracon ————, 27, 19 males and 8 females.—Francis Walker. d

Capture of Pytho depressus, Celtonia enea, §c., in Scotland, and of Rare Insects
elsewhere.—Although the addition of a new species to our Fauna, amongst the Verte-
brata, is an event of sufficient importance to record in the pages of the ‘ Zoologist,’ I
doubt whether such be the case in regard to the countless numbers amongst the Inver-
tebrata ; nevertheless exceptious, as in the present instance, may occur. As exam-
ples of the extent of unrecorded indigenous insects, I shall mention two, viz.—in two
limited groups of Diptera—the Sarcophagiens, and a portion of the Muscies of Mac-
quart, forty-seven species only are recorded, whereas, ten years since, when I re-
arranged that portion of my collection, I possessed eighty-three described ones, there-
by adding thirty-six, whieh, with additions, remain to this moment unrecorded ; while
the insects themselves are generally of large size, Musca domestica being about the
smallest, and most of them are found, moreover, within or about the metropolis.
Again, in the two sheets already published of the admirable ‘ List of British Lepidop-

1996 Insects.

tera, by my friend H. Doubleday, there are no less than eleven conspicuous insects
registered for the first time: in fact, I believe there are at least 1000 indigenous
species of insects, whose names have not yet found their way into our published lists,
the insertion of which would probably occupy too much of your valuable space: I will
therefore only notice a decade of the more remarkable recent discoveries, including
that which induced me to pen this note, viz.

Pytho depressus, Perthshire, on firs, in July.

Cetonia enea, do.

Tetratoma Desmaretsii, Henhault Forest.

Abreus vulneratus, Windsor.

Quedius fontalis, about London, in plenty.

Locusta subcerulipennis, Southampton.

Libellula meridionalis, in my own garden.

Nematis Erichsonii, fir trees, Guildford, in August.

Strongylogaster eborina, hedges, Coombe Wood.

Rhamphomyia spinipes, Dumfriesshire.

Of the first insect I possess a pair, a blue male and a green female; it is one of
our most conspicuous Coleoptera: four specimens were taken by Mr. Weaver during
his recent excursion in Scotland, from whom my pair were obtained, as also Cordulia
arctica, g and 9°, Hadena assimilis, Doub., f, Amphisa Walkeri, Coccyx Cosmo-
phorana, # and 2, anew Ctenophera, &c.—J. F. Stephens ; Eltham Cottage, Fou-
ley Road, North Brixton, November, 1847.

Coleoptera on the Coast of East Lothian— During a visit to the coast east of Dun-
bar, on the 16th of August, I took a few insects, which, as coming from an unexplored
district, may be worthy of being placed on record. The coast consists almost entirely
of a succession of barren links, and anything worthy of notice was separated by wide
intervals, and difficult to procure. In a red sandstone quarry near the town, Amara
(Bradytus) ferruginea occurred, but only a single specimen. Aleochara nitida was
abundant; and A. obscurella, with Omalium leviusculum (O. leve, Stephens), were
met, wherever there was decaying sea-weed to shelter them. Xantholinus glabratus
was rather common, in decayed horse and cow-dung, as Mr. Holme (Ent. Trans. iii.
125) remarks it is on the coast of Cornwall ; though in this vicinity, it is frequently
found at some distance from the sea. Staphylinus maxillosus lurked in great profu-
sion under the sea-weed, and accompanying it were two specimens of the rare variety ?
Staphylinus ciliaris, Leach, which I had also found in Berwickshire, frequenting dead
birds and remains of the smaller quadrupeds. In the same situation, Philonthus sor-
didus, P. aterrimus (Gabrius id. Stephens), and Othius leviusculus, Kirby (O. punc-
tipennis, Lacordaire) were found. Quedius frontalis, Nordm. (Q. tristis, Angl.) and
Ocypus picipennis (Staph. eneocephalus) frequented dry places under stones, in com-
pany with the customary tenants of the shore, Ocypus olens and O. Morio (O. simi-
lis, Stephens). Wherever Cakile maritima grew, Macrocnema marcida was its faithful
attendant ; and the forests of golden ragwort gave sustenance to a profusion of the
pale-coloured variety of Thyamis tabida. Broscus cephalotes dwells along the whole
coast, coming abroad about four o’clock in the afternoon. Dead squadrons of Serica
brunnea were scattered over the sands, its season having gone by. Otiorhynchus sca-
brosus appeared near Dunbar, and O. atroapterus, with Philopedon geminatus, were
feeding on the scanty patches of Ammophila arundinacea, which they relish beyond all
other fare. By far the most interesting insect was Aepus fulvescens, which I found

Insects. 1997

near the Vault shore, in its usual maritime situation, under a black bituminous shale,
daily covered by the tide. It was very scarce, and was accompanied by a blue, broad,
wrinkled Podurellide, destitute of the anal leaping fork. Microlymma brevipennis,
its other customary companion, was not present. Altogether I found eighty-eight
species of Coleoptera, nearly all of the commonest sorts—James Hardy ; Penmanshiel,
Cockburnspath, Berwickshire, October 5, 1847.

Remarks on Local Species of Coleapiions in the Neighbourhood of Burton-on-Tr ent.
—Having paid some attention during the past summer to the collecting of Coleoptera
in this neighbourhood, whose productions in this order of insects had not before been
investigated, I have drawn up a short list of such local British species found as may
prove interesting to the entomological readers of the ‘ Zoologist.’ The species enu-
merated, of course, form but a small portion of the productions of the locality, the
bulk of which are generally common in most of the English counties, and are noted
chiefly as being of unusual or unexpected occurrence in the Midland district.

Epaphius Secalis. On the banks of the Trent and Dove, coursing about at the roots
of herbage.

Ocys melanocephalus. In old willow-stumps, banks of the Dove.

Peryphus femoratus. Under pebbles on the gravelly margins of the river Dove, in
abundance. This species is generally rare in the Midland counties.

Peryphus albipes. In old willow-stumps and under sediment on the banks of the
Dove: altogether six specimens have occurred.

Peryphus viridieneus. On sloping shingly banks of the Dove, in profusion.

Peryphus atroceruleus. In equal abundance with the preceding, in the same situ-
ations. |

Tachypus striatus. Also on shingly banks of the Dove, but more sparingly than
the two preceding species.

Haliplus flavicollis, Au., ferrugineus, Ste. In ponds; two specimens.

Hydroporus assimilis, Pk., frater, Ste. In ponds ; one specimen.

Ilybius fenestratus, obscurus and ater. In ponds. These three species are appa-
rently generally common in the Midland counties.

Octhebius exsculptus, Miller (Muls. Palpicornes), virtdieneus, Curtis. One speci-
men ; banks of Trent.

Helophorus rugosus, Oliv. (Muls. Palpicornes). Banks of the Dove; one specimen.
Iam not sure whether the Fennicus of Stephens is the same species as the present one,
the sculpture of the thorax not at all agreeing with the description given in the
Manual.

Berosus luridus. In ponds; one specimen.

Scaphiosoma agaricinum. In Boleti, on old willow- sondaips

Silpha quadripunctata. Several specimens on oaks, and by sweeping at Repton
Shrubs, June. This is usually a scarce insect in the Midland counties.

Campta lutea. On umbelliferous flowers; not generally uncommon in the neigh-
bourhood of woods in the Midland counties.

Atomaria mesomelas and others. On old willow-stumps covered with Boleti.

Megatoma undata. On palings near woods ; several specimens.

Onthophagus ovatus. Ten specimens, in sheep-dung on a hilly pasture. This is
the only instance of the occurrence of this very common South-of-England species in
the Midland counties. The only other Onthophagi found within the Midland dis-
trict, that I am aware of, are cenobita and nuchicornis; the former very local in dry

WI G

1998 Insects.

pastures, the latter scarce everywhere. The scarcity of insects of this genus, and of
several other genera (Harpalus, Dromius, &c.), is doubtless attributable to the clayey
nature of the soil along the plains of red sandstone and lias in central England.

Aphodius fatens. In abundance, on dry pastures.

Aphodius scybalarius. On dry pastures, scarce.

Aphodius sticticus. Horse-dung in woods; four specimens, in August. Found,
according to Mulsant (Col. de France, Lamellicornes), exclusively in woods in France.

Aphodius depressus. On hilly pastures ; three or four specimens have occurred in
July.

The other species of Aphodius more or less common in this neighbourhood are,—
erraticus, subterraneus, hemorrhoidalis, fossor, fimetarius, ater, De Geer (terrestris
and others, Ste.), pusillus, Herbst ? sordidus, Fab. (the var. rufescens, F. only),
merdarius, rufipes, luridus (with the var. nigripes, F.), prodromus and contami-
natus.

Serica brunnea. In profusion, one evening after sun-set, in July, at Repton
Shrubs.

Agrilus viridis. In woods, by sweeping, from July to October.

Telephorus clypeatus. Common on whitethorn blossoms, &c., in May and June.

Telephorus ochropus. Abundant amongst herbage in a moist wood ; also in marshy
meadows.

Malachius ruficollis. WHedge-banks, very local, July.

Aplocnemus impressus. One specimen, by sweeping, Repton Shrubs.

Xyletinus pectinatus. Two specimens, on palings.

Gymnaétron nigrum, Germ. One specimen on a hedge-bank near Repton. | This
species occurs very sparingly in the Midland counties. I have taken three other spe-
cimens on hedge-banks near woods in Leicestershire.

Orobitis cyaneus. ‘Two specimens, by sweeping, in woods.

Phytobius leucogaster. On cruciferous plants; one specimen.

Rhinonchus tibialis. On docks in meadows, rather common, May to September.

Orchestes pubescens. On hazel and other trees, sparingly.

Notaris Avthiops. Ina marshy meadow ; one specimen.

Dorytomus tortrix. In great profusion with another species, on the aspen, in May.

Dorytomus pectoralis, Abundant, also in company with another species (name un-
ascertained), on saJlows, in May.

Ellescus bipunctatus. One specimen, on aspen.

Omias Bohemani. This newly-described species I found in May, on a sloping
mossy bank, by the Trent. It occurred sparingly throughout the month: altogether
I took from twenty-five to thirty specimens.

Cneorhinus exaratus. Sparingly on hilly pastures, by sweeping.

Sitona cambrica. In woods, September ; three specimens.

Polydrosus micans. Very abundant on the hazel, in woods, July.

Magdalis carbonarius, L. Two specimens, evidently of the true carbonarius of Lin-
neus, as distinguished by Mr. Walton in the ‘ Annals;’ on the birch in May.

Rhynchites pubescens. Three specimens, by sweeping, Repton Shrubs.

Rhynchites ophthalmicus. Sparingly on the birch, in woods, July and August.

Rhynchites eneovirens. Sparingly in woods, by sweeping.

Saperda populnea. On the aspen, in woods, sparingly, June and July.

Saperda ferrea. On the hazel, one specimen, Repton Shrubs, July.

Insects. 1999

Tetrops preusta. On whitethorn blossoms ; two specimens. Very scarce through-

out the Midland counties.

Galeruca Viburni. On the Viburnum Opulus, in great abundance, September.

Chrysomela varians. Sparingly in woods, by sweeping, from May to October.

Chrysomela fulgida. In profusion, Bretby Park, July. The only locality for the
insect that I am aware of in Leicestershire and Derbyshire.

Chrysomela lamina. Meadows, banks of Trent; chiefly found during floods, about
Midsummer.

Chrysomela geminata. Three small copper-coloured specimens, in woods, October.

Chrysomela pallida. This species, hitherto generally found inthe North and in
Scotland, was taken by Mr. Edwin Brown (the captor of many pales species in this
list), on the hazel, in great abundance, July and August.

Chrysomela rufipes. On young shoots of aspen, in woods, July, abundant.

Abdera quadrifasciata. One specimen, by sweeping, Repton Shrubs, July.

Pselaphus Heisii. Amongst sediment, banks of the Dove.

Tychus niger. Same situation as the preceding. This species appears to be the
most generally common of the Pselaphide in the Midland district.

_ Bryaxis hematica. Two specimens, in company with the above.

Besides the species enumerated in the preceding list, there are several we are obli-
ged to omit, from the difficulty of ascertaining their correct names. The vicinity of
Burton, like the greater part of the Midland district (including the South of Stafford-
shire, Derbyshire and Nottinghamshire, all Leicestershire and the South and East of
Warwickshire), possesses a stiff marly soil, which, although favourable to a rich mea-
dow vegetation, yields but a limited number of species of insects. Our best grounds
are the rich meadows and flowery banks that accompany the course of the Trent, and .
the oak and hazel woods in the neighbourhood of the river. The banks of the Dove,
near its junction with the Trent, yield many peculiar species, from the soil being of a
lighter character, chiefly alluvial sand and gravel. The names used above are those
of Stephens’ Manual, except when otherwise indicated.—H. W. Bates ; Burton-on-
Trent, November 9, 1847.

Capture of Buprestis mauritanica in Plaistow Marshes.—I have a beautiful species
of Buprestis captured on an oak post in Plaistow marshes on September 9th: it was
taken alive to the British Museum for the purpose of getting it named. It proves to
be the Ancylocheira Mauritanica, Lucas (Voy. d’Algérie). When taken the elytra
were quite soft, showing that it was bred near the spot were it was captured.—F.
Bond.

On the Geographical Distribution of the Cetoniada.—There are in Africa 71 genera
of this family, of which 54 are peculiar ; in Madagascar 23, peculiar 21; Asia 41, pe-
culiar 22; Australia 8, peculiar 4 ; America 22, peculiar 17; Europe 9, peculiar none.
‘Thus Africa seems to be the metropolis of the Cetoniade, especially if we were to in-
clude Madagascar. The most widely-spread genus is Valgus, which is found in all
these districts except Madagascar. The number of African species is 220; Mada-
gascar 62; Asiatic 181; Australian 26 ; American 152; European 31.—J. W. Slater.

Note on Aphodius contaminatus.—'The species of Aphodii observe succession in the
period of their appearance, and while A. inquinatus is somewhat of the earliest, A.
contaminatus completes the cycle, being sometimes found to brave the frosts of Janu-
ary. The immense profusion of this species in the autumn has been alluded to by
Kirby and Spence, in their ‘ Introduction to Entomology.’ In the sunshine succeeding

2000 Insects.

to warm showers, they fill the air, like bees at swarming time. Besides being the food
of several species of Philonthi, they are eagerly sought after by birds of various kinds.
A short time since, the missel thrush and the rook might be seen consorting to parti-
cipate in the profuse supply ; and the sea-gull will sometimes spend an entire day in
the pursuit amid the cattle pastures. In the month of August, large flocks of the lap-
wing, in company with another sandy-coloured whimpering bird, frequented the East
Lothian coast, where this insect appeared to be the principal attraction; now they
have recourse to the uplands, where it is still prevalent. The plovers have recently
joined them, but I have not made any observation as to what they feed upon.—James
Hardy ; Penmanshiel, Cockburnspath, Berwickshire, October 5, 1847.

Occurrence of Spharites glabratus in Scotland—It may be interesting to British
entomologists to know that Spherites glabratus has again occurred as a Scottish in-
sect. I took a single specimen among decaying herbage, in a shady glen in Penman-
shiel Wood, about two weeks since. It has the habits of a Hister, which it much
resembles.—Id.

Habits of Blemus pallidus.—This insect, which resembles Aépus in its shelly, flat-
tened body, appears to be of somewhat similar habits. I took some specimens under
shingle laid under water by a small rill, on a wild, rocky beach, on the Berwickshire
coast. Anchomenus albipes and Peryphus saxatilis were its accompaniments, and
with Quedius umbrinus, Lathrobium longulum, and the variety of Quedius fulgidus
with red elytra, were almost the only coleopterous tenants of the barren spot.—Id.

Unusual Habitat for Pristonychus Terricola.—Of this insect, usually abounding in
cellars, I found an individual under a stone, on a sandy part of the coast near Cock-
burnspath, more than a mile from any dwelling, and with little apparent means of
intermediate communication. Near it also was found Quedius fulgidus, the black va-
riety, also a native of cellars; and a species of Bledius new to the Scottish Fauna,
which, although common on many of the British shores, does not yet appear to have
been at least correctly described.—Jd.

Insectivorous Propensity of Notowus Monoceros.—Collectors soon learn, by sad ex-
perience, the ill effects of placing the larger Geodephaga, Brachelytra, &c., along
with other species, their unhappy taste for dissection proving extremely detrimental
to their bottle companions ; but as some may not be aware that the little Notoxus Mo-
noceros has similar evil propensities, I record the following incident as a salutary cau-
tion. While collecting at Ryde last summer, I put some Notoxi along with several
Ischnomera lurida and other species in my bottle. On my return, I observed a No-
toxus very busy about one of the Ischnomere, and, on closer examination, discovered
that he was engaged in nibbling away the last-named insect’s elytra: that it was not
the freak of an individual appeared from his being shortly joined by three others,
who immediately rendered all the assistance in their power, the Ischnomera standing
perfectly still the while, as if the sensation was rather pleasing than otherwise. I have
kept the specimen, in which both the elytra are eaten away nearly to the shoulder.—
George Guyon ; Ventnor, Isle of Wight, November 9, 1847.

Occurrence of the Locust near Hull—Having seen your notice in the ‘ Zoologist’
(Zool. 1900), requesting information concerning the occurrence of the locust, I beg to
inform you of three, two of which were captured last year on the banks of the Hum-
ber, at Hessle, near Hull, and the other was taken this year at Kingerby, Lincoln-
shire—F. Peacock ; Messingham, Lincolnshire, November, 1847.

Occurrence of the Locust in Cambridgeshire—As you wish to know of the occur-

Insects. 2001

rence of the locust, I beg to say I have another fine female specimen, captured at
Duxford, Cambridgeshire, September 10th, 1847.—Fredk. Bond ; Kingsbury, October
6, 1847.

Occurrence of the Locust near Thorne.—I haye just received three fine specimens of
the locust, captured on the levels near Thorne, on the 3rd of September, by some har-
vesters, while passing a field of wheat: one of them was taken on the wing. —doseph
Richardson ; Bank, Thorne.

Occurrence of the Locust near Hertford.—A specimen of Gryllus migratorius was
brought to me on the 16th of 8th mo., 1847. It was taken on some cabbages in a
cottage garden near Hertford.—#. Manser ; Hertford, 15th of 10th mo., 1847.

Occurrence of the Locust near Wisbeach.—I possess a specimen of this rare insect,
which was captured alive, three weeks since, in a potato field not far from this locality.
I have also heard of several others having been found in the neighbourhood.—Robert
Marris ; Lynn Road, Wisbeach, October 11, 1847.

Occurrence of the Locust in Lincolnshire-——Two instances have come within my
knowledge where the locust has occurred, that is, Stamford and Millthorpe in Lincoln-
shire, but in both cases the wings were very much split and worn. Wm. Turner ;
Uppingham, October 13, 1847.

Occurrence of the Locust at Whitley, and near Newcastle-on-Tyne.—My brother
caught a locust on the sea-banks near Whitley, on the 27th of September: another
specimen was taken in the vicinity of Newcastle a day or two previous. The speci-
men caught on the 24th of August (Zool. 1900) continues alive and active, feeding
freely on lettuce.—J. J. Bold ; Newcastle-on-Tyne, October 5, 1847.

Occurrence of the Locust in Derbyshire.—I feel happy to be able to add ee lo-
cality to your list of places where locusts have this year occurred, and which may be
more inland than usual. A fine and perfect specimen of this locust was taken on or
about the 12th instant, upon Elton Moor, in this county. It is now in my cabinet.—
Thomas Bateman ; Yolgrave, October 23, 1847.

Occurrence of the Locust in Cornwall_—The more common, or devastating locust
(Gryllus migratorius) has been known from the earliest periods in the countries of
Western Asia, and the parts of Europe that border on that division of the world. It
is also abundant on the African borders of the Mediterranean Sea ; from whence, ra-
ther than from its more eastern haunts, it is known at uncertain periods to cross into
Italy and Spain; and the former country in particular has sometimes been subjected
to its desolating ravages, to as great an extent as the countries of Asia, and with even
more formidable results. But the advance of this insect into the cooler regions of
France and England is a rarer occurrence; and it is even more so than has been sup-
posed, for it is beyond a doubt that a species of dragon-fly, probably Libellula depres-
sa, has been mistaken for it; and this error is the more likely to be committed from
the degree of resemblance which they may bear to each other when on the wing,—at
least in the estimation of those who are not closely acquainted with either of those
creatures ; and as this dragon-fly in its ordinary habits is solitary, its casual assembling
in such immense multitudes may easily lead to this mistake. But notwithstanding
the rarity of the occurrence, it is on record that the true locust has been sometimes
seen to visit the British Islands. In the year 874, after devastating France, they at-
tempted to cross the British Channel; and such multitudes were drowned and thrown
on the shore, that their putrefaction was supposed to have been the cause of a pesti-
lence that soon after followed ; (Ruysch’s ‘Theatrum Animalium’). But the Channel

2002 Insects.

has not always proved an impassable barrier ; and in the year 1593 clouds of locusts
were seen in Wales. In the eighteenth volume of the ‘ Philosophical Transactions ’
there is also an account of their again visiting this country, in the year 1748. This
is the last visitation of which I have been able to find a notice, and the instances, or
at least the observers, have in each case been confined to the midland parts of our is-
land, exclusive of the extreme north or west. It becomes therefore a matter of inte-
rest to the natives of Cornwall to learn, that in the present year (1846), the locust has
not only visited and heen diffused over England, but that it has also been found as
far north as Scotland, and westward in our own native county. For the knowledge of
their presence in Scotland I am indebted to the authority of the newspapers ; which
also announced in the first instance their flight into England across the narrowest
parts of the Channel. But that it has been a visitant to Cornwall, I have the evidence
of a specimen which, early in the month of September, flew into a house in East
Looe, and which was captured alive after it had given its pursuers some remarkable
instances of its agility. This specimen is in the possession of Mr. Clement Jackson,
who has carefully and skilfully preserved it; and to his kindness I owe the opportu-
nity of obtaining a coloured drawing, and of satisfying myself of its certainly being
the true Gryllus migratorius. It appears from a variety of evidence, that some speci-
mens of this insect were also taken within a short distance of the Land’s End. It
may be a subject of some interest to inquire what can have been the cause by which,
at such considerable intervals of time, these creatures of a distant and warmer climate
have been drawn to visit this extremity of Britain. And in the first place the remark
is obvious, that it is not from the influence of boisterous winds, which have irresistibly
wafted them away from their native haunts. On the contrary, the past summer has
for the most part been calm, and for two or three months previous to their visit re-
markably so. But with the general tendency to calm there has been also a condition
of climate and temperature which was not indeed exceedingly hot, but which yet con-
veyed an impression of genial warmth, greatly resembling what is described as usual
at their active periods in their native regions, and which therefore may be supposed to
be that which is most consistent with their settled habits. It seems to be a repugnancy
to certain conditions of the atmosphere,—among which perhaps humidity and a ten-
dency to chill are the most influential,—that proves a more effectual hindrance to
wandering, in a variety of creatures, than any geographical limits of mountain or
ocean ; and when for a time, as during the last summer, the atmospheric state of a
region has received the impress of a new condition, it is not surprising that creatures,
hitherto repelled, should acquire a disposition to extend their range of flight to our
shores.—Jonathan Couch ; Polperro.

Occurrence of the Locust at Battel_—On the 13th of September a man brought me
a locust alive. He caught two, but one escaped before he could secure it properly. —
J.B. Ellman ; Battel, October 4, 1847.

Occurrence of the Locust in London.—This evening (October 12th) a small specimen
of Locusta migratoria was brought to me, taken a few days previously at the back of
the London Hospital.—J. Fremlyn Streatfeild ; Charts Edge, Westerham, Kent.

Generation of Aphides—* The history of the plant-louse, as ascertained by Leeuwen-
hoek, Bonnet, Reaumur, and others, is so generally known to naturalists, that it is al-
most an act of supererogation for any one merely to repeat the observations of those
authorities ; and we cannot expect to add much to the very ample details they have
given: yet the facts they have recorded respecting the generation of Aphides are in

i a

Se ee er —(.

Insects. 2003

themselves so exceedingly curious, and at the same time are so unexplained by any
hitherto received theory of generation deduced from observations on vertebrated ani-
mals, that I have been desirous of verifying these facts by direct experiment, prepara-
tory to attempting hereafter to show their accordance with some universal law of re-
production. I trust, therefore, that I may now be permitted in this short note to bear
testimony to the correctness of the observations of Leeuwenhoek, Bonnet and Reau-
mur, on the mode of generation in the Aphides, although at present I can add but lit-
tle to what has already been observed by those naturalists. The facts IT have more
_ particularly endeavoured to investigate, are—first, whether the Aphis is in reality vivi-
parous at one season, and oviparous at another ? and next, whether the supposed ova
are deposited as true eggs ; or whether, as imagined by some observers, they are only
capsules designed to protect the already formed embryos during the winter season ?
With these objects in view, I selected the Aphis of the rose, as best fitted for the en-
quiry. In the beginning of November, 1842, the young shoots of a rose tree, that had
remained in the open air during the whole of the preceding summer, were thickly co-
vered with Aphides, amongst which I had not yet seen any winged specimens; neither
had any of the females yet deposited ova. The rose tree was placed in the window of
an apartment in which there was no fire, and where the temperature ranged from
about 45° Fahr. to 50° Fahr. In the second week of November, as the temperature of
the season became cooler, I first noticed several specimens with rudiments of wings,
and a few days afterwards these cast their skins and became fully developed. Most
of these individuals were males. At this time there were also a great many very young
specimens. On the 30th of November the number of winged individuals had greatly
increased ; there were many with only the rudiments of wings: and there was also a
great abundance of black oval eggs distributed everywhere on the young shoots of the
plant, not only on the leaf-buds, but on the stems of the leaves and branches. I saw
an Aphis at that moment bearing two eggs at the extremity of her body. On placing
one of these beneath the microscope, I was quickly assured of its real nature: it was
not a capsule that included a ready-formed embryo, but a true egg. When first de-
posited the egg is of an orange-yellow colour, but it soon acquires a much darker hue,
and ultimately becomes of a deep shining black. The colour is entirely dependant
on the pigment of the shell, and is much darker in some specimens than in others.
The eggs are firmly glued to the plant, and are not easily removed. The egg of the
Aphis is similar to that of other insects; it is composed of an orange-coloured yelk,
formed of yellow nucleated cells, and surrounded by a very slight quantity of transpa-
rent vitelline fluid. It contains also a very large germinal vesicle, with a distinct ma-
eula or nucleus. This vesicle is three or four times as large as the cells that compose
the yelk, and, unlike that of most other impregnated eggs of insects, does not disap-
pear until some time after the egg is deposited. The vesicle is so persistent, that in
one instance in which I examined an egg, shortly after it came from the body of the
Aphis, it did not disappear for several seconds after the egg was crushed under the
microscope.

- “ Wishing to observe the deposition of more eggs, I selected four specimens of the
Aphis for experiment: two of these were males, which as yet were in the pupa state,
and had only the rudiments of wings; the other two were large apterous females:
these were placed on a detached branch of the rose, inclosed in a stoppered glass ves-
sel, and removed to an apartment, in which the temperature ranged from 55° Fahr. to
about 60° Fahr. On the 2nd of December, when the temperature of the room was

2004 Quadrupeds.

58° Fahr., I was surprised to find that these specimens were again producing living
young. One of the large apterous females had already produced its living offspring,
and the other was at that very moment in the act of parturition. The posterior part
of the body of a young Aphis was then protruding from that of the parent, and was
quickly followed by the remainder of the body, the thorax and the legs. When these
parts had passed, there was a slight cessation of parturient action, the head being still
retained in the vaginal passage. The disengagement of the head seemed to be the
slowest part of the process. The manner in which the parent rid herself of the new-
born Aphis was deserving of notice. When the little insect was almost entirely ex- —
truded from her body, it clung with its feet to the plant; while the female Aphis, at
short intervals, gradually elevated her body, and with a slight jerk seemed to labour
to remove it. The young Aphis repeatedly missed its hold, but quickly regained it,
and was thus as it were partially dragged forth. The head, with its small black eyes,
parts of the mouth, and the antenna, were thus gradually withdrawn, but I could not
detect any foetal coverings removed with them. The whole process of birth occupied
about five minutes. Immediately after the young had escaped from the parent, it
turned about on the leaf and moved very slowly, while the female plunged her probos-
cis into the plant to take food after her exertion.

“These brief observations confirm the statements of former naturalists, that the
Aphides deposit at one period true ova, and at others produce living young ; and they
lead us hereafter to inquire more particularly respecting the circumstances which ac-
celerate the one, or retard the other form of development.’— George Newport, F.R.S.,
in * Transactions of the Linnean Society.’ f

Habits of Noctilio Mastivus, a West-Indian Bat.— The following notes are ex-
tracted from a journal kept in Jamaica during a residence there in the years 1845 and
1846 :—

“ Being out on a shooting excursion, on the 18th of October, 1845, round Crabpond
Point, on the southern coast, about the middle of the day I looked about for a seat, on
which to rest while I ate some refreshment. <A gigantic cotton tree (E’riodendron an-
fractuosum) in the grass-piece of Mount Edgecumbe seemed to promise in its long
root-spurs the seat I was seeking. On arriving at it I found the tree was hollow, the
trunk forming a wide chimney of unknown height, as, being closed at the top, the
darkness prevented my seeing more than a few yards up. I remarked to my servant
that it was a likely locality for bats; but the appearance of a large gecko drew off my
attention, and I attempted to capture it. The reptile darted however within the ca-
vity, and I then noticed that beneath the hollow was piled a heap, several feet in di-
ameter, and at least a foot in height, of a soft granular substance, which on examina-
tion I found to be the dung of some insectivorous animals, with a very rank peculiar
odour. I had now no doubt of the tree being the abode of bats, but had little expecta-
tion of being able to ascertain the fact. While peering carefully up, however, I dis-
tinctly heard the flapping of wings and some shrill squeakings, and this determined
me to fire my fowling-piece at random up the cavity. This I did twice, and though I
brought down nothing but a little rotten wood, yet presently, when the smoke had a
little subsided, on looking up again I discerned amidst the darkness one or two heads,

Quadrupeds. 2005

which seemed those of rats, and immediately another just above them, evidently
crawling downwards. I pointed them out to my negro lad, who saw two or three
more, and presently, as it became more clear of smoke, the whole sides of the cavity
appeared full of curious round faces. I now fired, no longer at random, and had the
pleasure of bringing down this beautiful bat, which fell dead. The smoke of this
discharge made the others more anxious to come down to the fresh air, and we could
see them descending fast, head downwards. As the shot lacerated the membranes
considerably, I bethought myself of another plan; cutting a long switch, with a few
twigs at its extremity, I stood at the bottom and whipped one down ; he came sprawl-
ing with expanded wings on the ground, apparently with but little notion of flight,
although unwounded. On being taken up by the wings he displayed uncommon
fierceness, biting savagely and powerfully anything within his reach. Three or four
more I obtained in the same manner and brought them home. When thrown up in-
to the air in a room, they would not fly, but merely opened the volar membranes to
break their fall, as with a parachute. Two, which I kept alive, hung themselves up
by the hind-feet from the side of a cage into which I put them, and would not move,
except to shift an inch or two ; nor did the approach and arrival of night excite them
to activity. One, however, which had contrived to secrete himself in the room, when,
having taken both out of the cage, I turned my back for a moment, and which I had
vainly searched for, I found at night, by going into the room with a candle: hearing
a scrambling, I looked up to the top of the wall, where was my lost bat, endeavouring
to suspend himself. On being touched he flew off, but soon alighted, and so repeat-
edly ; sometimes, when he failed of taking a hold of the wall, he came to the floor,
whence he readily rose, though very obliquely. I was struck with his expanse of
wing when performing his noiseless flight around the room, and with his resemblance
to a bird, aided by the enormous interfemoral membrane, which, being expanded hy
the hind-legs and depressed, looked like the broad tail of a flying-bird, and appeared
to guide the motion in like manner. While taking some drawings of one, as it hung
from the immense hind-feet, I was amused to see how it would thrust its nose into
every part of the volar membranes, apparently searching for parasites (of which seve-
ral were briskly crawling among the hair); and now and then it brought down one
hind-foot, and scratched itself with exactly the motion of a monkey: and once I ob-
served, after scratching its breast, it delivered something into its mouth. The flexi-
bility of the ankle-joint was extreme, so that the foot could reach with ease any part
of the body.

“I presented to one a large cockroach, which he seized greedily and munched up,
moving the jaws only vertically. The eating was attended with a loud and very harsh
cranching of the teeth—not produced by crushing the horny parts of the insect, for it
was equally perceptible when munching a bit of soft flesh. The jaws moved rapidly,
but yet the mastication was a long operation, for it appeared to me to be performed
almost wholly by the canines. As the insect was progressively masticated, portions
--were allowed to fall into the cheek-pouches (the one being pretty well filled before the
other was used), which when full hung down on each side of the lower jaw, to the
depth of three or four lines, like distended bags, displaying a warted surface. When
the whole of one cockroach had been masticated and deposited in the pouches, it
would take another, which was gradually disposed of in the same receptacles ; then,
after a few moments’ intermission, by a contortion of the jaw, aided by the motion of
the muscles of the pouch, a portion was returned to the mouth, and again masticated.

v1 3 H

2006 Quadrupeds.

This was repeated till all was swallowed, and the pouches appeared empty and con-
tracted up out of sight. The whole process was much like rumination. Small por-
tions of the muscle of a bird, which were presented to one, he chewed up and deposited
in the pouches; but after being regurgitated, and a second time masticated, they were
expelled instead of being swallowed. The process of eating seemed an awkward one ;
it was a rapid succession of choppings with the long canines, through which the
tongue was thrust about so nimbly that it appeared a wonder it was not impaled per-
petually.

“ In order to rest, like other bats they crawled upwards and backwards by means of
the hind-feet, seeking the greatest elevation they could attain which afforded a hold
for the claws. They were social, though both were males; usually hanging side by
side, or sometimes with the leg of one crossing the leg of the other, or even one upon
the other. Sometimes they brought their faces together, and licked each other’s open
mouths in a singular manner; and this appeared grateful to them. I did not hear
either of them click or squeak.

“Pressed by numerous engagements, I was prevented from again visiting the tree
until about ten days after. I then went thither in the afternoon, wishing to see the
bats emerge for the night ; but though I waited till after sunset, not one appeared.
The next morning I smoked the cavity again, using the fumes of burning nitre and
sulphur, but entirely without success. I hence inferred that they had deserted the
tree as a dwelling on the first molestation. After some months, however, I again
found it tenanted by the same species, if not the same individuals, and succeeded in
obtaining another specimen, whose manners in captivity were identical with those re-
corded above.

“‘T have never seen the species abroad (so as to identify it), but my intelligent ne-
gro lad, Sam, observed two about noon on the 16th of April, the sun shining vertically.
It was at a provision-ground at Belmont, where they were clinging to the limb of a

young Avocada pear (Persea). A Banana-bird ([cterus leucopteryx) was flying towards ©

them, apparently with the intention of pecking them, on whose approach they flew
away in different directions. The lad did not perceive them until the very moment of
separation and flight, but he noticed that they were in actual contact, though he
could not tell their position. No hole or hollow tree was near. Could they have been
in copula ?

*T conjecture that it is the present species to which reference is made in the follow-
ing paragraph, which appeared in the ‘ Salisbury Journal’ of February 6th, 1847 :—
‘Mr. Thomas Dickon, an eminent farmer in Lincolnshire, had been induced to go to
Jamaica, as manager of some extensive estates there, with the intention of introducing
the best systems of farming where they had been hitherto unknown. Accounts have
been received that there is already every probability of a considerable increase of sugar
being produced, by applying a new guano as tillage. It is the dung of large bats.
The bats are said to amount to myriads ; and Mr. D. having observed many of these
singular animals entering the crevices of one of the numerous rocks, caused an open-
ing to be made and the place explored. The cave was found to be 250 feet long, 20
feet broad, and from 20 to 30 feet high. The interior contained thousands of these
animals, and appeared to have been their dwelling for ages. At the bottom of the
cave, bats’ dung, at least four feet in thickness, and amounting to about 600 tons in
weight, was discovered, and found to be equal to the best Ichaboe guano.’

“T sent a copy of the above notice to my esteemed friend, Richard Hill, Esq., of

—-o-

Quadrupeds. 2007

Spanish Town, who thus replied : ‘I know Mr. Dickon, to whom your newspaper pa-

_ ragraph relates. He details his experience in the parish of Westmoreland [the same

part of Jamaica as that in which my own observations were made—P. H. G.]; I will
however endeavour to ascertain the precise locality in which he had discovered his ex-
traordinary colony of bats. The Council of the Royal Agricultural Society of Jamaica,
of which I am a member, had had its attention called to the manure to be obtained
from fecal deposits in caves frequented by bats, and they had analyzed the material,
but found it so largely charged with the comminuted wing-cases of insects, and so lit-
tle acted upon by decomposition, that the azotized ingredients combined but slowly as
a fertilizer. Several similar accounts were given to us of cave-deposits, to that fur-
nished by Mr. Dickon. His discovery, however, being made in an unopened cavern,
into which the bats had penetrated through crevices in the rock, has special recom-
mendations to notice. ,
“* My attention was some time ago drawn to a similar harbouring-place of our
Cheiroptera. One evening, as I was crossing the marshes between Spanish Town and
Kingston, by the high-road, I was surprised at sundown at the sudden rushing out of
a stream of bats from the face of a cliffy hill that rises precipitously from the swamp.
They continued pouring out for some quarter of an hour or twenty minutes ; they
stretched like a string for some hundred yards, in consequence of the one-by-one file
in which they came forth from the crevice, and then dispersed themselves up and down
and all about, covering the whole expanse of the contiguous marsh. The long high-
way perspective across the swamp ; the level bed of rushes bending in wavelets to the
evening wind; the distant mountains with beetling summits and broken declivities,

_ lighted in angular patches by the setting sun, exhibited a wide, dilated and diversified

scene, in which no object rose to interrupt the line made by the flitting swarms as they
streamed out from the face of the cliff, and spread their myriad numbers over the
plain. I have myself noticed the great depth of the rejectamenta of bats in these
caverned recesses, but a great deal of it consisted of undecayed down, as well as fecal
mutings, and undevoured fragments of insects.’

“Tn a subsequent communication my friend favoured me with a sample of the excre-
mental deposits from a bat-cavern on Swansea estate, in the Vale of Luidas; and I
forward it, with this paper, to the Zoological Society.

“I close this article with a few particulars of description, some of which are better
observed on the living animal than on specimens dried or in spirit. A male measured
as follows: — Muzzle to insertion of tail, 47, inches; expanse of volar membranes,
243; ear, from posterior base of tragus to tip, 13; ditto, from anterior base to tip, 1 ;
tragus, longest side, #,; shortest, 3;; nose to front angle of eye, 3; nose to front of
tragus, 38. Colour varying ; upper parts yellow-brown, more or less bright ; a well-
defined narrow line of pale fulvous runs medially down the back from the head to the
tail; under parts pale fawn, bright fulvous or orange ; face purplish ; the muzzle and
chin are much corrugated ; face warty; the ears fall into elegant curves. The volar
membranes are delicately thin, transparent and glossy ; studded with minute, white,
papillary glands, which for the most part follow the course of the blood-vessels, but are
largest and most numerous in the vicinity of the trunk. The membranes being at-
tached along each side of the spine, with an interval in the middle of the back of but
7,ths of an inch, the body is, to a great extent, free. The wing, when at rest, has but
a single fold, the ultimate joint of the second and third fingers being brought back
upon the penultimate. The reproductive organs are large and prominent. At the

2008 Quadrupeds.

base of the penis are two follicles, secreting a dark brown substance, dry and lumpy,
but friable between the fingers, most insufferably musky, the odour from which is
strongly diffused by the animal during life.

“ From the width of the gape, the length of the teeth, and the power of the jaws in
this species, together with the ferocious eagerness with which my captive specimens
snatched at large cockroaches, I conjecture that its insect-prey is large ; probably noc-
turnal beetles and the larger moths and sphinges.”—P. H. Gosse, in ‘ Proceedings of
Zoological Society, Nos. 176 and 177.

Sagacity of a Cat.—We have a young cat in our house we call Toby, who, among
other frolicsome tricks, exercises his sagacity by opening the doors. It was often a
matter of surprise that the door which opens into the garden should frequently be
found open: the cause was soon discovered, for Toby was seen one day swinging into
the passage suspended to the handle of the latch. It is really curious to observe the
means used by the kitten tu effect his purpose: he springs up to the latch, puts one
paw through the handle, by which means he suspends his body against the door ; with
the other paw he pats the latch until the door opens. Toby seems fond of this sport,
which he repeats many times in the course of a day. There is another door which he
readily opens ; we suppose by similar means. I should not have noted down the gam-
bols of a kitten, had I not an impression on my mind that this species is capable of
exhibiting a far greater degree of sagacity than is usually attributed to them, and
which is more fully developed when the animal is kindly treated—W. Bentley ; 3,
Critchell Place, December, 1847.

Habits of the Field-Mouse.—The notice (Zool. 1901) of the young otter holding on
by the fur at the root of the parent’s tail, induces me tu state that, at the end of last
October, I witnessed something similar take place with the field-mouse and her young.
Happening to be standing in a field from which potatoes were being raised, I observed,
in and around a furrow which the plough had just made, a field-mouse and seven or
eight young, fully two-thirds grown. Four or five of them were running in different
directions, at a pretty rapid rate ; but three others were firmly attached to the hinder
part of the mother. She seemed to drag them away with considerable difficulty,
judging from the comparatively slow progress she made. After having drawn them
eight or ten yards, and being pursued, she parted company with them, turned round,
sat up upon her hind legs like a squirrel, rubbed her face, and then scampered off at
full speed.—G. Gordon ; Birnie, December, 1847.

Rats feeding on Eels.—“ In cutting through an embankment in a field adjoining the
river Lune, the other day, for the formation of one of the culverts rendered necessary
by the passing of the North-Western Railway in that direction, the labourers met with’
between 15 tbs. and 20 tbs. of eels, some quite fresh, and others in the last stage of
putrefaction. ‘They varied from a quarter to half a pound in weight, and consisted of
the common silver-bellied or river eel, and Lilliputian specimens of the conger or sea
eel. The latter, of course, had come up with the tide. As teeth-marks were visible
on the heads of most of them, it was conjectured they had been destroyed in that way,
and stored for winter provision, by some animal whose retreat was not far distant.
This proved to be the case. On digging a little further out bounced a matronly rat,
with seven half-grown young ones at her heels. The workmen gave chase, and ulti-
mately succeeded in killing both mother and progeny, with a solitary exception, the
trunk of a neighbouring tree affording an asylum to one of the family. The embank-
ment is about 100 yards from the water’s edge, so that it must have required consider-

Quadrupeds. 2009

able time and labour on the part of the old rat to have dragged the eels thither.’—

-. Lancaster Guardian.

Occurrence of the Oared Shrew at Birkenhead.—Having captured some little time
since a species of Sorex which was new to me, I find, on an accurate comparison, that
it agrees exactly with the description of the oared shrew (Sorex remifer) described in
Bell’s excellent work on British Quadrupeds; and thinking it may be interesting to
some of the readers of your instructive periodical to hear of a new locality, far from
any other yet mentioned, showing the more general distribution of the animal, I take
the liberty of sending you this short notice. It was captured by me apparently hunt-
ing for food, amongst dead leaves, at some little distance from the water, in a planta-
tion through which there is a running ditch in connexion with a small pond, and is
now in my possession, carefully preserved. Wm. Webster, jun. ; Upton, Birkenhead,
December 24, 1847.

Moles destructive to Wireworms—The ‘ Essex Herald’ publishes a letter from the
Rey. G. Wilkins to a farmer, who wrote to him, inquiring how the wireworm had been
exterminated on the reverend gentleman’s land :—‘‘ Some ten years since, when I came
to my living, and commenced cultivating the little land I hold, it was, I may say, full
of wireworms. Nothing could have been worse, for my crops were, in some places,
ruined by them entirely. What, then, did I do? I adopted a plan which I recom-
mended and published in periodicals many years since, namely, encouraging moles
and partridges on my lands. Instead of permitting a mole to be caught, I bought all
I could, and turned them down alive ; and soon my fields, one after another, were full
of mole-hills, to the amusement of all my neighbours, who, at first, set me down for
half a lunatic; but now several adopt my plan, and are strenuous advocates of it.
My fields became exactly like a honeycomb; and this continued even among my
standing and growing and ripening crops; not a mole was molested, but I still bought
more. This summer J had fourteen brought, which I turned down, but they were not
wanted ; I have nothing for them to eat—all that moles live upon is destroyed—and
so, poor things, they must starve or emigrate to some distant lands, and thus get bow-
stringed by savage men, whom they aim to serve. Adopt my plan, and it will be
sure to answer. If you have a nest of partridges, also encourage them ; all the sum-
mer they live on insects, on wireworms, &c.; and consider how many millions a covey
will destroy in a single summer. Again, always remember that moles feed upon in-
sects, and of which the wireworm is the chief; if you doubt this, open a mole and
peep into his stomach. Again, do not fear that moles injure your crops either in a
field or in a garden ; it is a low and vulgar error to suppose that they root up young
corn ; they never go anywhere until the wireworms have first destroyed the plants, and
then, innocent things, they are punished for others’ faults! If you do not like to see
their hills, knock them about with a hoe, as I did ; it is a healthful amusement, and
they will do your lands good. Do not despise my plan because the farmers will not
adopt it in your neighbourhood: farmers adopt nothing till driven to it, and nothing
that is new and good.”

2010 Quadrupeds.

Notes on the Quadrupeds and Birds of the Northern Districts of I nverness-shire.
By ArcuipaLtD Hepsurn, Esq.

Havina lately returned from visiting some of the most wild and romantic scenery
lying to the north of the Caledonian canal, and in the county of Inverness, I have
been induced to communicate these meagre wayside notes on its fauna, in the hope
that they may prove interesting to some, and useful to those who have the inclination
and time and better ability to complete the work. Much of the information given
must however be received with caution ; for though the journey was performed on foot,
yet it was at a rate too rapid to enable one to speak with all desirable accuracy on se-
veral points; but such as they are, I trust they will prove lights and land-marks to
others.

Ever since the Highlands became a favourite resort for English sportsmen, a re-
lentless war has been waged against all the native predaceous animals. The badger,
the pine marten (Mustela martes) and the polecat are still pretty common in certain
places, particularly in the wooded wilds of the upper parts of Strath Glass. From all
that I could learn, the weasel (M. vulgaris) and the ermine (M. Erminea) are widely
distributed ; and I was greatly surprised to see many skins of both species in the cot-
tage of a deer-forester at Aultbae, Glen Affrick, and still more to learn that they were
both common at all seasons: the latter is the most abundant. Around the cottage
was a treeless, desolate waste, of peat bogs and craggy mountains ; storm-clouds, sur-
charged with rain, brooded over thin lofty peaks; the streams leapt down their rugged
sides in glorious cataracts, and the valley was filled with their eternal roar; beautiful
rainbows ever and anon bespanned the glen, but they give no promise as in other
climes; it seems to be the very land of storms. I saw it in the pride of its dreary
summer, and the forester described its wintry glories, when almost all its feathered in-
habitants hie away to more kindly skies. The existence, then, of these two species of
weasel proves that they must find an ampie supply of food; and as rabbits are not
found there, it follows that they must chiefly prey on mice or shrews, of which I would
much like to procure specimens ; very probably the latter may be found to be new to
our fauna. The otter is common on many lochs and streams, and very abundant on
the shores of Loch Carron, an inlet of the Atlantic. © The fox is not so destructive to
the poultry-yards and lambs as formerly. The introduction of rabbits in some places,
and the killing of so many predaceous animals and birds by gamekeepers, have allowed
the alpine hares (Lepus variabilis) to increase, greatly to the detriment of sheep-farmers,
and so Reynard has become more discreet in his depredations: a professional hunts-
man, who keeps a small party of rough terriers and wire-haired greyhounds, is gene-
rally employed by the farmers in a large district to kill the foxes. The wild cat is
still found in the wild woods, though its numbers are much diminished. The mole is
common in, the low grounds. I observed a shrew (Sorex) about 100 feet below the
summit of Mealfourvenie, near Loch Ness, and which is 2700 feet above the level of
the sea. I heard that the squirrel, which is common in many parts of the district, oc-
casionally does much damage to young plantations. Nothing satisfactory could be
learned of the genus Mus, or the allied one, of Arvicola. The common hare and the
rabbit are found in the lowlands, and the alpine hare on the hills and mountains: I
pursued one in his summer’s dress down the side of Mealfourvenie, until he took refuge

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Quadrupeds— Birds. 2011

amongst some boulders of conglomerate, and I afterwards learned that this is their fa-
_ vourite way of escaping pursuit from shepherds or their dogs.

The herds of red deer are increasing all over the Highlands: Glen Affrick is a fa-
mous forest, but I had no time to spare for peeping into the corries, where they resort
during the day. The roebuck is very common in some glens where there is a little
cultivation.

The Rev. G. Gordon, in his very instructive Fauna of Morayshire (Zool. 424), says,
under the head of Mus sylvaticus, ‘‘ In July, 1836, on the top of Maam Soul, one of
the highest hills in Strath Glass, and about 3000 or 4000 feet above the level of the
sea, evident. traces of a colony of some small animal were seen among withered grass,
rushes, &c., and debris.” I kept this fact in view, and would have much liked to have
climbed the noble mountain, with a tall shepherd as my guide, but when I passed
that way his head was wrapt in a storm, the day was far spent, and angry night was
coming. The occurrence of the weasels in such a wild place as Aultbae is an inte-
resting fact, and I regret having uo means of ascertaining its altitude. The geo-
graphical range of our smaller Mammalia is thus an interesting subject, and worthy
_ of the attention of the officers of the Royal Engineers, now engaged in the triangula-
tion of Scotland amongst these wild hills.

Gamekeepers have waged such an exterminating warfare against the rapacious
birds, that eagles, especially, have become exceedingly scarce. A deer-forester showed
me the wings and claws of a golden eagle (Aquila chrysaetos), which had been caught
in a trap placed on the margin of a pool, in which the carcase of an alpine hare had
been placed as bait, so that the bird had to stand on the fatal spring if he had no wish
to wet his feet. I thought it a hard case to have wandered so far amidst savage
mountains without meeting with an eagle, and by so many noble lochs without seeing
an osprey on the wing. The beautiful kestrel (Falco tinnunculus) is very common
about Loch Ness, and up the Beauly and the Glass to Loch Bennavian. The swift
(Cypselus murarius) is common at Dingwall and Inverness: a solitary pair was seen
at Loch Bennavian. Our three British species of swallow are very generally distri-
buted. The nightjar (Caprimulgus europeus) is very common about Foyers, on Loch
Ness. The gray flycatcher (Muscicapa grisola) is more abundant on the banks of Loch
Ness, and up the Beauly river for several miles, than I have observed in any part of
Scotland. The raven (Corvus corax), a few were observed in the wilds of Glen
Affrick and between Loch Carron and Dingwall. The carrion crow (Corvus corone)
was never observed in the Highlands, until I reached Blair Atholl, Perthshire ; whilst
the hooded crow (Corvus cornix) was very widely distributed on field and moor.
The jackdaw and rook were common in the cultivated grounds ; the latter is very
widely distributed over the moors and mountains, in the month of August. The mag-
pie (Pica caudata) seems to be a rare bird; however, I met with a pair on the
Glass, near to Loch Bennavian. The starling was widely distributed over the culti-
vated grounds. I was greatly surprised at not meeting with the dipper (Cinclus aqua-
ticus), nor could I find any fresh-water Mollusca in my very hurried and seldom-re-
peated researches for them; possibly this deficiency may account for the absence of
the dipper, which Professor Macgillivray says is very common in the Hebrides.
Blackbirds and song-thrushes were common in all the wooded parts, but the latter were
not so numerous as I had been led to expect. Family-parties of missel-thrushes be-
spoke the presence of this new and adventurous colonist. The ring-ouzel (Turdus
torquatus) was very common up Strath Glass, Glen Affrick, and on the shores of Lochs

2012 Birds.

Duich and Alsh, on the Atlantic side. The modest little hedge-chanter (Accentor
modularis) was much missed about the homesteads, and yet, according to Macgillivray,
it isccommon in the Hebrides, where there is no wood for shelter. The redbreast was
very common in wooded glens. The whinchat (Saxicola rubetra) was very common, not
only in the wooded glens, but amidst the most savage scenery of Glen Affrick and the
Falls of the Glomach. The wheatear (Saxicola enanthe), widely distributed. The
redstart (Sylvia pheenicurus),common about Foyers. The whitethroat (Curruca cinerea),
pretty common about Loch Ness, and up Strath Glass, as far as Kilmorach. The
wood-wren (Sylvia sibilatrix), pretty common about Foyers, and methinks I heard his
melancholy call-note in Glen Morrison, a few miles distant from the former locality.
The willow-wren (Sylvia Trochilus) is very numerous in all the wooded glens up
Strath Glass, nearly as far as the mountain of Knockphin. The golden-crested wren
(Regulus auricapillus), common in woods. The sedge warbler (Sylvia phragmitis),
scarce, Glen Urquhart. The wren (Sylvia troglodytes), common in the wildest woods.
The pied wagtail (Motacilla Yarrelli), common in certain localities. The gray and
yellow wagtail (Motacilla Boarula), only seen near Kintail, Loch Duich. The mea-
dow-pipit (Anthus pratensis), common. The skylark (Alauda arvensis), common in the
lower grounds. The greater tit (Parus major) was scarce in the woods ; whereas the
blue tit (P. ceruleus), the cole tit (P. ater), and the long-tailed tit (P. caudatus), were
very common and widely distributed.

The corn bunting (H'mberiza miliaria) occurred sparingly in low-lying cultivated
ground about Inverness. The yellow bunting (E. Citrinella) was very common in the
cultivated valleys. The black-headed bunting (£. scheniclus), pretty common. The
chaffinch (Fringilla celebs), very abundant and widely distributed. The gray linnet
{Linota cannabina) and the green linnet (C. chloris) were both common and widely
distributed, but the former was not so numerous as I had been led to expect from the
nature of the ground. The sparrow (Passer domesticus), about towns and villages, but
not so common about the homesteads as in better cultivated districts. The wood-pi-
geon (Columba Palumbus), common and widely dispersed, occurs even in valleys where
the cultivation is limited.

The partridge (Perdia cinerea), pretty common in cultivated fields. The blackcock
(Tetrao Tetrix), common in rough ground of moderate elevation. The red grouse

(Lagopus scoticus), common on the moors. The golden plover (Charadrius pluvialis) is —

also common, and so is the lapwing.. It was surprising that not a curlew was seen,
either on the shores of the Atlantic or German Ocean, or in the wilds of the interior,
where they resort to breed. The pleasant little common sandpiper (Totanus hypoleu-
cos) enlivens the banks of almost every lake and large stream with his peevish call-
note. A few snipes (Scolopax Gallinago) were found on the moors, and the crake
(Crex pratensis) was heard in the corn-lands. The gallinule (Gallinula chloropus) was
scarce, and the coot (Fulica atra) was only seen at the embouchure of the Urquhart
into Loch Ness. The stately heron (Ardea cinerea) lent a charm to many a moorland
and river scene. Very few mallards were seen about the moorland lochs where they
breed.

I observed a large pull, which I took to be the lesser black-backed (Larus fuscus)
or the herring gull (L. argentatus), fishing in Loch Lochy; both species were seen
on the east and west coasts. The black-headed gull (L. ridibundus) was the only
other species observed ; it was both abundant and widely distributed.

I shall now endeavour to enliven these details by a few notes on the habits of the

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P : =— >
——— —-- hae

Birds. 2013

birds. arly in the past summer, an eagle, which had been caught by one foot ina
_ trap on Mealfourvenie, flew about the neighbourhood for the space of a month, and
was afterwards found on the heights above Glen Morrison, shortly after his death. A
friend of mine knows a man who saw the trap in the scale, and it weighed 43 tbs.
The voice of the kestrel and the cooing of the wood-pigeon were very common ac-
companiments to the music of the innumerable cascades that I visited in wooded glens.
The latter is comparatively a recent colonist, and migrates from the uplands to the
sea-coast on the approach of winter, where turnips and red clover are largely culti-
vated ; but as the cultivation of these plants is on the increase, even in the upper parts
of Strath Glass, to assist the flock-masters in keeping their sickly stock in good heart
at all seasons, it is probable that ere long a few of these parasitic farmer's birds will
remain the winter through, Neither pheasants nor wood-pigeons can subsist comfort-
ably apart from the cultivated fields: where they abound, they are a grievous curse to
the farmer, and therefore to this bread-importing nation. Do swifts ever nestle about
rocks? I saw a pair cruising over Loch Bennavian, which is many miles distant from
church or castle. The bank martin is not so numerous as the other species of the ge-
nus, in the upper part of Strath Glass. One fine evening in July, when wandering
amongst the groves of the graceful birch which lie to the eastward of the celebrated
fall of Foyers, I heard the whirr of the goatsucker; from the top of the wood his fel-
lows took the note, and soon the air resounded with their strange spinning-wheel-like
note ; and from the peculiar nature of the ground, I readily perceived how a bird
would spring from his perch, glide smoothly along, fluttering at intervals, or rising and
falling and smiting his wings over his back, like the wood-pigeon during the breeding
season. Jealousy was there, and strongly did their busy contention sound on that
lone hill-side, amidst the roar of the distant cataract, the sighing of the night’s wind,
the hush of Loch Ness, and in the light of the moon, high over the noble hills of
Strath Errick. The great abundance of the gray flycatcher and the willow-wren
proves that the entomology of the banks of Loch Ness must be very extensive ; their
young ones, and those of the redbreast, had just come abroad, so that, what with their
clamourous calls and the choral chirpings of troops of tits, the woods were very ani-
mated. Memory will ever associate the lively ring ouzel and the whinchat with the
wild scenery of Glen Affrick and the loch of that name. Black and sterile mountains
towered up to a vast height on either side of the glen, their rugged tops were often
enveloped in tempest, and beautiful masses of mist floated along their sides, which
were rent into huge corries. There were the mountain streams, streaking the upper-
most slopes, now buried amongst rocks, now flashing in the fitful sunshine, now leap-
ing in glorious cataracts, now growling away amidst huge boulders of gneiss and
granite, and amongst thickets of stunted birch, alder, hazel and juniper, into the dark
waters of the loch. Few wild flowers deck these solitudes: Saxifraga aizoides and
Ranunculus flammula by the streams, Narthecium ossifragum in the bogs, and the
eye-bright smiles as you pass. Here stood one of the noblest primeval pine-forests of
the north, sacred to freedom, where Rome’s conquering eagles never flew; but a com-
pany of merchants, from Norwich I believe, have been here, and few and sad are the
memorials of the past: scattered over the rocky knolls of scanty soil, or dotting the
mountain side, with twisted stem, gnarled bark, scanty foliage and many a scathed
limb, these old trees link the past with the present, and the wind stirred them with a
melancholy tone. Now and then a little band of blue and black-headed tits would flit
from tree to tree, but the attention was speedily arrested by the ‘ clack clack’ of the

2 I

2014 Birds.

fine-plumaged ring ouzel: up sprang his family from rock and thicket, and away they
hied to some secure resting-place, or scudded wildly across the glen. Meadow pipits
were very scarce, and the whinchat was pre-eminently the bird of the treeless solitudes :
bow pleasantly did his tiny challenge sound on the wild mountains about the falls of
the Glomach (150 feet high), where the juniper crouches lowly and is overtopped by
the ever-graceful fern.

We have few data of the geographical distribution of our summer birds north of
Morayshire; and if I may judge from the ‘ History of British Birds,’ by Professor
Macgillivray, who is a first-rate authority in these matters, I may perhaps be allowed
to state, that these observations have advanced the limits of the migration of the fol-
lowing species :—Caprimulga europzus, Foyers ; Sylvia pheenicurus, Loch Bennavian,
Strath Glass; Sylvia sibilatrix, Foyers; Sylvia phragmitis, Glen Urquhart. At p.
240, vol. ii. of the above-mentioned work, Motacilla Boarula is stated to be rare to the
north of Inverness, and unknown in the Hebrides. I met with several on Loch Duich,
which is not far from Skye. Access to a good library can alone solve these doubts.

A. Heppurn.
December, 1847.

Birds of Sutherlandshire, Ross-shire, §c.— During an excursion through Sutherland-
shire and the outer Hebrides, this summer, we were fortunate enough to meet with
several birds, which you may think worthy of notice in the ‘ Zoologist.’

At Thurso I procured a gyr falcon of the first year, which had been shot a short
time before near the town. On one of the numerous lakes between Thurso and
Tongue, we fell in with a male golden-eye (May 17), and from what we heard in Suth-
erlandshire afterwards, we had no doubt that the female was upon her eggs.

Upon Loch Laighall, in Sutherlandshire, we found several pairs of the bean goose
(Anas segetum) breeding, and procured their eggs, which agree exactly with the
description given of them in Yarrell. They lay generally from six to eight eggs, but
are so constantly robbed that they are leaving Loch Laighall, and are betaking them-
selves to the smaller lakes, which, from their situation, are inaccessible to mankind, as
no boat can be brought to them. After their nests are robbed they never lay again.
Upon two of the islands we found the greater and lesser black-backed, the herring and
common gulls, breeding, all—except the greater black-backed—in considerable abun-
dance. Upon Ben Stomino, a mountain about eight miles from Tongue, we disco-
vered an eyrie of the golden eagle, but were unable, from want of ropes, to reach it.
Upon a subsequent day two eaglets were taken. The beginning of April is the usual
time of the two species of eagle breeding in this county. The hen harrier is not un-
common: we found a nest with six eggs, and shot a very fine old female. In the
southern part of the county we met with Montagu’s harrier and its nest, not, I believe,
before noticed so far north: not a season passes but one nest at least is found near
Bonar bridge. ‘The water ouzel is very common on every stream.

Between Tongue and Altrehara, on the 20th of May, we procured a fine specimen
of the red-throated diver, on a small pool near the road-side. A single egg was de-
posited close to the water's edge, and upon dissection a second perfect egg was found
in her ready for exclusion. Near Loch Maddie, on the following day, we killed a fe-

Birds. 2015

male greenshank with a perfect egg in her, evidently, from the state of the ovaries,

_ the last of the four, which from appearances she must have laid in a very short time :

we searched in vain for the nest. The greenshank is by no means uncommon here.
On another small loch we flushed a female golden-eye. The wigeon breeds here in
tolerable abundance ; also the redshank and curlew. On Loch Maddie we saw three
fine specimens of the black-throated diver, but from their wonderful power of diving
we fired five ineffectual shots at them: they evidently had not commenced breeding.
We saw on the same loch a few pairs of the gray-legged goose, and found one egg,
which is rather smaller than that of the bean goose, and more pointed at the smaller
end. The hooded crow breeds on the islands of the loch in great abundance, building
on trees a nest very similar to the carrion crow, and laying four or five eggs, rather
smaller than the carrion crow, of a greenish-blue colour freckled with brown.

Near Laing, on Loch Shin, we saw another pair of black-throated divers, which
were very shy. At Bonar bridge, on the borders of Ross-shire and Sutherlandshire,
we found a small collection of birds made in this district by William Dunbar: among
the most interesting were a fine osprey and two eggs, taken on the 15th of May near
Scourie, from an island in one of the numerous lochs of that district : a black-throated
diver and its egg, taken from Loch Urgill, near Inchnadamph, on the 2lst of May;
it was a male bird in very fine plumage: a fine specimen of Buffon’s skua, killed by
the gamekeeper looking over the Bonar bridge district in 1846. Between Bonar
bridge and the west coast, opposite Skye, we did not observe much beyond several pairs
of wigeon ; a white-tailed eagle near Loch Alsh, on the 26th of May ; a fine specimen
of the northern diver on the 28th, between Loch Alsh and Kyleakin ; and in the same
locality, innumerable oyster-catchers, two or three pairs of the red-breasted merganser,
and the common linnet of the north of Scotland, namely, the twite, in great abun-
dance.

Should it be agreeable to you, I will send you an account of our discoveries in the
outer Hebrides and St. Kilda, at a future time ; and will merely just add a list of the
birds seen in the counties of Sutherland and Ross, with an account of a successful
expediti8n in search of that rare bird the black-throated diver. Ona small loch be-
tween Inchnadamph and Oikel, on the 21st of June, close to the road-side, we got
sight of a fine pair of these birds. We procured a boat, and the assistance of Mr.
John Sutherland, the duke’s gamekeeper, and chased them for at least three hours,
during which time they only allowed us once to get within shot: they never once took
wing, but the rapidity of their diving was wonderful, sometimes keeping under water
near two minutes, and coming up in quite a contrary direction a quarter of a mile off.
We then dragged our boat a mile over the moor, to Loch Urgill, a large loch, with two
large islands and two or three small islets, perhaps not more than ten yards Iong by
four wide. Here a nest had been taken in the month of May. Upon coming in
sight of the loch, we saw through our glass a pair of black-throated divers close to the
islet where the eggs had been taken ; and here again the same pair had chosen exact-
ly the same spot for nidification, and we discovered an egg laid without any nest close
to the water’s edge. While the keeper concealed himself, in hopes of getting a shot
at the parent birds, we took another survey of the lake; and close to another islet,
about half a mile from the one previously mentioned, we espied another pair, and
again we found two eggs,—in this case placed in a nest made of a few rushes and
dried grass, about a yard from the water. In neither case were we fortunate enough
to get the old birds, though we were concealed till near dusk, so cautious are they, ex-

2016 _- Birds:

cepting when they have young ones, and then they do not dive till the last extremity.
The eggs vary in colour, some being of a dark chocolate, others quite a light brown,
all of them spotted with black, chiefly on the larger end, and in size between those of
the great northern and the red-throated diver. It has been said that the colour of the
eggs of these birds varies only from the time that they have been set upon, but in this
case that idea is not verified, for they were all in precisely the same state; and an egg
taken on May 2Ist, quite fresh, was in colour the darkest of the six which we pro-
cured.

List of Birds seen and procured in Sutherlandshire and Ross-shire, 1847.

Gyr Falcon (young). Thurso, March.

Golden Eagle and eyrie. Ben Stomino, May 19.

White-tailed Eagle. Loch Alsh, Ross-shire, May 27.

Hen Harrier and nest. Fvot of Ben Stomino, May 19.
Ash-coloured Harrier and nest. Bonar bridge, May 21.

Kestrel. Everywhere common.

Peregrine Falcon. Ben Laighall, May 20.

Osprey and nest, May 17; Assynt, June 19.

Hooded Crow and nest. Everywhere abundant.

Rook. Balmagowan, Ross-shire, May 25.

Ring Ouzel and nest. Ben Laighall, Altrehara, May 20—22.
Blackbird. Very common.

Water ouzel and nest. Common, Tongue, Altrehara, May 20,
Cuckoo. Tongue, Ben Laighall, May 20, 21.

Pied Wagtail. Common, Sutherlandshire, May 16—22.
Wheatear. The commonest bird of Sutherlandshire, May 16—22.
Bullfinch. Garve, Ross-shire, May 25.

Sparrow. Thurso, May 16.

Mountain Linnet. Everywhere common.

Chaffinch. Sutherlandshire, common. e
Yellow Hammer. Ditto.

Reed Bunting. Ditto; and eggs found June 19.

Redbreast. Sutherlandshire, very common.

Willow Wren. Ditto.

Common Wren. Ditto.

Stonechat. Ditto.

Ring Dove. Everywhere where there is wood.

Rock Dove. Caves, Thurso; Kyleakin, May 15, 28.

Martin. Sutherlandshire, Ross-shire, common, May 16—28.
Titlark. Ditto.

Skylark. Ditto.

Rock Lark. Thurso, May 16.

Partridge. Tongue, May 18.

Golden Plover and nest. Tongue, Altrehara, common, May 20—22.
Ring Plover. Very common everywhere in Sutherlandshire, May 16—28.
Peewit. Ditto.

Common Sandpiper. Ditto.

Oyster-catcher. Ditto.

Birds. 2017

Curlew. Very common everywhere in Sutherlaudshire, May 16—28,

Heron. Sutherlandshire, Skye, May 20, 28.

Redshank. Loch Naver, Sutherlandshire, May 20.

Greenshank and eggs. Ditto.

Snipe. Everywhere common, Sutherlandshire, May 16—27.

Jack Snipe. Loch Naver, May 20.

Gray-legged Goose and eggs. Loch Shin, Loch Assynt, Loch Naver, May 20—24.

Bean Goose. Loch Laighall, May 19.

Bean Teal. Ross-shire, Auchnasheen, May 26.

Wigeon. Loch Naver, May 20.

Golden-eye. Near Tongue, Loch Naver, May 18—20.

- Little Grebe. Loch Naver, May 20.

Wild Duck. Very common. Young ones, May 20.

Red-breasted Merganser. Between Loch Alsh and Skye, May 28.

Northern Diver. Ditto.

Red-throated Diver and egg. Tongue, May 20; Altrehara, May 18.

Black-throated Diver. Loch Maddie, May 20; Loch Shin, May 18; Loch Argele,
Loch Altnagealgach, June 21.

Black-headed Gull. Near Thurso, a colony, May 18.

Great Black-backed Gull. Loch Laighall, Loch Shin, Loch Assynt, Loch Naver,
Loch Maddie, common.

Lesser Black-backed Gull. Ditto.

Kittiwake. Ditto.

Common Gull. Ditto.

Herring Gull. Ditto.

Buffon’s Skua. Bonar bridge, August, 1846.

I might add what will perhaps be interesting to your readers, that on reaching In-
verness, on my way south, June 23, I was shown some specimens of the crested tit-
mouse, with some unblown eggs, taken a few days before from the pine woods of
Strathspey, where they are by no means uncommon. The boy who took them told me
they were always to be found in a hole of a tree highish up; he took the female with
the nest and five eggs this year. The eggs are the size of those of the blue titmouse,
and like them in colour, with the addition of being more mottled on the larger end.—
W. M. E. Milner ; Nunappleton, Tadcaster, October 11, 1847.

Ornithological Notices in Norfolk for the month of December, 1847.—The following
account has been furnished us of the attack observed to be made by a glaucous gull
upon a dead coot at Horsea, as mentioned in our last. The coot was shot as it rose
out of a reed-bush, and the gull, which with many others was flying over head at the
time, immediately pounced upon the former, and was killed while standing upon it.
Another specimen of the glaucous gull is said to have been killed at Blakeney, as also
an Iceland gull, and some examples of the pomarine skua. The waxwings mentioned
in our last to have been killed at Horsea were male and female, and their crops con-
tained berries, apparently of the whitethorn: on the 27th instant three more examples
of this species (two males and one female) were killed at Barnaby, near Lowestoft, a
fourth which was seen with them having escaped. We are indebted to Mr. Frere for
pointing out to us a somewhat curious feature in the specimen of the gray-legged
goose which we have mentioned as of recent occurrence in Norfolk, viz., the existence
of black markings about the belly and between the legs, much resembling those found

2018 - Birds.

on the breast of the white-fronted goose, but somewhat less decided. About the mid-
dle of the month a rough-legged buzzard, in the plumage (probably) of the second or
third year, was trapped at Bretenham, near Thetford, in this county, and is still kept
alive: we have not heard of the occurrence of any other specimens, The young birds
appear to be decidedly more gregarious than the more adult. The mealy redpole has
been abundant during the month, and the commoner species of wild-fow] have occurred
in the usual abundance. The great gray shrike has also occurred at Carrow.—J. H.
Gurney, W. R. Fisher ; December, 1847.

I am sorry that I made a rather important mistake in copying the “ Ornithological
Notices in Norfolk for November, 1847,” (Zool. 1966). The bird captured at West-
wick was not the ‘ white-headed ’ but the ‘ white-tailed’ eagle (H. albicilla)—W. R.
Fisher ; January, 1848.

Provincial Names of Birds.—I beg to enclose a list of a few provincial names of
birds in this neighbourhood: they are all with which I am at present acquainted.

Chiff-chaff—Featherpoke: on account of its nest being lined with feathers. Poke
is the Yorkshire word for a sack.

Wo0d-warbler.—Small straw.

Chaffinch.—Spink.

Yellow Bunting.—Yolering : most probably a corruption of gold ring.

Starling.—Shepster.

Magpie.—Pienet.

Wren.—Peggy.—J. S. Webb ; Huddersfield, November 6, 1847.

Dates of the Arrival of Migratory Birds at Aylsham in 1847.—1I beg to forward for

insertion in the ‘ Zoologist’ a few notes of the appearance, &c., of birds this year.
My observations were principally made near Aylsham.

Swift. May 6. )

House Martin. May 1.

Sand Martin. April 27.

Swallow. April 30.

Greater Pettychaps. April 30.

Redstart. April 26.

Yellow Wagtail. Prior to April 28.

Cuckoo. May 5.

Redbreast. Young left nest May 4.

Fieldfare. Last seen April 20.

Song Thrush. Eggs, April 4.

Rook. Hatched prior to April 14.

Hooded Crow. Last seen March 24.

By these few notes it may be seen, that although many of our summer birds arrived
early, yet the fieldfare and hooded crow remained very late, if the periods given for
their usual departure in Mr. Jenyn’s calendar are correct. The cuckoo was not heard
by myself before May 5, but I was told by others that they had heard it a fortnight
previously.—H. 7’. Frere ; Blofield, November 17, 1847.

Gyr Falcon ; Mistranslation in a former Number of the ‘ Zoologist.’—I wish to call
the attention of the readers of the ‘ Zoologist’ to a mistranslation of a word in the
passage from Professor Tschudi’s work quoted in the ‘ Zoologist’ (Zool. 1806). The
word rendered ‘ gyr-falcon’ is doubtless ‘ geyer-falke,,—‘ vulture-hawk.’ A very dif-
ferent bird from the Falco Gyrfalco, and the observations made upon the habits of

Birds. | 2019

the one will not at all agree with those of the other. The similarity of sound has
doubtless led to the mistake; perhaps indeed our own word ‘ gyr-falcon’ is derived
from the bird being of a vulture size; or perhaps it may be from its wheeling or gy-
rating flight: at any rate the one bird is at the head of the noble, the other at the
bottom of the ignoble birds of prey.—Id.

Plumage of the Tawny Owl (Syrnium stridula)—The bird from which this descrip-
tion has been taken was kept in a garden, in a state of half-domestication, for the
purpose of seeing if any change of plumage would take place; but this was never the
case. The facial disk had its posterior two-thirds reddish-brown, the rest grayish-
white ; the sides of the face well defined by a dark-brown ring; top of the head a
mixture of brownish-black and rufous, withtwo irregular white stripes, passing from
nearly over the eye backwards to near the occiput; hind neck of the same colour as
the head, but with less black ; back rufous-brown, each feather having a dark central
mark ; scapulars principally ike tipped with dark brown ; lesser wing-coverts nearly
the same, as are also the greater; wing-primaries barred with buffy-white and dark-
brown; two middle tail-feathers nearly uniform in colour, being chestnut-coloured ;
the others the same, irregularly barred and mottled with dark brown ; the whole of
the under parts a mixture of palish rufous and white, each feather having a narrow
central mark of darker brown. This bird was four years old, and in deep moult at the
time of his death ; on dissection it was found to be a male. All the new feathers
which were coming were of a bright ferruginous or chestnut colour. It is well known
that many individuals of this species occur of a grayish colour, and Mr. Yarrell has
described one of these as an adult male. He says, “ The females are larger, and
much more ferruginous or tawny in the general colour of their plumage. Young
males are for a considerable time, probably till their second autumn, similar in colour
to the females.” I think this specimen distinctly shows, if the gray birds are the per-
fectly adult, that it requires as long a time as five years to attain this plumage. I am
much more disposed to consider it as a variety to which the tawny owl is very subject,
for I distinctly remember a gentleman having three in a garden, which had been
taken from the nest that season, two of which were decidedly gray birds. Two speci-
mens, male and female, killed together, in November, 1846, were both chestnut or
tawny birds, and exactly similar in plumage. From an examination of the bones, I[
should think them both old individuals. I have been somewhat particular in describ-
ing this specimen, because the exact age and sex are known, and there is still much
obscurity about the plumage of the tawny owl.—Robert F. Tomes ; Welford Hill, near
Stratford-on-Avon, January 10, 1848.

Occurrence of the Scops-Eared Owl (Scops Aldrovandi) near Wexford.—I find I
have noted down, under date of 19th of last 4th month, the following particulars of
the capture of the above bird.—“ Our Wexford bird-preserver has lately received a re-
cent specimen of that most rare and beautiful little owl. He got it from the vicinity
of Kelmore (a fishing village on our south coast), and was unable to give me any fur-
ther information about it.”—Joseph Poole ; Killiane, Wexford.

Occurrence of the Bohemian Waxwing near Newcastle-on-Tyne.—A fine specimen of
that rare and uncertain visitant, the Bohemian waxwing (Bombycilla garrula), was
shot at Axwell on the 29th of December last—T. J. Bold ; 42, Bigg Market, New-
castle-on-Tyne, January 18, 1848.

Early Nidification of the Robin (Erythaca rubecula).—I to-day saw a robin’s nest
with five eggs, which was found in a garden at Wheldrake, near this city. The bird

2020 Birds.

was first observed sitting on it ten days ago, but afterwards deserted. Till to-day the
weather has generally been very mild for the season of the year, which may in a mea-
sure account for this early nesting. To-day however is more seasonable, the ground
having put on its snowy mantle.—Beverley R. Morris, A.B., M.D. ; York, January 18,
1848.

Curious Nesting-place of Robins.—In the summer of 1846, a pair of redbreasts
(Lrythaca rubecula) made their nest and brought up young in a constantly-inhabited
bed-room at Roydon Hall. The nest was made on the top of the window-curtains.
—H. T. Frere.

Extraordinary Assemblage of the Golden-crested Regulus (Regulus cristatus).—About
a fortnight since, whilst shooting, at the sand-banks on the Dorsetshire coast, near
Poole, I was passing along the edge of a large fir-plantation, which extends completely
down to the open beach, when my attention was attracted by a sound, which appeared
to be the twittering of multitudes of little birds among the fir-trees, some of which I
saw hopping about the heath at the edge of the wood. Upon entering the plantation
I observed them flying in every direction from branch to branch, and running upon
the bark with great agility, constantly introducing their beaks among its crevices.
My curiosity being excited by the minuteness of these birds, as well as by their vast
numbers, and not being able to recognize them, I shot one, with a view of ascertaining
what they were, and upon picking it up I found it to be the golden-crested regulus
(Regulus cristatus). I afterwards shot four more in different parts of the flock, and
found them to be all of the same species. Their note was short and monotonous ; and
I observed that each time after I shot, the whole wood was quite silent for some mi-
nutes, and the birds during that time were perfectly still, after which they recommenced
their twittering cry and active movements. I could not form any accurate estimate
of their numbers, but I am sure I am far within bounds when I say that there must
have been several hundreds of them in the small part of the wood over which I walked :
as I only examined a small portion of the plantation, not penetrating it more than
two or three hundred yards, where I still heard and saw them on every side, their num-
bers most probably were very great indeed. Mr. Yarrell quotes a passage from Selby,
in which a somewhat similar instance is recorded, but in that case the birds appeared
exhausted, as by a long flight, whereas those that I saw were vigorous and active.—
S. J. A. Salter ; King’s College, London, January 17, 1848.

Mule between Cirl Bunting (Emberiza cirlus) and Canary.—On the 27th of July,
last year, a nést of the cirl bunting, containing four young birds, was discovered in a
low bushy thorn, in a quarry near this town (Kingsbridge). One of these I procured,
and for several days fed it upon soaked bread, crushed rape-seed and hard egg, upon
which food it thrived exceedingly well. When feathered and enabled to feed it itself,
I gave it the range of my aviary, in company with several canaries and other small
seed-birds. It has, from that time to the present, enjoyed uninterrupted and perfect
health, and is a most sprightly and beautiful male bird. In June this year it mated
with a canary of the preceding year, also reared in the same room. One young bird
was reared, a lively little fellow, partaking more of the habits of the bunting than the
canary, one marked characteristic of which is its habit of crushing the hemp-seed with
the hard bony palate, instead of shelling it with the edges of the beak, as in the finch
tribe. It is smaller than the canary, more lively and quicker in its actions, and has
also always had the range of the room. This mule bird is, I believe, a hen, there be-
ing very little dark plumage under the throat or sides of the head: in other respects

Birds. 2021

_ the plumage is very similar to its male parent. i may here also remark that a pair of
bullfinches have this year built twice in my aviary, each time selecting a quiet corner

for their nests, which they constructed principally of small twigs and hay. Both
broods were, however, suddenly deserted when half-fledged, in the same manner as re-
lated in two or three instances previously in the ‘ Zoologist.” The young birds in
consequence perished from cold, before any attention could be paid to them.—George
Fox ; Duncombe Street, Kingsbridge, Devon, January 4, 1848.

Curious Habit of the Rook (Corvus frugilegus).—It is a curious fact, that when a
rook, which is perched on a tree, caws, he elevates and spreads his tail like a fan at
every caw, while if he vocalizes during flight the tail undergoes no change: of course
the tail is always in action during flight, but in what way does it assist the bird in
cawing while perched ?— Beverley R. Morris, A.B., M.D.; York, January 18, 1848.

Occurrence of the Lesser Spotted Woodpecker (Picus minor) near Huddersfield.—
You will be glad to hear of the existence of the lesser spotted woodpecker (Picus mi-
nor) in our northern latitude. I yesterday shot a fine male specimen, consorting with
the commoner of the Parine. It seemed to have been driven from its usual haunts by
a heavy fall of snow, which occurred a few days before. It was very tame, and allowed
me to notice its movements without apparent alarm. The Picus major is not unfre-
quent in our woods, but the little woodpecker I never expected to see so far north.—
Peter Inchbald ; Storthes Hall, Huddersfield, January 20, 1848.

The Cuckoo (Cuculus canorus) destructive to the Caterpillars of the Cabbage But-
terfly (Pontia Brassice).—For two or three successive years my garden was visited by
a cuckoo, and I found the source of attraction to be some gooseberry-bushes, which
were laden with the caterpillars of the large white cabbage butterfly : to feast on these
he came regularly twice every day, and if interrupted, alarmed or driven away, he
would be seen to return. He always sung on his arrival before he began to feed, and
again after feeding before he flew away. The last year of his visiting my garden he
was much annoyed by a hedge-sparrow which had a nest close by: directly the cuckoo
alighted and commenced his “ cuckoo,” out flew the hedge-sparrow off her nest, and
attacked him furiously about the head: this took place several successive days, and
the hedge-sparrow always succeeded in driving the cuckoo away.—Alexander Pytts
Falconer ; Becton, Christchurch, February 11, 1848. 5

(Mr. Yarrell says that “ adult cuckoos are most partial to hairy caterpillars,” and
I have observed the caterpillars of the various species of Burnet moths to be ardently
sought by them.—Z. N.]

White Variety of the Swallow (Hirundo rustica) and Pale Variety of the Martin
(H. urbica).—Mr. James Watts, surgeon, of this town, has in his possession a white
swallow, shot in an adjoining parish about two years ago; also a pale fawn-coloured
martin, shot at the same place the year following.—James B. Ellman ; avait Febru-
ary 11, 1848.

Habits of the Stock Dove (Columba Ainas).—Although the stock dove is found in
this neighbourhood in considerably less numbers than the ring dove, it is by no means
arare bird. It is smaller in size than the latter, and has a bluer cast of plumage,
from which circumstances it is usually called “ the little blue pigeon.” Although per-
haps many hundreds may be seen daily by a person repairing to our neighbouring
parks, yet, notwithstanding, a bird in the open country is rather a rarity, particular
seasons excepted. ‘They seem particularly attached to gnarled oak trees, and on this
account the parks of Calke and Donnington are their favourite haunts. In frosts and

¥I K

2022 Birds.

long snows they become more bold, and, flocking together like ring doves, repair to
turnip and cabbage fields, and it must be acknowledged are serious depredators. Ow-
ing to their light and delicate plumage, they have a very pretty appearance as they
rove from field to field. On these occasions they sometimes are accompanied by rooks
and starlings, but it is not often that the two pigeons are seen together. They remain
the year round in considerable numbers, but towards autumn, when beech-mast and
acoms are ripe, receive very considerable accessions to their numbers. The greater
part of these visitors again depart in a few weeks; but it is very remarkable that they
suit the time of their coming exactly to that period when wild fruits are ripe: they
are therefore sooner or later, according to the state of the season. In spring they
commit serious damage to clover and young seeds, taking the youngest and freshest
leaves as they spring from the ground. The stock dove invariably builds in the old and
weather-worn trees in our parks; at least I have never known an instance of one
building beyond the outskirts of those places; neither have I ever seen it, like the
ring dove, place its nest on the bough of a tree, but always in the bowels of one, either
on a projecting ledge of wood or deeply in a hole, oftentimes some feet in length.
They build about the third or fourth week in April, but I have generally found them
in the first week in May, sitting on eggs pretty well advanced towards incubation.
Eggs rather smaller than those of the ring dove, and white. The nest is composed of
dead oak twigs outwardly, and lined with strips of the inner rind of the bark of trees,
blades of grass dried, bits of withered fern, and a good profusion of the cast-off hair
from fallow deer. The birds sit close, and will not leave the nest until the intruder is
at the root of the tree, and when they find themselves detected endeavour to steal away
more cautiously than the ring dove. Fine weather and a favourable season will some-
times induce the stock dove to breed very early. On April 7th, 1845, I saw a young
bird shot, which, from its remarkable tameness, the tenderness of its feet and youth-
ful appearance of the feathers, seemed to have but just left the nest. If startled while
feeding, they immediately wing their way to the woods and bury themselves in seclu-
sion. The cooing is more pleasing than musical, and yet where these birds are nume-
rous their voices blend very harmoniously with the mellower notes of the blackbird, the
wild polyglot of the song thrush, and a hundred other sweet sounds which enliven the
fine old domains which they frequent—John Joseph Briggs ; King’s Newton, Mel-
bourne, Derbyshire, January 18, 1848.

Early Nesting of Ring Doves (Columba Palumbus).—In the spring of 1845 a pair
of ring doves hatched very early at Roydon. I forget the exact date, but one of the
young was found dead below the nest while the ground was hard with permanent frost.
The winter broke up about March 15th, and this was therefore prior to that day. The
other bird arrived at maturity. The nest was made in the thick branches of a Phyl-
lyrea.—H. T. Frere ; Aylsham, 1847.

Anecdote of a Turtle Dove (Turtur migratorius).—In August, 1846, an adult bird
of this species came and fed with the pigeons at my father’s, Rear-Admiral H. G.
Morris, at Beverley. This it continued to do for several weeks, and from never being
disturbed became tolerably tame. It continued to feed with the pigeons till the cold
weather arrived, in October, when, on one or two occasions, it took refuge at night in
the pigeon-boxes: fearing the cold might be too severe for it, it was caught, and was
kept in the kitchen all the winter; in the spring it was turned out, and after a few
days disappeared, and has not been seen since. It was in most beautiful plumage
when caught, and by the end of winter got very tame. I do not think it was one that

Birds. | 2023

had escaped ; it had a different look to any tame ones I have ever seen, and the gar-

_. dener said he saw two of them in the garden at first. It was after one of these disap-

peared that my friend took up with the pigeons; he was always master in any little
skirmish which took place occasionally, but still they seemed to get on very well to-
gether. It appears to be a rare bird so far north as Yorkshire, but has occasionally
been met with even in Scotland.—Beverley R. Morris, A.B., M.D.; York, January
18, 1848.

Extremely large Red Grouse (Lagopus Scoticus).—I have to-day seen what may
be termed a giant of the above species; it weighed thirty ounces (the average weight
is stated to be about twenty ounces): the heaviest I have ever heard of before was
twenty-six ounces. It was shot above the Golynos Wood, about a mile from the town.
—James Bladon ; Pont-y-Pool, January 18, 1848.

Occurrence of the Collared Pratincole (Glareola Pratincola) near Scarborough.—A
fine specimen of the collared pratincole was killed, when in company with a flock of
dotterels, in May, 1844, on Staxten Wold, five miles from Scarborough. It is in the
possession of Mr. Peter Hawksworth.— W. M. E. Milner ; Nunappleton, Tadcaster,
February 5, 1848.

Great Plover (GEdicnemus crepitans) wintering in Cornwall—In my letter to you
of the 3lst of December, 1844 (Zool. 876), I referred to the occurrence of the great
or Norfolk plover in this neighbourhood, on the 24th then instant ; and in reference to
the general supposition that this species leaves us in the autumn, I mentioned, that of
the several examples which had been captured in the Land’s End district, I knew of
none that were so obtained except in the winter months. Two more instances of its
occurrence have come under my notice this season, one in the third week of January
last, and another in the present week; the first at the Land’s End, and the second
near Falmouth.—Edward Hearle Rodd ; Penzance, February 5, 1848.

Peewit (Vanellus cristatus) destructive to the Wireworm.—Among birds useful to
the farmer the peewit ought certainly to be included: the gizzard of one which I ex-
amined last spring was completely crammed with the destructive wireworm.—Joseph
Poole ; Killiane, Wexford.

Occurrence of the Bittern (Botaurus stellaris) at Battel_—A fine specimen of the
common bittern was caught here about the beginning of last month. It was seen to
fly into a hedge, and was so exhausted as tu allow a man to capture it by seizing it by
the legs.—James B. Ellman ; Battel, February 5, 1848.

Enquiry respecting the Migration of Plovers (Charadrius pluvialis and cinereus).
—Do plovers, gray or golden, migrate? The question was new to me, and occasioned
by a conversation with a resident on our south coast, who was kind enough to write
his observations as follow: “ On Friday last, January 28th, 1848, I witnessed a con-
tinued flight of plovers (gray or golden) at Ballymacon, a place between Dunmore
and Tramore, in the county of Waterford, across the sea: they commenced early in
the morning, and continued till late in the evening. I enquired of parties living on
the spot if this was a rare occurrence, and ascertained it was not. Query, do those
birds migrate, and to where?” The course of flight was towards the Spanish coast.
Some of the readers of the ‘ Zoologist’ may probably be able to throw light on the
subject.—James Clibborn ; Waterford, 2nd mo. 11th, 1848.

Woodcocks (Scolopax. rusticola) drowned in crossing the Channel.—Some years ago,
a few miles from the Land’s End, the sea was strewed with hundreds of woodcocks :
it is probable that they were exhausted by their long flight, and hundreds seem to have

2024 . Birds.

fallen together into the sea: some of them were taken up, and found to be perfectly
fresh. Alex. P, Falconer ; Becton, Christchurch, February 11, 1848.

Enquiry respecting the Egg of the Greenshank.—Your correspondent Mr. Milner,
in his interesting observations on the birds of Sutherlandshire and Ross-shire (Zool.
2014), mentions the capture of a greenshank, from which was taken a perfect egg. As
there has been some confusion about the egg of this bird, an accurate description and
(if it is not incompatible with the plan of the ‘ Zoologist’) a coloured lithotint draw-
ing of the specimen thus obtained would be of great interest to such of your readers
as are interested in the oological branch of the science of ornithology.— William R.
Fisher ; February 1, 1848.

[Mr. Milner will much oblige me by sending a description and drawing.—E. N.]

Occurrence of the White-fronted Goose (Anser albifrons) at Waterford—aA couple
of wild geese were shot in this neighbourhood during the late severe weather, which
on close inspection proved to be the white-fronted species, which is very rare here.—
James Clibborn ; Waterford, 2nd mo. 11th, 1848.

Account of a Hooper or Wild Swan (Cyguus ferus), nearly Seven Years in the pos-
session of Rear-Admiral Webley Parry.—The winter of 1829-30 was remarkably severe,
and especially so for South Wales, where the climate is generally mild and humid.
There had been numerous flocks of wild geese and other northern birds, including the
hooper or wild swan, on the river Tivy and its tributary streams: a pair of these birds
were shot at and secured by the Rev. Samuel B. Shirreff, of Stradmore, Cardigan-
shire, whose residence was on the banks of that river. The male bird was merely
wounded in the pinion; the female unfortunately too severely so to survive. Mr.
Shirreff presented the other to my father, the late Rear-Admiral Webley Parry, of
Noyadd Trefann, in the same county, in the hope that he might be sufficiently tamed
to put on a piece of ornamental water near the house. The extreme wildness and
fierceness of this bird, if approached, was remarkable, flying at every person who came
near his domicile. We placed him in asmall yard, with an open shed for him to re-
tire to. It was many days before we could induce him to eat anything: as we were
quite ignorant of his natural food we feared he would be starved to death, but fortu-
nately he began to eat sea biscuit soaked in water, which he continued to live upon
for some months. After being kept in this place for more than two months, and be-

ing as we thought tolerably tame, we put him on the piece of water before named, but —

no sooner was he on his native element than all his natural wildness seemed to return :
he made his way down to a stream which ran into the Tivy, on which river he was
caught, making his way towards the sea, and brought back again. Shortly after this,
an accident happening to the embankment, the piece of water became dry, and ‘ Dan,’
as he was called, was brought up to the house, and had to content himself in the cir-
cumscribed limits of the stable and poultry yards, together with the farm-yard pond :
from the number of people constantly passing and repassing there, and his long
sojourn, he became excessively tame, went to bed with the poultry, came when called,
would follow us about, and knew his way around the premises as well as the dogs.
After a while he returned to his old quarters, and from that time until his death never
but once attempted to escape, though he would occasionally take a flight round the
water and alight again: at the time alluded to he would doubtlessly have returned,
but in his flight he alighted at a farm not far from Noyadd, when he was immediately
caught and shut up, and notice sent to us of his capture. I went to fetch him, know-
ing he would follow me, and on my way saw him being driven home by a boy; but

\
———

Birds. 2025

no sooner did he catch sight of me, than he commenced half running half flying to-
wards me, making that remarkable trumpet-sound he was in the habit of doing when
pleased, and walked the remainder of the distance by my side. He knew all the ser-
vants and labourers, never molesting them, whilst every stranger, whether gentle or
simple, equestrian or pedestrian, he invariably attacked if he could, especially any
ragged person: he was rather the terror of our visitors, as he would frequently, like a
watch-dog, dispute the entrance with them: he knew every member of the family at
a considerable distance, whether on foot or on horseback, and would frequently leave
the water to come and meet us, or walk by our side talking all the time. He was lord
of his own domain, and especially jealous of any animal approaching its banks, gene-
rally taking the trouble to swim from the furthest end to drive them away: he was so
well known by cows and horses that they generally decamped on his approach. In
the spring of the year he required little or no feeding, finding sufficient sustenance on
the tadpoles and other water animals abundant at that season; he would eat any kind
of grain, and was particularly fond of bread, which he would eat out of our hands:
* he was as sociable as a dog and nearly as attached: whenever the entrance-gate was
left open he would make his way up to the house; he always found out which room
we were sitting in, and would call under the windows and peep in, and would not be
satisfied without having something given to him ; he would then lie down under them,
seemingly satisfied if he could be near us. In the summer time, when the doors were
open, he would frequently walk into the house, and even round the breakfast-table.
Often when my mother was amusing herself at her flower-beds, he would see her, come
up from the water, wait at the gate to be let in, and then come up and lie down close
to her. Never so happy as when near us, he would sit under the windows or on the
steps for hours if allowed, and each year increased his attachment and sagacity. After
being with us upwards of six years, to our great distress—on coming down to break-
fast one morning—we discovered poor Dan standing upon the steps of the front door,
with his head and neck covered with blood, the skin under his lower mandible being
torn from the bone and hanging down, as was his tongue, from having nothing to
support it. The first thing we thought of was to sew the skin on again, in the hope
of its adhering to the bone, but neither this or other endeavours to effect a cure suc-
ceeded, and the poor bird was in danger of being starved to death, as he had not the
power of swallowing, even if he got the food into his mouth, having no use of his
‘tongue. We were very loath to sign his death-warrant, and yet could think of no
means of saving him, when one of the servants proposed the carpenter’s making a
wooden bill for him: we acted on the suggestion, and had one made with holes drilled
in it, and corresponding ones through the horny substance of his mandible, and
fastened it on with wire: this contrivance answered admirably ; he was able to eat as
usual, and began to recover his good looks, but nothing would induce him, from the
time of his accident, to remain on the water at night; he always came up to the
house towards evening to go to rest, and was must persevering in his endeavours to
obtain an entrance into his bed-place, and if he failed one way he would try another ;
occasionally he would call under our sitting-room windows to be let in: in the morn-
ing he quietly marched down to the water quite contentedly. What caused the acci-
dent we could never discover, and can only suppose it to have been done by a stoat or
polecat, as he had been seen more than once attacking the former, which were very
numerous. The wooden bill answered remarkably well for two or three months, when
the wire by which it was fastened became corroded, and it dropped off: it had unfor-

2026 Birds.

tunately been secured with brass or steel wire, instead of gold or silver: had it been
done with either of the latter, in all probability poor Dan might yet have been alive,
if not to tell his tale to have shown his wonderful cure; but as it was we did not like
putting him again to the pain of drilling fresh holes in his mandible, as the old ones
were worn through ; and though we kept him many days, in hopes that he might get
accustomed to the loss of his false bill, and be able to feed himself, we found him to-
tally unable to do so: as he was getting weaker and weaker, from want of sustenance,
we were most reluctantly obliged to destroy this attached and sagacious creature,
having had him nearly seven years. On measuring him after his death we found him
to be—

ft. in

From Wing tO Win .+..0cerereeen dopishs cite elsiee/nia ‘gina ec hight

From tip of the tail to tip of the bill wa dalingy piss as iawes alas eae 4 10
Round the body (but when in good condition, as previous to

his accident, he must have measured far more) ............ ag

—Ellen Webley Parry ; Treforgan, near Cardigan, December 22, 1847.

Occurrence of Bewich’s Swan (Cygnus Bewickii) in Wexford Harbour.—On the
Ist of 2nd month, 1844, I had an opportunity of examining a fresh specimen of this
bird, obtained in our harbour. There were three or four of them in company.— Joseph
Poole ; Killiane, Wexford.

Note on the Bimaculated Duck (Anas glocitans).—I beg to send you a drawing on
the block, of the female bimaculated duck which came into the possession of Mr. Tomes

Female Bimaculated Duck (Anas glocitans).

at the beginning of last year, and of which a description, with some observations by
him, will be found in the ‘ Zoologist’ (Zool. 1698). The evidence in favour of and
against the supposed hybridism of this duck has been so accurately stated by Mr.
Tomes, that it is unnecessary to add anything upon this subject. I may, however,
state my conviction that it is a distinct species. It should be also noticed, with refe-
rence to Mr. Selby’s description of the colour of the legs of the bimaculated duck,
which he states to be orange, that in the specimen in question, the bill and legs pre-
cisely resembled in colour those of the common teal, being of a bluish gray.— William
R. Fisher ; Cambridge, February 3, 1848.

Birds— Reptiles. 2027

Enquiry respecting the Characters which distinguish the Young of the Black-backed
‘Gull (Larus fuscus) from the Young of the Glaucous Gull (L. glaucus).—I shall feel
much obliged to any of the readers of the ‘ Zoologist’” who will point out a difference
whereby the young of the great black-backed gull may be distinguished from the
young of the glaucous gull. On examining a young gull, 272 inches in length, and
comparing it carefully with the descriptions in Yarrell and Gould, I am totally una-
ble to decide to which of these two species it should be referred: indeed I may say
that in the adult birds I can find no difference but that of colour.—D. C. Burling-
ham ; Lynn, 1st mo. 28th, 1848.

Occurrence of the Red-throated Diver (Colymbus septentrionalis) at Worcester.—
Since my last note, dated December 15th, 1847. (Zool. 1969), I am informed by a
gentleman, in whose accuracy I have entire confidence, that two more specimens of
the red-throated diver have been procured in the Severn, in this immediate locality.—
W. W. Cooper ; Claines, near Worcester, February 8, 1848.

Occurrence of the Great Shearwater (Puffinus Anglorum) near Robin Hood’s Bay.
—Through the attention of Mr. Graham, of York, I have been enabled to procure a
very fine specimen of the great shearwater, which was taken alive ina fishing-net, near
Robin Hood’s Bay, in this county. It fell into the hands of a bird-stuffer at Picker-
ing, of whom Mr. Graham purchased it— W. M. EF’. Milner ; Nunappleton, Tadcas-
ter, February 5, 1848.

Notice of Ornithological Occurrences in Norfolk, for January, 1848.—Several more
specimens of the waxwing have been taken during this month, especially towards the
latter part of it, and chiefly in the vicinity of the coast. An adult male goosander
occurred at Yarmouth early in this month, for a notice of which we are indebted to
W. F. Wratislaw Bird, Esq. An adult male of the black-throated diver, in winter
plumage, was shot about the middle of the month, in the river Wensum, at Taver-
ham, which, being nearly twenty miles in a straight line from the sea, is rather an
inland locality for this species. The occurrence of a pair of barnacle geese at Salt-
house, and the unusually early appearance of the red-necked grebe at Surlingham, on
the 26th instant, may also be mentioned. <A white variety of the blue titmouse has
been observed at Northrepps, in company with other individuals of the usual colour :
It is not very common, we believe, for this species to be affected by such variations.—
J. H. Gurney, William R. Fisher ; January, 1848.

Frog at a great Elevation in Inverness-shire-——I found an adult specimen of the
frog (Rana temporaria), at the elevation of 2600 feet, on Mealfourvenie ; and near the
same spot a numerous progeny of tadpoles, in some black pools or tarns. Have these
reptiles ever been found at a greater elevation?—Archibald Hepburn ; Whittingham,
1847.

Snake in the Hole of a Sand Martin.—Our gamekeeper’s boy was told to procure
some sand martin’s eggs for my brother’s collection. He put his hand into a hole, and
a large snake crawled out ; it had probably gone there to feed on the young birds. I
have seen one of these snakes when killed contain two frogs, the uppermost of which

2028 Reptiles.

was still alive, and I hope was too wise again to put himself in the way of being
swallowed.—H. T. Frere ; Aylsham.

Capture of a Snake in a Mole-trap.— About three years ago my mole-catcher
brought me a snake, upwards of thirty inches long, which he had taken in one of his
common wooden traps. The situation where it was caught was at the bottom of the
park, by the river-side (the Wansbeck), where water-rats considerably abound, and
there is no doubt that the snake had been pursuing the rat in his underground run
when caught. The mole-catcher, who was a very old man, told me he had heard of a
similar circumstance, but had never previously in his practice met with the like occur-
rence. The snake was caught about three inches from the head. Until this animal
was so caught, it had not been suspected that water-rats had enemies of this
description.—J. Cookson ; Meldon Park, near Morpeth, Northumberland, February 7,
1848. ;

The Great Sea-Serpent.—“ I, the undersigned, Joseph Woodward, captain of the
Adamant schooner, of Hingham, being on my route from Penobscot to Hingham,
steering W.N.W., and being about ten leagues from the coast, perceived, last Sun-
day, at 2 p.m., something on the surface of the water, which seemed to me to be of |
the size of a large boat. Supposing that it might be part of a wreck of a ship, I ap-
proached it, but when I was within a few yards of it, it appeared, to my great surprise,
and that of my whole crew, that it was a monstrous serpent. When I approached
nearer it coiled itself up, instantly uncoiling itself again, and withdrew with extreme
rapidity. On my approaching again it coiled itself up a second time, and placed it-
self at the distance of 60 feet at the most from the bow of the ship. I had one of my
guns loaded with a cannon-ball and musket-bullets. I fired at the head of the mon-
ster; my crew and myself distinctly heard the ball and bullets strike against his body,
from which they rebounded as if they had struck against arock. The serpent shook
his head and tail in an extraordinary manner, and advanced towards the ship with
open jaws. I had caused the cannon to be reloaded, and pointed it at his throat ; but
he had come so near that all the crew were seized with terror, and we thought only of
getting out of his way: he almost touched the vessel, and had not I tacked as I did
he would certainly have come on board. He dived ; but in a moment we saw him ap-
pear-again, with his head on one side of the vessel and his tail on the other, as if he
was going to lift us up and upset us. However, we did not feel any shock. He re-
mained five hours near us, only going backward and forward. The fears with which
he at first inspired us having subsided, we were able to examine him attentively. I
estimate that his length is at least twice that of my schooner, that is to say, 130 feet ;
his head is full 12 or 14; the diameter of the body, below the neck, is not less than
6 feet; the size of the head is in proportion to that of the body. He is of a blackish
colour ; his ear-holes are about 12 feet from the extremity of his head. In short, the
whole has a terrible look. When he coils himself up, he places his tail in such a man-
ner that it aids bim in darting forward with great force: he moves in all directions
with the greatest facility and astonishing rapidity.”

[The foregoing statement was formally signed and sworn to at Hingham, by Cap-
tain Woodward, on the 12th of May.—£. N.]

Fishes. 2029

Extraordinary Habit of the Shanny or Shan (Blennius Pholis).—* The little tish
which forms the subject of these remarks is in the possession of Francis Ross, Esq.,
Topsham, Devon, and I had an opportunity of seeing it whilst staying with him dur-
ing the summer. It has been the subject of many learned discussions, and the Royal
Cork Cuvierian Society gave it the lead in their Proceedings for the season. I send
you a verbatim copy of my relative’s remark, and I doubt not it will not only prove
interesting to the naturalist, but to many others.

“« ¢ A specimen of this fish was brought to me on the 3rd of June. On placing it
in a glass vessel of sea water, it appeared perfectly quiet for some hours, but at length —
became restless, and made frequent attempts to throw itself out of the water. It then
occurred to we, that on a former occasion, when by the sea-side, I had a gatteruginous
blenny, in a vessel with some actinie and serpule, which regularly passed a portion of
its time on a stone; I therefore placed one in the glass. The Blennius Pholis imme-
diately leaped on it completely out of the water. It therefore appears that these
changes are necessary to its existence. On going to the front of the house, I per-
ceived that it was near low water. Knowing that it would flow till ten o’clock that
night, I watched the movements of my little captive, and as the clock struck had the
gratification of seeing it plunge again into its natural element. It has now been
more than five months in my possession, and has proved throughout that period a
regular and correct tide-indicator. I was well aware that these fish are constantly left
by the receding tide on the rocks, remaining concealed in small basins or holes, under
the weed, till the returning flood: still I was not prepared to see a fish voluntarily quit
the water, and pass so large a portion of its existence in a different element, and by
instinct alone time its change of position so exactly. A great diversity of colours and
markings have been observed by collectors to exist in the blenny: this, I have ascer-
tained, is occasioned by the situation in which they are taken. Whilst in the water
the colours are less strongly marked : the fish is then a pale yellowish brown, with the
blotches indistinct; but after being a short time exposed to, and inhaling atmospheric
air, the colour changes to a deeper brown, and the markings become nearly black,
with a regular series of white spots above and following the course of the lateral line.
I have noticed that it has a power of altering its position on the stone with great fa-
cility, by means of its pectoral and ventral fins. At times it reclines on its side; at
others it is perfectly erect, resting on its broad pectorals, and turning its head from
side to side. The specimen is small, being about 33 inches in length: it will take
crumbs of bread and small earth-worms, two or three a day being sufficient: it con-
tinues in good health, and has become so familiar as to take its food from my hand,
and if he is not attended to will dash the water about to let me know he is on the look
out for his bit of meat or rice.

“<«N.B. Blennius Pholis of Linneus, Cuvier and others ; order Acanthopterygii ;
family Gobiade or Gobies ; generally small, of little or no value as food, found on
most of the rocky coasts of our island.’”—Henry Greatwood ; Usk, October 11, 1847,
(extracted from the ‘ Monmouthshire Merlin, )

Voracity of the, Trout.—An article in the ‘ Zoologist’ (Zool. 1649), on the habits
of the trout in Lake Huron, reminds me of the habits of a trout in a small basin in
my garden, in which I keep a few gold and silver fish. Some years since I had about
half a dozen of these fish in the basin, about two or three inches long. My boys had
caught some trout in the brook, and must needs turn them into the basin with the
gold-fish. For about a week matters went on very peaceably ; at last one gold-fish

VI L

2030 Fishes—Insects.

was missing, then another; at length one day a little boy came running to tell me
that the large trout had got a gold-fish in his mouth, and had swallowed all but the
tail. I went and found it too true, and Master Trout was immediately condemned
to death. After this, being curious to see how the trout captured his prey, I procured
another, about 3 tb. weight, and put him into the same basin, where he soon became
tame and familiar. We fed him with minnows, and it was very interesting to watch
his manceuvres. When a minnow was thrown in, he would immediately ascend from
. his usual station at the bottom of the basin nearly to the top, hover over his prey like
a hawk for a few seconds, and then dart down with unerring aim, invariably seizing
the minnow by the head; and, in my humble opinion, for this very natural reason,
that it could not well swallow it tail first; at least it would stand a good chance of
being choked by the expanded tail and fins.

Disease in Fish : Abundance of Fish in Norfolk.—I have seen lately, in the Bure,
at Aylsham, several fish affected with a kind of leprosy. Large blotches appear on
the body, apparently destroying the scales ; the body of one was nearly covered. The
fish, roach and dace, were very sluggish and solitary, not associating in the shoals of
sound fish. In proof of the quantity of coarse fish in our Norfolk rivers, I may men-
tion that on one occasion I helped to draw a net containing about 25 stone, above
700 in number, of roach and dace, with a few pike and perch. This was in the Wave-
ney, near Harleston, and one of the party was my friend Mr. Wollaston —ZH. T.
Frere.

On the Method of attracting Lepidoptera by Light.—Having been asked by many
entomologists how I conduct my operations for attracting by light, I have thought
that a few words on the subject in your pages would not be unacceptable to the ma-
jority of your entomological readers. My attracting apparatus consists of three gas-
lights, with fifteen-hole argand burners. One of these is affixed to the outside of a
balcony, at an altitude of twenty feet from the ground, and protected by a lantern
(somewhat like a street gas-lamp), which has a reflector at the back: in the room
which opens on to this balcony is another light, which is kept within about two inches
of the window; this has also a reflector behind it: the third is in the room below the
balcony. I consider it very essential that there should be a light outside the building,
since one inside a room has but a confined sphere of action compared with one com-
pletely outside. The outer light attracts the moths to the spot, and then the inner
ones attract them into the house; and great numbers thus get caught without the
slightest trouble on the part of the captor. I should also mention that my balcony is
roofed, so that all insects passing the first light are retained at least for a time, and
keep crawling up and down under the roof of the balcony, which is sometimes a per-
fect mass of insects, so that which to catch first is a matter of great perplexity. The
locality in which I am situated is not what one would consider a very good one: the
nearest wood in the direction of my light is that on Shooter’s Hill, at least three miles
distant, Dulwich Wood being about the same distance in the opposite direction.
There is a great deal of hedge-row timber in the neighbonrhood, principally elms,
and a few oaks and willows: birches and firs are searce. There is no heather nearer
than Shooter’s Hill; yet I am quite satisfied that many insects I have taken have

Insecis. 2031

come from Shooter’s Hill, such as Euthemonia Russula, Scotophila porphyrea and
Aplota Robertsonella. It is impossible to conjecture what novelties might not turn
up if this plan were tried in some very good locality.—H. T. Stainton ; Mountsfield,
Lewisham, January 20, 1848.

Planis attractive to Lepidoptera.—I believe that the attractive properties of the
common traveller’s joy (Clematis Vitalba) have not hitherto been noticed in the
‘Zoologist.’ This plant grows in profusion on Durdham Downs, and during the past
autumn I found that it was visited by numbers of moths. The following species were
among my captures: Lithosia griseola, Cidaria olivaria, Charissa dilucidaria, Scopula
asinalis and hyalinalis, &c., and Segetia xanthographa literally swarmed round it.
The wild thyme is also frequented by many small species, as Orthotenia caricana,
Aphelosetia cygnipennella, &c., but it is an especial favourite with Ennychia angui-
nalis and cingulata, and all the species of Pyrausta, which hover over it in the sun-
shine, darting about with the greatest rapidity, but if a cloud overshadows the sky.
they all instantly disappear; many may be then found at rest on the flowers of the
thyme and other low herbs.—P. H. Vaughan ; Redland, near Bristol, December 31,
1847.

Capture of Dasycampa rubiginea, &c., at Ivy Bloom, near Bristol, in 1847.—The
following are my best captures at the ivy blossoms for this year: most of the common
autumnal species were very abundant.

Orthosia lunosa. Several, September 27 to 30.

Xylina lambda. Four, October 1 to 25.

Agrotis saucia. Two, October 2 to 5.

Xanthia citrago. Five, October 6 to 20.

Xylina semibrunnea. Several, October 4 to 21.

Xylina petrificata. Several, October 11 to 29.

Calocampa exoleta. Several, October 15.

Scopula ferrugalis. One, November 1.

Dasycampa rubiginea. Two on the 29th of October, and two on the 3rd of No-
vember, at Henbury.

I also took one X. petrificata, and many other commoner insects, off yew berries.
—Id.

Capture of Lepidoptera in Lancashire, §c., in 1847.—I beg to hand you a short
list of some of my best captures during the past season.

Cherocampa Porcellus. Not rare, at Liscard, in June.

Hadena Cucubali and capsincola. Liscard, in June.

Miana literosa. Not uncommon, at New Brighton, in July.

Agrotis valligera and cursoria. Not uncommon, at New Brighton, in July and
August. ;

Graphiphora depuncta. In Barron Wood, Cumberland.

Chareas nigra. In Barron Wood, Cumberland, in September.

Chareas cespitis. At New Brighton, in August.

Actebia precox. At New Brighton, on the 10th of August.—C. S. Gregson ; Li-
verpool.

Capture of Lepidoptera at Battel, Sussex.

Acherontia Atropos. October, in a house.

Sphinx Convolvuli. September, flying over petunias.

Cherocampa Elpenor. June, flying in garden.

2032 Insects.

Zeuzera Aisculi. July, on fagot stack.

Notodonta ziczac, July, flying among willows.

Lophopteryx camelina. July, flying among willows.

Drymonia dodonea. June, on palings.

Gastropacha quercifolia. June, flying.

Triphena fimbria. July, at sugar.

Agrotis suffusa. August, at sugar.

Polia tincta and herbida. June, at sugar.

Acronycta Ligustri. June, at sugar.

Thyatira derasa and batis. July, at sugar.

Tethea flavicornis. April, on birch twigs.

Xanthia aurago. September, at sugar and on hops.

Xanthia croceago. April, on sallows; September, at sugar and on hops.

Gortyna micacea. June, at sugar. ;

Abrostola triplasia. June, at sugar.

Pericallia syringaria. July, flying.

Emmelesia decolorata and herbaria. June, by beating.

Emmelesia heparata. July, flying.

Minoa cherophyllata. July, flying.

Platypteryx lacertinaria. July, flying.

Platypteryx lacertinaria var. cultraria. July, flying. -

Cilix compressa. June, flying.

Paracolax nemoralis. June, by beating.

The above is a list of some of the Lepidoptera which I have met with in this im-
mediate neighbourhood during the course of the present year. I have not been long
acquainted with the locality, but I have every reason to believe that diligent entomo-
logists would be amply repaid for their researches into its natural productions. I may
add that there are nearly 4500 acres of woodland in this parish alone, where I believe
the net of the entomologist has never been: how far it is worth the attention of ento-
mologists the foregoing list will in some measure testify.— James B. Ellman ; Battel,
October 22, 1847.

Occurrence of Colias Edusa near Liverpool_—Two specimens of Colias Edusa have
been captured here this season; one by a Mr. Canty, taken at New Brighton,
Cheshire; and the other a fine male, captured by my foreman in Pegue Lane, near
my residence. The above are the only specimens known to have occurred within
thirty miles of Liverpool.—C: S. Gregson ; Rose Bank, Fletcher Place, Edge Lane, Li-
verpool, October 24, 1847.

Capture of Vanessa Antiopa at Bishop’s Auckland.—I have in my cabinet two per-
fect specimens of Vanessa Antiopa, both taken in September last near this place ; one
in the Bishop of Durham’s garden, at Bishop’s Auckland Castle; the other at Tudloe,
about five miles to the north-east.—Joseph Duff; Bishop's Auckland, county of Dur-
ham, February 17, 1848.

Capture of Vanessa Antiopa at Ponder’s End, Enfield.—Early in September last
(being myself absent from home at the time), my wife observed what she at first con-
sidered to be a purple emperor flying in the garden: her first impulse was to rush
into the house for my net, and after a chase of nearly three hours, from its flying into
the neighbouring gardens, was rewarded fur her perseverance by securing it. | Upon
looking over my collection, and not finding a corresponding specimen, she did not, as

Insects. 2033

you may imagine, plume herself a little upon her good fortune and adroitness. Up-
on my return I was much gratified at finding it to be a capital specimen of Vanessa
Autiopa, which had no doubt been attracted to the spot by some willows which grew
at the bottom of the garden. From observations published in a former number of the
‘ Zoologist,’ I find that prior to the years 1814 or 1815 this species had not been seen
for near forty years. It doubtless is one of those insects which, like many others, from
some yet undiscovered cause, appears in greater profusion at certain intervals of time ;
but may not the capturing of so many specimens as have been recorded of late in your
invaluable journal be in some measure accounted for by the increased cultivation of
that delightful science, entomology? As a proof of this, in some years I have taken
Colias Edusa and Hyale in the greatest profusion, but by diligently seeking in the
proper locality never remember to have failed in meeting with two or three specimens
annually.— William Courtis ; Ponder's End, Enfield, Middlesex, February 8, 1848.

Capture of Deilephila lineata at Hale, Lancashire.—I fortunately met with this fine
inseet in the possession of a boy, who found it sitting on a clod of earth, whilst plough-
ing last spring, and succeeded in obtaining it.—C. S. Gregson ; Rose Bank, Fletcher
Place, Edge Lane, near Liverpool.

Capture of Graphiphora Pyrophila near Liverpool.—I took this rare insect hover-
ing above thistles, outside my kitchen garden, on the 15th of August.—Jd.

Difficulty of breeding Plusia Iota.—Mr. Curtis, in his note on the difficulty of
rearing Plusia Iota from the larva (Zool. 1986), appears to ascribe the failure to a
parasitic fly ; and that it was so in the particular case to which he refers there can be
no doubt, but it cannot be admitted as a general solution of the difficulty. For the
last five or six years I have found larve of this insect : in 1846 I could not have taken
less than thirty of them ; in other years six or eight ; last year the number was still
less ; but I have never been able to breed a single moth. Now, in the first instance,
it is contrary to experience to suppose all of these were stung ; and in the next place,
if they had been so the fact could have scarcely escaped detection, as the larve are
nearly smooth and of a clear light colour; comparatively speaking I have observed
very few so infested. But it may be objected that, if I never bred the moth, how do
I know that the larve were those of Tota? a fact which I did not ascertain until last
summer, though I had before suspected it. The form of the larve led me to conclude
they must be Plusiez, and the only species of that genus which I have ever met with
here are Iota (very sparingly), percontationis, Gamma and chrysitis: the last three I
have bred from larve differing from those of which I now write, and therefore I con-
jectured they must be Iota, though I could not be certain. Finding that every at-
tempt to obtain the perfect insect from these larve failed, I next endeavoured to pro-
cure eggs of Iota, which I did in 1846: these hatched early in July, and the young
larve ceased to feed about the end of August. I had also a much more numerous
brood of percontationis, which discontinued to feed about the same time. From some
cause or other (probably the very cold ungenial spring of 1847) most of my young
larve perished: only two of percontationis and seven of Iota survived, showing (as
far as a single instance can) that Iota is the more hardy of the two. Percontationis
changed to pupe towards the end of May, and the perfect insects appeared about the
middle of June. Iota fed equally well, and appeared quite as healthy as Perconta-
tionis until after the last moult, when, though they fed as freely as before, they began
to assume the appearance of my hitherto-unknown larve: the segments became more
tumid, and their hitherto beautiful green changed first to a whitish, and afterwards to

2034 Insects.

a sickly-looking cream colour, proving incontestably that my conjectures were right.
The underside of the larve and irregular blotches between the segments still remained
green. All these perished ina manner similar to those I had found in a natural state ;
some, suspending themselves by their anal feet, soon turned almost black, the intestines
seemed to decompose, and they hung like little bags of fluid; the rest spun slight
silken webs among the leaves of their food, as the other species do, and then turned
black and flaccid ; not one changed to a pupa, and, as I always discarded such as I
observed to be stung, I never bred a parasite of any kind. Now, when we consider
that these larve eat freely, and show no impatience of confinement, we must I think
admit that it is extraordinary that none of them become pupe. I rarely meet with
more than two or three of the perfect insect, and these seldom fit for the cabinet: last
year I took but one (a worn female), which however deposited a few eggs: some of the
young larve from these are now in the hands of one whose untiring zeal and unwearied
exertions to place our Lepidoptera on a more satisfactory footing have gained him
much practical knowledge of larve, and the manner of treating them: after this I
need scarcely mention the name of Mr. Henry Doubleday. I do hope, if the larve
survive the winter, his superior knowledge and greater conveniences will enable him
to breed Iota, and thus effect what I have hitherto failed to accomplish. If any of
the numerous contributors to the ‘ Zoologist’ has ever reared Iota from the larva, and
will communicate the modus operandi, he will very much oblige a less successful as-
pirant.— William Turner ; Uppingham, January 13, 1848.

Note on Aspilates purpuraria.—When I was in Denmark last summer, on an ento-
mological excursion, I was amused with the rapid movements of a little fellow flitting
over the flowers of the bird’s-foot trefoil (Lotus corniculatus), in company with the
common skippers and the Alexis butterflies. I succeeded in taking a pair or two, and
on my return to England I find that it is Aspilates purpuraria, a reputed British spe-
cies. Like others of the genus, they seem partial to the chalk, and very local in their
distribution. They were flying in the noon-day sunshine, with all the alertness of
their companions. I never saw them alight but on the trefoil, and, when at rest, they
were so wary that on the slightest approach of my shadow away they went to the next
flower. The place where I saw them was on the side of a river bordering on an oak
wood, on one side of the Glickstadt line of rails ; for on going to the opposite side,
though the same flowers grew there, not one was to be seen. I first noticed the moth
on the 29th of June.—Peter Inchbald ; Storthes Hall, Huddersfield, January 6, 1848.

Description of Ephippiphora turbidana (Tr. sup.), a new British Moth of the family
Tortricide.—Expansion of wings 10 or 11 lines. Anterior
wings dingy olivaceous brown, darkish towards the inferior
edge, with two broad fascie of a lighter tint, the first elbowed
outwards, forming an acute point on its outer edge and along
with the second, which springs from the anal angle, nearly
enclosing an oval space in the dark ground-colour of the
wing; between the second fascia and the apex are a few
whitish lines arranged in pairs. Hind wings dusky oliva-
ceous ; cilia whitish. Female more decidedly olivaceous, in-
clining to fulvous in some parts, with the fascie straighter,
and slightly varied with the plumbeous scales. I obtained a

Ephippiphora turbidana. :
a. Male, b, Female. single male of this insect on the 13th of July, 1845, among the

leaves of the burdock (Arctium lappa), on a piece of waste ground in this neighhour-

Insects. 2035

hood. My friend Mr. Allis, of York, has a fine female, taken some six or eight years
_ ago by a collector near Halifax. These two are I believe the only British specimens
which have as yet occurred, though I understand it is a common German species.
Mr. Allis has kindly sent me his specimen to figure and describe. I am also indebted
to the kindness of Mr. Henry Doubleday for ascertaining the name.—R- F. Logan ;
Duddingstone, near Edinburgh, December 31, 1847.

Description of Phycita interpunctella, Hubner, a new British Species of the Family
Tineide.—Size of elutella, which it much resembles ; but the anterior wings, from a
little before the middle to the apex, are blackish-brown, with something of a reddish
tinge. Mr. E. Shepherd took a specimen of this in his house last summer, which I
should have been inclined to think only an extraordinary variety of elutella, but as
the insect is figured in Hubner and Duponchel as distinct, I presume it is really a
species. The latter gives the following description of it. “ Anterior wings are above
of a yellowish-white from the base to the middle, and of a red-brown on the rest of
the surface. This latter part, in the centre of which is a reddish spot, is crossed by
three metallic lead-coloured lines. Cilia also of this colour. Posterior wings of a
shining dirty white on both sides. The head, palpi, antenne and thorax are of a
reddish-brown. The body and feet partake of the colour of the posterior wings.”—
H. T. Stainton ; Mountsfield, Lewisham, January 28, 1848.

Description of Chauliodus Llligerellus, Hubner, a new British Moth of the Family
Tineide.—The genus Chauliodus was formed by Treitschke, and contains as yet but
two species. The character which at once distinguishes this genus is the two pro-
jecting tufts of scales on the inner margin of the anterior wings. Tinea Llligerella is
figured in Hubner, Tinea, N. 333, and as Chauliodus Illigerellus in Duponchel, vol. xi.
Plate 294, f. 1. Head and thorax pale ochreous ; forehead smooth; palpi dark brown;
antenne brown, annulated with ochreous ; abdomen dark griseous ; legs brown ; tarsi
annulated with ochre. Anterior wings ochreous to near the middle, then a cloudy
fascia, with a red-brown spot near the inner margin ; beyond this fascia is an ochreous
mark, resembling an inverted Y, the space between the forks being brownish ; the rest
of the wing is dull brown, with a red-brown spot near the costa, beyond which is an
ochreous mark, in which a dark blotch is visible; the outer margin of the wing is
curiously curved, and on the inner margin are two distinct fascicles of projecting black
scales; on the disk are five distinct black dots, three placed transversely near the base,
and two near the middle, one on each side of the Y; cilia brown, varied with ochre-
ous, with a distinct line of black dots near the edge, and another (interrupted about
the middle) on the extreme edge. Posterior wings and cilia grayish ; cilia of the
hinder margin very long. Two specimens of this insect were taken by Mrs. Stainton
and her sister, on the downs near Stoat’s Nest, on the 31st of July, 1847. I am una-
ble, not having caught them myself, to speak with certainty as to what plant they
were beaten out of, but most probably out of the junipers, as we thrashed the junipers
most assiduously for Cochylis rutilana, of which I was fortunate enough to obtain five.
Mr. W. Shepherd also took a specimen of this insect off the junipers at the same
place, the following week.—Id.

Descriptions of Coriscium Alaudella and C. quercetellum, two new British Moths of
the Family Tineidea.—“ The genus Coriscium of Zeller consists of only three species,
of which the transformations are not known, and which, according to M. Zeller, only
differs from Gracillaria by having the penultimate joint of the palpi furnished beneatls

2036 Insects.

with a bundle of hair. Perhaps for so slight a difference he would have done better
in making it only a division in the genus Gracillaria.”—(Dup. Cat. p. 372).

The three species alluded to in the above extract are,—quercetellum, ligustrinel-
lum and citrinellum. Duponchel places his Alaudella in the genus Elachista, but it
seems out of place there, and probably belongs to this genus, to which Mr. Curtis has
referred it. Citrinellum appears in the second edition of Messrs Evans’ and Haw-
ley’s Catalogue (Gracillaria citrinella, Fischer), but I believe there is no instance on
record of its capture in Britain.

Coriscium Alaudella, Duponchel. ‘ Expansion of wings 43 lines. Anterior wings
are above of a reddish-gray, with three little transverse bands and several spots of a
deep brown, bordered with whitish. The three bands are placed obliquely, equidistant
from one another, between the base and the middle of the wing, and the spots occupy
the remainder of its surface. The cilia reddish-gray. The underside of these wings
is gray-brown. Both surfaces of the posterior wings are of a deep brown, with the
cilia a shade paler. The head, thorax and antenne are of the colour of the anterior
wings. The abdomen and the legs of the colour of the posterior wings.’—(Dup. vol.
xi. p. 525).

Duponchel says nothing of its habits, time of appearance, &c., but that he obtained
it from the ‘ Département du Nord.’

Coriscium quercetellum, Zeller. ‘‘ Expansion of wings 33 lines. The anterior
wings above are of an ashy-gray, dotted with blackish atoms, which by their union
form several spots or irregular bands. Their extremity is bordered by a blackish arch,
the outer side of which is turned towards the base of the wing. Cilia concolorous
with the disk. The underside of these wings is blackish. Both surfaces of the pos-
terior wings are of a leaden-gray, with the cilia rather paler. Autenne very long.”—
(Dup. Sup. vol. iv. p. 470).

Duponchel says, “ head and thorax, as well as their appendages, are of the colour
of the wings,’ not mentioning whether he means the anterior or posterior wings.
From his figure I conclude he means the anterior wings ; the abdomen is more of the
colour of the posterior wings. Ina former number (Zool. 1895), Mr. Curtis records
both these species as having been taken in England.—Id.

Note.—Since writing the above I find, from the second volume of the ‘ Linnea
Entomologica’ (a work I would recommend to all entomologists), that ligustrinellum
of Zeller is identical with alaudella of Duponchel, which latter name has priority.
Zeller says of it, “ This species is widely spread, but little known: it occurs in Swit-
zerland, at Baiern, near Augsburg, where Freyer found the larve abundant on the
privet. Mann took, so he writes me, several specimens in the neighbourhood of
Vienna, in a wood near Mauer, on the Tann, in which, for aught I know (I made an
excursion thither with Mann), no privet grows. A specimen which I possess was
taken near Cologne, on the Rhine, on the 14th of September, on beech. Lastly, this
species also occurs near Kokenhusen, in Livonia, and I have three Livonian specimens
before me to make use of in the description. I can give no precise period of flight
besides September. It is very probably double-brooded.”

I cannot imagine Duponchel’s insect to be the quercetellum of Zeller. It cer-
tainly but little resembles Zeller’s figure, which is moreover figured in Duponchel as
Elachista Curtisella. This insect being one of several species of doubtful location,
which will be figured and described in my Monograph of the British Argyromiges

tnsects. 2037

{mext month I hope), I do not say anything further about it here.— H. 7.

Stainton.

Descriptions of Lophoptilus Staintont and Microsetia Bedellella, two new British
Moths of the Family Tineide.—I forward to you, at the request of some London en-
tomologists, the following descriptions of two new insects.

Genus Lophoptilus. This genus, so named from the tufts on the wings, contains
but one species. The palpi are long, ringed or spotted, slightly curved upwards, ter-
minal joint acuminated ; spiral tongue shorter than palpi; wings narrow, rounded
and convoluted in repose. This genus seems to connect that of Anacampsis with Lo-
phonotus.

Lophoptilus Staintoni. Expansion of wings 3—4 lines. Anterior wings varied
with black, ochre and gray, having on the costa two dashes, in some specimens white,
in others ochreous; the first a little beyond the middle, the second midway between it
and the extremity of the wing; transversely opposite, on the inner margin, are two
slightly elevated black tufts ; a black spot is posited in the centre of the apex. Head
gray ; cilia dusky, margined round the apex with black. Posterior wings aud cilia
fuscous. Antenne and legs ringed with white.

Microsetia Bedellella. Expansion of wings 33 lines. Anterior wings square, of a
fawn colour, which in some specimens, especially the female, is very pale; two white
lines divide the wing into three nearly equal parts. Posterior wings and cilia similar
in colour. Head gray. f

These two species, similar in habits, frequent the scanty herbage of Durdham
Downs, flying a little above the blades of grass in the evening. I generally take them
by sweeping. They have also been captured by Mr. Stainton and others, at Sander-
stead, Riddlesdown, and elsewhere, in May and July.—John Sircom, Jun. ; Brisling-
ton, near Bristol, February 3, 1848.

Descriptions of the British Species of Bees belonging to the Genus
Halictus of Latreille. By Freprericx Smiru, Esq., Curator to the
Entomological Society.

THE insects which compose this extensive genus are almost uni-
versally distributed throughout the world: many of the species indi-
genous to America are brilliantly metallic in colour; and although
none of the British species can vie with them in that respect, still two
or three partake of that brilliancy in some degree.

Many of our native species are exceedingly abundant, frequently
forming colonies in favourable situations: they are partial to hard
sand-banks and trodden pathways; similar to their congeners com-
posing the genus Andrena: in general aspect, indeed, they closely
resemble them, but are easily distinguished,—the females by the ver-
tical incision at the apex of the abdomen, and the males by their

VI M

2038 Insects.

elongate cylindrical abdomen, and by usually having the apex of the
clypeus white or yellow.

To this genus belong some of the smallest species of bees found in
this country. ‘These bees appear rather later than those belonging to
the genus Andrena, and are found in great abundance from the middle
of summer to the end of autumn ; indeed I captured H. quadrinotata
last season as late as the 31st of October. The males of some species,
particularly those of H. abdominalis, abound during August and Sep-
tember. 3

These bees are frequently infested by various species of Strepsip-
tera, one of which Mr. Curtis has figured and described, in his beau-
tiful work on British genera, under the generic name of Halictophagus,
from its having been captured in company with the males of a species
of this genus (Halictus eratus): indeed one of the bees captured by
Mr. Dale proved to be infested by some species of Strepsiptera: this
was as late as the middle of August. I have never met with any of
the species of the genus Andrena which were Stylopized so late in
the season, but have met with Halicti so infested in the month of
August. I possess a female of H. nitidiuscula, one of the smallest of
the genus, with the heads of two female Stylops protruding between
the third and fourth segments of the abdomen ; it indeed requires the
aid of a glass to detect them: the male of this species, I should pre-
sume, must be a much smaller species than any yet discovered in this
country. The smaller species of bees contain smaller females of Sty-
lops, a fact which goes to prove that our knowledge of the number of
the species of the Strepsiptera is very limited.

Upon the bodies of these bees is also found that remarkable crea-
ture, the Pediculus Melitte of Kirby, which in form resembles the
larva of Meloe, as recently shown by Mr. Newport, in his elaborate
and admirable paper on that insect published in the twenty-second
volume of the Linnean Transactions. The larva of Meloe is of a
bright orange colour, whereas the Pediculus Melittze is black; and
Mr. Newport informs us it is not a larva of either Meloe violaceus,
proscarabeeus or cicatricosus ; he supposes it to be the larva of some
allied genus, or of some other species of Meloe. The Pediculus Me-
litte is very abundant in some districts: I have found numbers on
various species of the Andrenidew, and they abound in the flowers
which these bees frequent, in situations where only two of the species
of Meloe named above are to be met with.

I once captured a species of Halictus infested with Acari, but I do
not think they are very subject to such attacks. Acari appear to me

Insects. 2039

to infest Bombi and Odyneri more than any other hymenopterous in-
sects ; the former are indeed sometimes unable to fly, so numerous are
these parasites found upon them ; and the metathorax and femora of
Odyneri are frequently completely covered by them.

I am not acquainted with any other parasite which infests these
bees, but large numbers of them fall a prey to certain species of fos-
sorial Hymenoptera belonging to the genus Cerceris. I have captured
one species, C. ornata, conveying to her burrow specimens of Halic-
tus rubicundus, fulvocinctus and obovatus: Cerceris ornata is very
abundant in some districts, and must destroy immense numbers of
Halicti.

It is the generally-received opinion that the species of Sphecodes
are parasitic upon the Halicti. St. Fargeau and Walckenaer are both
of this opinion, but I am not aware that the fact has ever been proved.
I have once or twice observed a species of Sphecodes in the act of
burrowing, and this fact leads me to doubt their parasitism. It may
be possible that they were endeavouring to reopen the closed burrows
of Halicti, but I do not know that such habit has been observed in
any of the parasitic bees.

Genus.—Hatictvus, Latreille, Walckenaer, St. Fargeau, Curtis.

Andrena, Fab., Panz., Spinola, Oliv. Hyleus, Fab., Panz. Prosopis,
Fab. Apis, Panz., Rossi, Fourcroy, Schrank. Lasioglossum, Curt.
Melitta, Kirby.

Generic characters——Head usually a little narrower than the tho-
rax, sub-triangular ; the stemmata placed in a curve on the vertex ;
the antenne inserted in the middle of the face, geniculated, twelve-
jointed in the females, the basal joint elongate; the tongue short,
acute, and pubescent at the apex ; the middle tooth emarginate ; the
labial palpi four-jointed, the basal joint longest, arcuate, the rest of
equal length ; the maxillary palpi six-jointed, the three basal joints
shortest ; the mandibles bidentate or notched at their apex, pubescent
externally; the clypeus convex. Thorax usually ovate; wings with
one marginal and three complete submarginal cells, the first about as
long as the two following, the second nearly quadrate, receiving the
first recurrent nervure beyond the middle, the third narrower towards
the marginal, receiving the second recurrent nervure beyond the mid-
dle. Abdomen oblong-ovate, pubescent, and having at the apex a

2040 Insects.

vertical incision.* | Males much smaller than the females; their an-
tenne elongate, thirteen-jointed, the joints subarcuate; the nose
usually white or pale yellow at the apex ; the mandibles long, curved
and acute at their apex. Abdomen cylindrical, composed of seven
segments.

Sp. 1. HALicrus QUADRICINCTUS.
Melitta quadricincta, Kirby. Hyleus quadricinctus, Fab.? male.
Apis hortensis, Fourcroy’?? female. Not Apis flavipes, Panz.
(Walckenaer). Not H. nidulans, Walckenaer.

Female.—(Length 43 lines). Black; the face thinly clothed with
pale yellow hair; the labrum has a beard of the same colour; the an-
tenne piceous beneath. Thorax thickly punctured, a few ochraceous
hairs thinly scattered on the disk ; the sides and the metathorax late-
rally more thickly clothed with pubescence of the same colour; the
tegule piceous ; the wings subhyaline, the nervures testaceous ; the
metathorax rotundate; the legs nigro-piceous, their pubescence pale
luteous; the tarsi pale rufous. Abdomen fuscous, ovate, convex,
shining, minutely and closely punctured; all the segments have a
white marginal fascia, the first interrupted; the apex clothed with
pale ochraceous pubescence, slightly stained with red at the sides of
the apical incisure.

Male.—(Length 4 lines). Black; the face clothed with white pu-
bescence ; the apex of the nose pale yellow ; the mandibles very much
dilated at the base. Antenne fulvous, as long as the head and tho-
rax ; the joints subarcuate; the scape black; three or four of the
basal joints fuscous above; the apical joints pellucid. Thorax closely
punctured ; the tegule testaceous; the wings hyaline ; the posterior
femora, excepting at the knees, and the intermediate and anterior
pairs behind, nigro-piceous, otherwise of a fulvous yellow; the tarsi
palest. Abdomen linear, shining, closely punctured; the segments
have a white marginal fascia, the first, and sometimes also the second,
interrupted ; beneath, the two apical segments are concave.

* I have used the term incision, but in point of fact what has the appearance of
an incision is merely a smooth vertical space between the pubescence which clothes
the fifth segment; the sixth, which is concealed, has also a similar smooth line; the
segment at its apex is produced, and forms an obtusely pointed style ; the margin of
the segment is fringed with hairs of the exact length of the style. What can possibly
be the purpose of this curious formation I cannot conceive ; it may be connected with
some peculiarity in reference to the connexion of the sexes.

V— ee it Daa

Insects. 2041

Mr. Kirby has quoted the male of this species, without a doubt, as
the Hyleus quadricinctus of Fabricius, but the description of that
author makes no mention of the yellow antenne, nose, tibie and tarsi
of our insect; and as I find that in the preceding species described
by Fabricius he clearly points out such peculiarities, I think the syno-
nyme very doubtful. Walckenaer considers this species identical
with his Halictus nidulans, and says that he received a specimen from
Latreille ticketed ‘H. quadricincta;’ but his description satisfies me
that he is in error: “ pedibus anoque villosis fulvis” applies rather
to H. rubicunda, and will not agree at all with the present species.
Presuming that Mr. Kirby has correctly united the sexes, no one could
] think overlook the remarkably dilated mandibles of the male. The
female may be known from the same sex of every other species with
which I am acquainted, by the abdomen being fuscous, and closely
and rather strongly punctured from base to apex, and by its being
very convex. I must protest against the practice of sinking the ori-
ginal name given to a species by its describer ; Walckenaer has in
more instances than the present done so, for he regarded his own
species synonymous with Mr. Kirby’s: such names must and ought
to sink. The only specimens I have seen of this species are two males
and one female in the Kirbyan cabinet, and one female in that of the
British Museum. Mr. Kirby gives the locality of the neighbourhood
of London, captured by Dr. Latham and Mr. Marsham, still I have
always searched for it in vain.

Sp. 2. HALICTUS RUBICUNDUS.
Melitta rubicunda, Kirby. Apis flavipes, Panzer. Apis rubicunda,
Christ. ?

Female.—(Length 4—5 lines). Black ; the face clothed with short,
thin, pale fulvous pubescence; the labrum bearded with golden yel-
low ; the antenne slightly nigro-piceous at their apex beneath. Tho-
rax, the disk thinly clothed with ferruginous pubescence, palest on
the sides and on the metathorax, which is rotundate ; the tegule fer-
ruginous ; the wings subhyaline, slightly clouded at their apical mar-
gins, the nervures testaceous ; the apical joints of the anterior tarsi,
the intermediate tarsi and tibiae above, and the posterior tibie and
tarsi entirely, fulvous, their pubescence of a golden yellow ; the basal
joint of the posterior tarsi has a dark stain above. Abdomen ovate,
smooth and shining, having a little pale pubescence at the base;
viewed laterally, the abdomen has a thin, short, black pubescence ;

2042 Insects.

the margins of the segments have a narrow white fascia, the first and
second frequently interrupted; beneath, the segments have a thin, pale,
marginal fringe.

Male.—(Length 4—5 lines). Black; the apical margin of the cly-
peus, and also the labrum, yellow; the antenne not quite so long as
the head and thorax ; the pubescence on the face is griseous below
the base of the antennz, at which and above it is stained with yellow.
Thorax thinly clothed with pale fulvous ; the tibiz and tarsi yellow ;
all the tibiz have a dark stain beneath. ° Abdomen linear; the first
four segments have laterally a narrow white fascia on their apical
margins, the fourth frequently entire ; beneath the apical segments are
depressed or concave.

St. Fargeau considers this species to be identical with the Halictus
nidulans of Walckenaer, but in this I cannot agree. I feel satisfied
that Walckenaer was intimately acquainted with his species, and knew
the sexes to be correctly assimilated: the description of the male
will not accord in prominent particulars, and that of the female is far
too brief to be relied upon. The description of the Apis flavipes of
Panzer, and also the figure, I think apply to our species. I should
have adopted Panzer’s name, had I not applied the same to another
species,—the Hyleeus flavipes of Fabricius. Whether our species be
the Apis rubicunda of Christius I think very doubtful, since that au-
thor describes his insect as having reddish yellow bands on the abdo-
men: his description is too brief, and would agree much better with
that of H. fulvocincta.

Sp. 3. HALicTus FLAVIPES.

Apis flavipes, Linn., male. Hyleus flavipes, Fab. Apis crocipes,
Fourcroy. Apis tumulorum, Linn.? Megilla subaurata, Fab.,
female. Apis subaurata, Panzer. Halictus seladonius, Latr., St.
Fargeau. Melitta seladonia, Kirby.

Female.—(Length 3—4 lines). Bronzed green; the antenne be-
neath piceous at their apex ; the mandibles ferruginous at their tips.
Thorax shining, closely punctured, a scratch in the centre of the
dorsolum, and also a short parallel one over the tegule; the me-
tathorax rounded, of a bright green, sometimes of a blue-green; the
pubescence on the sides of the thorax and beneath is pale ochraceous ;
the tegula and nervures piceous; the wings iridescent; the legs
nigro-piceous, their pubescence pale yellow, that on the tarsi beneath
of a bright golden yellow; the apical joints of the tarsi pale ferrugi-

Insects. 2043

nous. Abdomen subovate, closely and finely punctured; the seg-
ments have a pale marginal fascia, sometimes white, the first generally
interrupted ; beneath rather coarsely punctured.

Male.—(Length 3—33 lines). Brassy green, closely and finely
punctured ; the apical margin of the clypeus, the labrum and mandi-
bles yellow, the latter ferruginous at their apex ; the antenne as long
as the head and thorax ; the joints subarcuate, fuscous above, beneath
of a fulvous yellow, except the three apical joints, which are fuscous ;
the scape black. Thorax, a central longitudinal scratch and a short
one over the tegule, which are piceous; the wings hyaline and iri-
descent ; the legs of a sulphurous yellow, the femora and tibie being
stained in parts with rufous; the claws rufous; the coxe and tro-
chanters nigro-piceous ; the anterior pair beneath, and the intermedi-
ate and posterior at their base and apex, more or less yellow. Abdo-
- men linear, broadest towards the apex ; the base of the intermediate
segments depressed, a slight griseous pubescence at the sides, and
sometimes a little on the margins of the segments ; beneath the mar-
gins piceous.

I have scarcely a doubt of the male of this species being the Apis
tumulorum of Linneus, but as the two authentic specimens in the
Linnean cabinet are gummed on a card, and have been pressed flat on
their sides, it is difficult to determine: after a careful examination of
them, I think they are identical with our insect; but as it admits of a
doubt I have not changed the name. I have frequently found the
sexes of this species entering the same burrows, and they are com-
monly found in company, frequenting the flowers of the dandelion
(Leontodon). 1 think this is undoubtedly the Apis flavipes of Linn.,
and also the Hyleus flavipes of Fab.

Sp. 4. HaicTrus &RATUS.
Melitta erata, Kirby.

Female.—(Length 23—3 lines). Head and thorax brassy green,
closely and finely punctured ; antenne black, the apical joints slightly
piceous beneath ; the mandibles ferruginous at their apex. Thorax
shining ; the metathorax truncate posteriorly ; the tegule piceous ;
the wings subhyaline, splendidly iridescent; the legs black, the
claws ferruginous, their pubescence griseous, that on the tarsi beneath
is pale fulvous. Abdomen black, slightly tinged with zneous, smooth
and shining ; the margins of the segments slightly piceous; a little
patch of white pubescence on the basal margin of the second segment

2044 Insects.

laterally, frequently obliterated; the margin of the fourth segment
usually has a narrow white marginal fringe; beneath, the margins are
thinly ciliated with pale hairs.

Male.—(Length 3 lines). Head and thorax of a bronzed green,
sometimes of a blue-green, closely punctured ; antenne nearly as long
as the head and thorax, fuscous above, pale fulvous beneath ; the
apex of the clypeus pale yellow. Thorax, the tegule piceous; the
wings subfuscous, iridescent. Abdomen linear; the base of the two
intermediate segments depressed, and having laterally a little white
pubescence.

This species very closely resembles Morio, but is usually of a
brighter green; the abdomen of ewrata (female) has also a greenish
tinge, that of Morio is black. |

FREDERICK SMITH.
5, High Street, Newington,
February 19, 1848.
(To be continued).

Capture of Coleoptera in Scotland.—I send you a notice of a few of my coleopte-
rous captures, in hopes that it may prove interesting to the readers of the ‘ Zoologist.’

Endomychus coccineus. In the month of January, while stripping the bark from
some decayed willow-trees on the banks of the Esk, I found the trunks covered with a
small red and black beetle: being but a beginner in the study of insects at that time,
I was quite puzzled. On showing it to Mr. Hepburn, of Whittingham, however, he
discovered it to be Endomychus coccineus. Although of frequent occurrence in
England, this, as far as I can learn, is the first time it has been taken in Scotland.
In this locality it is extremely abundant. I have succeeded in capturing more speci-
mens hybernating than in summer. It is always most thickly clustered near the root
of the tree, and rarely at a greater elevation than two feet, generally interspersed with
Phedon Vitellina.

Lamprias chlorocephalus. In the same locality with the preceding insect I have
taken a single specimen of Lamprias chlorocephalus, which appears to be very rare.

Meloe proscarabeus. I have taken three females amongst the long grass by the
banks of the river.

Broscus cephalotes. In the month of August I succeeded in capturing several spe-
cimens of Broscus cephalotes, under carcasses along the beach.

Cychrus rostratus. In an old quarry, between Musselburgh and Preston-pans,
Cychrus rostratus occurs frequently under stones: in a pond in the same quarry Dy-
tiscus marginalis is very abundant.

Chrysomela polita, Rather common on willows.

Cataphagus lineatus. Very common on the nettle (Urtica wrens) during summer.

Melolontha vulgaris. One evening in the latter end of June I captured a fine

Insects. 2045

specimen of the cockchaffer (1. vulgaris), on the wing; fortunately it is a very rare
insect in this district.—James C. Howden ; Musselburgh, November, 1847.

Notes on the Coleoptera of Northamptonshire.—I have selected the following Cole-
optera from a list of about 500 species that I have taken here during the past year.
By far the best locality in the neighbourhood is Harleston Firs, about two miles from
Northampton, on the East Haddon Road; although Whittlebury and Salcey Forests,
Plane Woods, close to Roade Station, and many others, will amply repay exam-
ination.

Leistus spinibarbis. A few specimens, under stones and in moss, in the early
spring.

Pterostichus oblongo-punctatus. This local insect is not uncommon, during May
and June, in a fir wood near Harleston. 1 found it running about in the snnshine,
together with Thanassimus formicarius. It is one of the most active, as well as most
rapacious of the Harpalide: its principal food seems to be the great red ant, which
abounds in the same locality.

Atomaria dimidiata. Common, with other species of this genus, by sweeping in
damp meadows.

Antherophagus pallens and similis (Curtis). Occasional specimens from flowers, in
June and July.

Rhyzophagus cylindricus and rufus. In fir-stumps, together with Ips ferruginea ;
local, although, when found, abundant. These insects are generally to be met with
on the inner side of the bark ; while Ips is as often found with Hylobius abietis, feed-
ing on the wood itself.

Attagenus Pellio. Not uncommon on the windows of old houses, in July.

Byrrhus dorsalis, A single example, with several of the common B. pilula, by
sweeping clover, in June.

Agrilus viridis. A few specimens, from the blossoms of the wild cherry.

Aplotarsus quercus and rufipes. Abundant in damp meadows, in May and June.

Scirtes hemispherica. Common on water-plants, found together with several spe-
cies of Cionus, Baris Atriplicis, Cleopus pulchellus, &c.

Mecinus circulatus. A single specimen from a sand-pit.

Celiodes subrufus. On oak trees, in the beginning of May, sare.

Nedyus Echii. On the Echium vulgare. The best way of obtaining specimens
of this insect is by examining carefully the leaves at the foot of the stalk: it seems to
prefer this situation to the leaves or flowers of the stem itself. This is, as far as I am
aware, the only insect of the genus that is capable of making a noise when alarmed :
the sound, which resembles that of a Necrophorus, is produced by the friction of the

* abdomen against the base of the elytra.

Rhinonchus Castor, with Apion Rumicis. Common, by sweeping, in woods.

Balaninus Brassice. Iu profusion on an oak tree, in May.

Sibinia Viscarie. 1 took eight specimens of this rare insect, by frequently search-
ing one spot, in the corner of a clover-field.

Notaris bimaculatus. Among the roots of grass, in damp localities, together with
Dromius agilis and a few specimens of Hypolithus riparius.

Dorytomus Tremule (?) In the bark of an old willow tree, not uncommon, where
it was taken some years ago by Mr. Greville, who kindly pointed out to me the lo-
cality.

2046 , Insects.

Gronops lunatus. Taken very sparingly, by sweeping herbage on the margin of a
fir wood.

Trachyphleus aristatus. Four specimens, from clover, in May.

Bothinoderes albidus. I have been fortunate in taking two specimens of this very
rare and beautiful Curculio, from a sand-pit in Harleston Firs. The first specimen I
found in June, while searching for Pterostichus oblongo-punctatus, #mong the grass
and rubbish at the bottom of the pit. The second I discovered in the same locality,
by pulling up and examining the hussocks of grass and heather that grew on the
sides. When disturbed, it clings fast to some bit of stick, and thus is only to be found
by the most patient examination. One specimen, which I kept alive for some little
time, remained always motionless during the day, and only relieved the monotony of
its existence by wandering slowly in the evening among the stems of grass with which
it was supplied.

Apion Astragali. This insect has been taken in this neighbourhood ets former
seasons, by Mr. Greville (vide ‘ Entomologist,’ p. 185, note) and Mr. F. Smith, to both
of whom I am indebted for their kindness in directing me to the exact locality. I
have been unable, however, with all my exertions, to meet with a single specimen:
the field has since then been repeatedly ploughed up, and the locality for this rare in-
sect, I fear, totally destroyed.

Rhynchites equatus and minimus, with Tetrops preusta. From blossoms of the
May.

Haltica fuscicornis. Not uncommon in the gardens at Castle Ashby, on the holy-
oak, in company with Apion eneum.

Cassida equestris. Very abundant on the wild mint.

Cassida vibex, peeanee and sanguinolenta. Harleston, by sweeping at the sides of
the wood.

The commoner species of Coccinellide, especially C. 7-punctata, have occurred
here, as in other parts of the kingdom, in the greatest profusion. I have been unable
to detect C. labilis among the hundreds of 7-punctata that I have examined.

As to the richness of this neighbourhood in other families of insects, I am unable
to give detailed information, as I have confined my attention almost exclusively to
Coleoptera. I may, however, mention, that specimens of Apatura Iris and Sphinx
Convolvuli, and one of Vanessa Antiopa, have been taken here lately. Sesia bomby-
liformis appears to be far from uncommon, while Barnwell Wold, within an hour’s
ride by the railroad, is the well-known locality for Polyommatus Arion.—Hamlet
Clark ; Northampton, February 19, 1848.

Occurrence of Cillenum laterale at Liverpool.—I have taken Cillenum laterale in
great abundance, at Liverpool, by turning over the stones on the beach above the town,
in sunshine.—C. S. Gregson ; Liverpool.

Occurrence of the Locust at Cromer.—While staying at Cromer, in Norfolk, I ob-
served upon the cliffs no less than eight specimens of the Gryllus migratorius, out of
which, on account of their uncommon swiftness of flight and agility in rising, I was
only able to capture two, which are in my possession at present. I observed these
locusts in August, 1847.—Albert D. Michael ; 9, Red Lion Square, January 31, 1848.

Occurrence of the Locust at Bishop's Auckland.—Three specimens of the locust
have been taken near this town; one on the pavement in the market-place, which
seemed much exhausted ; it was kept alive two days, but would eat nothing: a second

es

— se

Insects, &c. 2047

was captured in a pasture field, two miles to the south ; it was very active, and was
_ captured with difficulty ; it lived about a fortnight: the third was captured on a rail-
way bank, about nine miles to the south-east. They were all taken in August, and
are of the same species, certainly the Gryllus migratorius of Linneus.—Joseph Duff ;
Bishop’s Auckland, county of Durham, February 17, 1848.

Occurrence of the Locust near Lancaster.—I have a fine specimen of the migratory
locust, which was taken on the 10th of August, at Sunderland, near Lancaster, the
most western point in this county.—C. S. Gregson ; Liverpool.

Dragon-fly devouring a Wasp.—I once had an opportunity of watching a large
dragon-fly while sitting on a laurel leaf, very busy devouring a wasp which he had
just captured. He did not fly away until his prey was entirely consumed, and the
noise made by his jaws was as though he were eating a biscuit, so hard and crisp was
the covering of the wasp.—Alexander Pytts Falconer ; Becton, Christchurch, Hants,
February 7, 1848.

Zoology for Schools.*

[This little volume is of that class of introductory works which are calculated to
du good, by affording a key to some of the mysteries of science. I wish that science
had no mysteries; but seeing that it has,—seeing that the most celebrated of our
zoological teachers deal in mysteries,—I welcome the appearance of an unpretend-
ing volume which offers a clew to the labyrinth. It were breaking a fly upon the
wheel to cavil at the little errors that might be pointed out: suifice it to say that it is
written by a zealous promoter of the science ; so zealous indeed in the dissemination
of zoological lore, that he has not devoted quite enough time to acquire a stock-in-
trade sufficient for the requirings of his customers.—L£. N.]

First Steps to Anatomy.t

[I like this book, from its possessing a very truth-telling title, and a very truth-
telling manner throughout: few authors who adopt the titles of “ first steps,” “ rudi-
ments,” “ primitie,” &c., confine themselves to the simplicity which such titles profess.
Dr. Drummond has done this, and his ‘ First Steps to Anatomy’ are adapted to those
who are really beginners: hence I have pleasure in cordially recommending his work
to those who desire an initiation into the study of anatomy.—£. N.]

Zoological Recreations.}

[This is a very agreeable book, and calculated to do good service in the cause of
Zoology, notwithstanding two rather prominent defects ; first, an unfortunate penchant

* ‘Introduction to Zoology, for the Use of Schools.” By Ropertr Parrerson.
London: Simpkin, Marshall & Co. 1846.
+ ‘First Steps to Anatomy.’ By James L. Drummonp, M.D. London: Van

Voorst. 1846.
t ‘ Zoological Recreations.’ By W. J. Broperip, Esq. London: Colburn. 1847.

2048 Quadrupeds.

for the display of wit ; secondly, a too perfect reliance on the dicta of others. The firsé
leads to the introduction of many passages which are totally irrelevant, as for instance
that about “ bores,” and one entire chapter entitled “a word to anglers.” Adapting
my phraseology to the author’s, I would say such parts of the book are very “ wet-
blanketty.” The second induces Mr. Broderip to reproduce, among others of the like
kind, Daines Barrington’s fallacy about birds studying their songs under parental tu-
ition, and to follow up the matter by showing that birds brought up from the egg by
hand are either mute or learn the notes of the first prattler that comes in their way :
if this were true, the countless myriads of chickens hatched by the new steam process
would learn, from the women and children who tend them, all manner of metropolitan
small-talk ; whereas the dame partletts and chanticleers cackle and crow in the veri-
table method of their progenitors: ducks, again, that are hatched under hens squeak
and quack in the true style of their kind, though they never enjoyed the advantage of
parental tuition; and guinea-fowls hatched under a barn-door hen, miles from the
nearest of their congeners, seem to feel acutely the bereavement of kindred, and in-
cessantly invite them to ‘come-back,’ ‘ come-back.’ Mr. Broderip, however, is a com-
piler of much skill ; and though a greater extent of practical experience would have
added value to his volume, we must not forget that his opportunities for observation
have not been those of a White, a Waterton, a Knapp, a Couch, an Atkinson or a
Bury,—men who have so eminently succeeded throughout their natural-history writ-
ings in blending the strikingly agreeable and the perfectly intelligible with the
strictly true. It is very difficult, immersed in a Babylon like ours, to appreciate justly
the assertions and hypotheses of others,—to know what is dross and what pure ore,—
to separate the wheat from the chaff; and that one who cannot appeal to the test of
observation should occasionally fail in this, is matter neither for surprise nor for harsh
comment. I rejoice that so able a pen and so educated a mind have given to Zoology
the advantage of their assistance ; and I hope that Mr. Broderip will pursue the
course he has taken, and prosper therein. _I will quote a few paragraphs written in
the author’s best style, and hope to return to the volume should I ever find space for
more.—£. N.]

“ American Monkeys.—Many of the forests of South America flourish in all their
ptimitive grandeur. Immense tracts are covered with vegetable forms in every stage
of luxuriant development. Towering trees, their trunks embraced by gigantic twin-
ers and garlanded by a profusion of plants, in whose curious and splendid blossoms
Nature seems to have imitated in the wantonness of her prodigality almost every va-
riety of insect shape, shoot up and darken the light of day with their broad shadows.

“In these ‘boundless contiguities of shade,’ which have never echged to the
woodman’s axe, the most perfect silence reigns during the day; a silence, unbroken
save by the crashing fall of some ancient tree prostrated by the weight of years, and
carrying with it in one vast ruin all that it had long fed and fostered.

“ But, if all is silent during the day, at night

‘The wonted roar is up amidst the woods,
And fills the air with barbarous dissonance ;’

for in the depths of these solitudes live the howling monkeys, to whose voice the voice
of the Rev. Gabriel Kettledrummle would be but as the sough of the wind in the
bracken,

~ TS ae eee ee

Quadrupeds. | 2049

“ We have already stated that the South-American monkeys are all blessed with
tails, but they are deprived of those brilliant blue and red callosities which give so
much splendour to the integuments of many of the Old World family, and recal some-
times a part of the costume of a certain unearthly pedestrian ; for hzs femoral habili-

ments
‘ were blue, ‘

And there was a hole where the tail came through.’

Neither do they rejoice in cheek-pouches: they are, consequently, unable to keep any-
thing in the corner of their jaws, or to furnish forth any rebuke to the Rosencrantzes
and Guildensterns of the several courts in this best of all possible worlds.

“ «The howlers,’ as they are termed, claim our first attention. They are the largest
of the American Simiadea, and the fierce brutality of their disposition, joined to their
low facial angle, remind the observer of the baboons of the old continent, whilst their
gregarious habits and nocturnal howlings agree with the manners of the gibbons.
The yells uttered by these howlers in the dead of the night are described as absolutely
appalling. They strike upon the ear of the uninitiated benighted traveller as if they
were not of this world; and even to the naturalist they are terrible. ‘ Nothing,’ says
Waterton, speaking of the Mono Colorado, or red howler, ‘ nothing can sound more
dreadful than its nocturnal howlings. While lying in your hammock in these gloomy
and immeasurable wilds, you hear him howling at intervals from eleven o'clock at
night till day-break. You would suppose that half the wild beasts of the forest were
collecting for the work of carnage. Now it is the tremendous roar of the jaguar as he
springs on his prey ; now it changes to his deep-toned growlings as he is pressed on
all sides by superior force ; and now you hear his last-dying moan beneath a mortal
wound.’

“When Humboldt and Bonpland landed at Cumana they saw the first troops of
Araguatos, as they journeyed to the mountains of Cocallor and the celebrated cavern
of Guacharo. The forests that surrounded the convent of Caripe, which is highly ele-
vated, and where the centigrade thermometer fell to 70° during the night, abounded
with them, and their mournful howling was heard, particularly in open weather or be-
fore rain or storms, at the distance of half a league. Upwards of forty of this grega-
rious species were counted upon one tree on the banks of the Apure; and Humboldt
declares his conviction that, in a square league of these wildernesses, more than two
thousand may be found. Melancholy is the expression of the creature’s eye, listless
is its gait, and dismal is its voice. The young ones never play in captivity like the
Sagoins ; no, ‘The Araguato de los Cumanenses, as the worthy Lopez de Gomara
voucheth, ‘ hath the face of a man, the beard of a goat, and a staid behaviour,’ such,
in short, as may well beseem the possessor of such a ‘ powerful organ,’ as the newspa-
per critics have it.

“We will endeavour, with Humboldt’s assistance, to convey to the reader some
idea of the structure of this sonorous instrument. That most observing traveller states
that the bony case of the os hyoides, or bone of the tongue, in the Mona Colorado, is,
in size, equal to four cubic inches (water measurement). The larynx, or windpipe,
consisting of six pouches, ten lines in length and from three to five in depth, is slightly

_ attached by muscular fibres. The pouches are like those of the little whistling mon-

keys, squirrels, and some birds. Above these pouches are two others, the lips or bor-
ders of which are of a yellowish cast; these are the pyramidal sacs which are formed
by membranous partitions and enter into the bony case. Into these sacs, which are

2050 Quadrupeds.

from three to four inches in length and terminate in a point, the air is driven; the
fifth pouch is in the aperture of the arytenoid cartilage and is situated between the
pyramidal sacs, of the same form bnt shorter; and the sixth pouch is formed by the
bony drum itself: within this drum the voice acquires the doleful tone above alluded
to. But we are becoming anatomical and soporifical ; no more, then, of this ‘ evening
drum,’ and turn we to that grotesque race, the Sapajous.

“ They are slender, mild in disposition, flat in face, long in tail, and spidery in ge-
neral appearance. The genus Ateles of M. Geoffroy St. Hilaire stands first upon the
roll. With anterior hands, either entirely deprived of thumbs, or only supplied with
mere rudiments, and weak, long limbs, justifying their popular names of ‘ spider
monkeys,’ they are compensated by a prehensile tail of such exquisite sensibility and
power, that it may be almost considered a fifth hand. For a length of six or seven
inches from the tip, this is naked ; and, on the under surface, it is comparatively cal-
lous for the purpose of prehension. Humboldt asserts that the animal can introduce
it, without turning its head, into narrow chinks or clefts, and hook out any substance ;
but he never saw it employed to convey food to the mouth, though the natives will
have it that the monkey goes a fishing with it. Leap the species of this genus cannot,
or, at most, but very imperfectly ; this tail of all work, however, amply makes amends,
for by it they hang suspended from the branches or swing themselves from bough to
bough, and from tree to tree, with the utmost agility. Dampier relates, and his state-
ments are generally worthy of credit, that, when troops of them have occasion to cross
rivers, they look out for a point where the trees are most lofty and project farthest
over the water. Having arrived at such a place, they climb to the boughs best suited
to their purpose, and form a long chain by grasping the tails of each other. This
chain hangs free at the lower end, while it is held on at the top, and the living pen-
dulum is swung backwards and forwards, till it acquires sufficient vibration to carry
the lower end to the opposite bank. Then the lowest joint catches hold of the first
branch within his reach, and mounts as high ashe can. As soon as he has made him-
self fast, the upper joint on the other side lets go, and the whole conjoined ‘ tail’
swings, and is carried safely over. Humboldt and Bonpland saw some of them which
inhabit the banks of the Orinoco suspended in great numbers from the trees, and
hanging on to each other by tail and hands in the most ridiculous groups.

“The Quata, or, as the French write the word, Coaita, is said to unite activity
with intelligence, gentleness, prudence and penetration. To be sure the Quatas will,
when they meet with a learned traveller, or any other strange animal, descend to the
lower branches of their trees to examine the phenomenon, and, when they have satis-
fied their curiosity, pelt the phenomenon aforesaid, to get rid of him or it: but that
they be sensible and trustworthy is proved by Acosta, who has immortalised the Quata
belonging to the Governor of Carthagena. This domestic was regularly sent to the
tavern for wine. They who sent him put an empty pot into one hand and the money
into the other; whereupon he went spidering along to the tavern, where they could by
no means get his money from him till they had filled his pot with wine. As this Ga-
nymede of the Governor came back with his charge, certain idle children would occa-
sionally meet him in the street and cast stones at him ; whereupon he would set down
his pot and cast stones at them, ‘ till he had assured his way, then would he return
to carry home his pot. And what is more, although he was a good bibber of wine,
yet would he never touch it till leave was given him.’ We are sorry to add that this
amiable genus is considered very good eating. Humboldt frequently saw the broiled

Quadrupeds. 2051

limbs of the Marimonda in the huts of the natives on the Orinoco ; and, at Emeralda,
he found in an Indian hut a collation of their roasted and dried bodies, prepared as
the pieces de résistance for a ‘ harvest home.’ Z

“In Lagothrix, the head is rounder than it is in Ateles, the hands are provided
with thumbs, such as they are, but the tail is still long and prehensile, and the under
surface at the tip is naked. The species of this genus are of some size. The Caparro
which inhabits the banks of the Guaviaré, one of the streams that flow into the Ori-
noco, is two feet two inches in length, without including the tail. The head is very
large and round in proportion. |

“ Cebus next claims our attention. In this form we find the tail beginning to lose
somewhat of its prehensile powers, and no longer bared at the tip to add to its sensi-
bility as an organ of touch. In lieu of this, the strength is thrown into the limbs,
which are well developed, and the anterior hands are remarkably well formed—though,
still, less perfectly than those of the Old World monkeys. The first of the five fingers
is become more thumb-like, and the palms of the extremities both before and behind
are endowed with much sensitiveness. These sylvans are excellent climbers, and of a
surprising agility.

“ Of these Cebi, the horned sapajou, with the hair of the forehead standing up so
as to give the animal the appearance of having a London waterman’s cap on, is one
of the largest, while the Ouavapavi des cataractes, which is very mild and intelligent, is
of small size. We remember once to have heard of a sort of compact which was said
to have been entered into between a monkey and a pig, the latter of which carried the
monkey a certain number of times round an orchard, in consideration of the monkey’s
climbing the apple-trees, and giving them a shake for the benefit of the porker.
Though not very old at the time, we gave the narrator credit for being blessed with a
very lively imagination, albeit the story was told gravely and vouched as a fact. But
Humboldt actually saw, at Maypures, one of these domesticated Ouavapavis, obtaining
his rides apparently without any such understanding; for this clever monkey used to
bide his time, and every morning caught a luckless pig, which he compelled to per-
form the part of his horse. Seated on pigback did he majestically ride about, the
whole day, clinging to his bristly steed as firmly as ever the Old Man of the Sea clung
to Sinbad, not even giving poor piggy a respite at meal-times, but continually be-
striding him all the time he was feeding in the savanna that surrounded the Indian
huts. A missionary had another of these riders; but the missionary’s monkey had
laid the strong hand of possession on a comfortable cat which had been brought up
with him, carried him well, and bore all his felestrian exploits with patience and good
humour.

“‘ The tail, which has become less and less prehensile in the genera last noticed,
becomes in Callithrix no longer capable of use as a support. The pretty playful little
Siamiri, whose length hardly exceeds ten inches exclusive of the tail, which reaches
thirteen or fourteen, winds that appendage like a boa round its body and limbs, re-
minding the zoologist in some degree of the mode in which the white-fronted Lemur
disposes of his ; and we now begin to observe, moreover, traces of insectivorous and
carnivorous appetite. The Macavacahow, at the sight of a bird, is roused at once
from its apparent apathy ; darting on its victim like a cat, it. secures the prize and
swallows it in an instant, with all the actions that mark the beast of prey.

“In the Dourocouli, the Cara rayada of the missionaries, we observe traces of the
cat in appearance, voice and manners. This curious animal is nine inches in length,

2052 Quadrupeds.

and its tail, which is hairy, but not prehensile, is about fourteen ; the head is large
and round ; the muzzle short ; the eyes very large; but there is no apparent external
ear. Three dark stripes are drawn on the head, and come down in front, the centre
stripe on the forehead and the two lateral ones reaching to the rounded corners of the
eyebrows.

“The Dourocoulis are captured during the day by the natives when they are fast
asleep in some hollow tree. The male and female are often taken in the same hole,
for they live in pairs. Ina state of nature they pursue small birds and insects, not
neglecting vegetables, almost every kind of which they will eat. Humboldt’s speci-
men was very fond of flies, which it caught dexterously, and would even sometimes
rouse itself for this chase on a gloomy day. Its night cry resembled that of the Ja-
guar, and it is thence called Titi-tigre. The mewing notes which it occasionally
sends forth remind the hearer of a cat, and this resemblance is heightened when the
head of a Dourocouli in a state of irritation swells, and the animal hisses or spits,
throws itself into the position of a cat when attacked by a dog, and strikes quick and
cat-like with its paw. Its voice is very powerful for its size. In the Leoncito, whose
body does not exceed seven or eight inches in length, we have much of the appearance
of a tiny lion.

“ But it is in the genus Pithecia that we have the nearest approach to human
likeness. There are some strong resemblances in the Couxio; but, as Humboldt well
observes, of all the monkeys of America, the Capuchin of the Orinoco bears the great-
est similitude in its features to man. There are the eyes with the mingled expression
of melancholy and fierceness ; there is the long thick heard ; and, as this last conceals
the chin, the facial angle appears much less than it really is. Strong, active, fierce,
the Capuchin is tamed with the greatest difficulty, and, when angered, he raises him-
self on his hinder extremities, grinds his teeth in his wrath, and leaps around his an-
tagonist with threatening gestures. If any malicious person wishes to see this Homun-
culus in a most devouring rage, let him wet the Capuchin’s beard, and he will find
that such an act is the unforgiveable sin. There is one point, indeed, wherein our
monkey differs from civilized man—he very seldom drinks ; but, when he does, the
similarity returns. Unlike the other American monkeys, which bring their lips to the
liquid, the Capuchin lifts the water in the hollow of his hand, inclines his head upon
his shoulder, and, carrying the draught to his mouth in the cup of Diogenes, drains it
with great deliberation. This appears to be his mode of drinking in a state of nature ;
and Humboldt thinks that it is adopted to prevent the wetting of the beard, which
renders the animal furious, and which could not be avoided if the lips were applied in
the usual Simian mode. Our friend the Capuchin is about two feet nine, bushy tail
and all, of a brownish red colour, the hair of the body being long, and that on the
forehead having a direction forwards. The beard, which arises below the ears, is
brown, inclining to black, and covers the upper part of the breast. His large sunken
eyes are overarched with well-marked brows, and his nails are bent, with the exception
of those on his thumbs. He is not gregarious, and is seldom found in company with
his female.”—p. 227.

————

Quadrupeds. 2053

Anecdote of a Cat.—A short time ago, whilst calling at the house of a friend, I

_ witnessed a curious act on the part of a cat belonging to the house. In front of the

house was a little garden, entered by a glass door, which was furnished with a knocker
about two feet from the ground ; and into this garden puss was accustomed to go for
the purpose of enjoying the sunshine. When she wished to enter the house, she
reared herself on her hind legs, and, raising the knocker, gave one loud rap; if that
was unheeded she rapped thrice. How she raised the knocker I was not able to see ;
but probably resting on the door with one paw, she lifted the knocker with the other.
This, though a trifling incident, contributes to show that animals are sometimes pos-
sessed of something analogous to a reasoning power.—H. Barclay; Leyton, Essex,
February 9, 1848,

A Church-going Turnspit.—* In the West of eres not far from Bath, there
lived, towards the close of the last century, a worthy clergyman, who was as benevolent
as he was learned. There were turnspits in those days—a most intelligent set they
were, and Toby, who was an especial favourite, was a model of the breed, with legs
worthy of the Gow Chrom himself, upon which he waddled after his master every-
where, sometimes not a little to his annoyance; but Toby was a worthy, and he could
not find it in his heart to snub him. Things, however, came at last to such a pass,
that Toby contrived somehow or other to find his way to the reading-desk on a Sun-
day, and when the door was opened, he would whip in, well knowing that his reverend
patron was too kind and too decorous to whip him out. Now, though it has been said
that

‘ He’s a good dog that goes to church,’

the examplary Dr. B., who thought he had traced a smile upon the countenance of -
some of his parishioners on these occasions, felt the impropriety of the proceeding : so
Toby was locked up in the stable on Sunday morning ; all to no purpose, however, for
he scrambled through the shut window, glass, lead and all, and trotted up the aisle
after his annoyed master as usual. Matters were now getting serious; so as soon as
he had on the Saturday caused the beef to revolve to a turn which was to be served
cold for the Sunday dinner—for the good man chose that all around him should find
the Sabbath a day of rest—Toby was taken out of the wheel, and his dinner was given
to him ; but instead of being allowed to go at large to take his evening walk after it,
Molly, to make sure of him, took him up by the neck, and, putting him into the wood
hole, where window there was none, drew the bolt, and left him therein. Toby re-
venged himself by drying up the souls of the whole family with his inordinate ex-
postulatory yells during the whole of the remnant of Saturday and the greater part of
Sunday. However, there was no Toby dogging the heels of the surpliced minister,
and it was concluded that the sufferings that the doggie and the family had under-
gone would have their effect. Well, the week wore on, Toby as amiable and as useful
as ever, without a particle of sullenness about him—into the wheel went he right
cheerfully, and made it turn more merrily than ever; in short, parlour, kitchen and
all were loud in his praise. However, as it drew towards twelve o’clock on the Satur-
day, Toby was missed. Poor Molly, the cook, was at her wit’s end.

‘Where’s that vexatious turnspit gone ?’
was the question, and nobody could answer it. The boy who cleaned the knives was

despatched to a distant barn, where Toby was occasionally wont to recreate himself
after his culinary labours, by hunting rats. No—no Toby. The sturdy thrashers,

VI O

2054 Birds, &e.

with whom he used sometimes to go home under the idea, as it was supposed, that

they were the lords of the rat-preserve in the barn, and who, being fond of Toby, in

common with the whole village, used occasionally to give him

‘ A bit of their supper, a bit of their bed,

knew nothing of him. Great was the consternation at the Rectory. Hints were —

thrown out that ‘The Tramps’ in the green lane had secreted him with the worst in-
tentions, for he was plump and sleek; but their camp was searched in vain. The
worthy family retired for the night, all mourning for Toby : and we believe there is no
doubt that when the reverend master of the house came down on Sunday morning,
his first question was, ‘ Any tidings of Toby ?’—a melancholy ‘ No, sir, was the
answer. After an early breakfast, the village schools were heard—their rewards dis-
tributed, not without inquiries for Toby—and when church-time came, it is said that
the rector, who walked the short distance in full canonicals, looked over his shoulder
more than once. He passed through the respectful country-people collected in the
little green grave-yard, who looked up to him as their pastor and friend; he entered
the low-roofed old Norman porch, overhung with ivy; he walked up the aisle, the
well-filled pews on either side bearing testimony that his sober-minded flock hungered
not for the excitement of fanaticism ; he entered the reading-desk, and, as he was ad-
justing his hassock, caught the eye of Toby twinkling at him out of the darkest corner.
Need we say more, than that after this, Toby was permitted to go to church, with the
unanimous approbation of the parish, as long as he lived. Now if this was not calcu-
lation on the part of Toby, we know not what else to term it, and we could refer our
readers to well-authenticated stories in print—as our dear old nurse used to say when
she was determined to silence all incredulity—that go as far, and even farther, to show
that these animals can calculate intervals of time."—* Zoological Recreations, p. 184.

Some Account of the People of St. Kilda and of the Birds of the Outer Hebrides.
By W.M. E. Miner, Esq.

As my observations on the birds of Sutherlandshire and Ross-shire seem to have
been interesting to the readers of the ‘ Zoologist,’ I have great pleasure in continuing
an account of our researches in the outer Hebrides and St. Kilda, and by your per-
mission will add a short account of the extraordinary people of that remote island.

I brought our account of the birds of Ross-shire as far as the coast of Skye, from
which island we took our departure, in Mr. Matheson’s steamer, for Stornaway ; and
after a delightful passage of seven hours and a half, cast anchor in the capital of the
outer Hebrides, on a charming summer’s morning, the 29th of May. The whole po-
pulation seemed busily engaged in the herring fishery, and we remained only long
enough to be most hospitably received by Mr. Scobie, Mr. Mattheson’s factor, who fa-
cilitated in every possible way our journey to the Harris. We saw nothing at Storn-
away, except very fine specimens of the golden and white-tailed eagle, both taken a
short time before we arrived there ; the latter trapped near its nest (in the neighbour-
hood of Stornaway), which contained one egg. The whole of the east and middle of

Birds. 2055

the Lewis is very barren, and its surface covered by innumerable small shallow lakes,
- not frequented by birds. On arriving at Loch Seaforth, we met with a very intelligent
man, keeper to Mr. Lloyd, who lives at the shooting lodge, Achlin, and he was of
great use in procuring us specimens of several rare birds. On Loch Langavat, in
Lewis, we were fortunate in meeting with three specimens of the gray-legged goose,
all with the dark feathers on the breast. In the same locality a pair of greenshanks
were evidently breeding, but their eggs could not be found. The red-breasted mer-
ganser was very common, and we found several nests. The red-throated diver was
breeding on Loch Langavat. Nests of the golden plover were in great abundance on
the adjoining hills. On the island of Scalpa, at the entrance of Loch Tarbert, we
saw a purple sandpiper, on the 3lst of May, in full summer plumage. In this locality
the oyster-catcher was very abundant, and we met with several pairs of the black
guillemot. In our sail from Loch Tarbert to Rowdil, on June Ist, we saw several
pairs of the bean goose, and procured specimens of the turnstone in fuil summer
plumage, but I do not think they had begun to lay, for they were in flocks of four
and five; and near Rowdil, the southern extremity of Harris, we were gratified by
finding an eyrie of the peregrine falcon, containing four young birds. The old ones
were too cautious to come within reach of the gun, and we left them their progeny in
peace. The people here seem very contented, though badly off; and I was sorry to
hear subsequently that the potatoes, which looked very healthy in June, have turned
out very ill. Lady Dunmore, represented by her excellent factor Captain Macdonald,
has been most active in administering to the wants of the people; and by the constant
supply of meal brought by the Government steamers to the various depots, not a man
in the outer Hebrides has perished from want.

We were disappointed in not meeting with the pink-footed or short-billed goose in
the islands of the Sound of Harris. They are so constantly visited that the geese are
now fast leaving them: we found but a few pairs, and they too wild to enable us to
get a shot at them. The eider duck was breeding in the small islands, also the greater
and lesser black-backed and common gulls in tolerable abundance, a large colony of
arctic terns, innumerable oyster-catchers, and a few shieldrakes, which breed in the
holes in the sandy islets of the Sound and North Uist. There were a good many
Richardson’s skuas : we had frequent opportunities of witnessing their voracity in pur-
suit of the gannet, and making them disgorge their food, which the persecutor fre-
quently caught as it was falling, and flew away with in triumph. On the 2nd of
June we were almost within shot of a very fine specimen of the great northern diver,
in full summer plumage. The keeper at Achlin positively asserts that it breeds in
one or two of the lochs in Lewis, and has promised to procure us the eggs and young;
he certainly described the three kinds very accurately.

Finding that little was to be done in ornithology in Harris, we crossed over to
North Uist, twelve miles over the Sound of Harris from Rowdil, belonging to Lord
Macdonald, a flat island, containing 5000 inhabitants, completely dotted over with
small lakes, and the retreat of innumerable water-fowl chiefly in winter. We are in-
debted to the Rev. Mr. Mc Rae and Mr. Macdonald of Balronald, by whom we were
most hospitably and kindly entertained, for all the success we met with in this island,
which of all the outer Hebrides is best worth visiting. On the west coast we found
the dunlin in considerable numbers, the common snipe as well as the jack snipe in
more than one locality, though we sought in vain for the nest of the latter. The
mountain linnet, peewit, ringed plover and rock dove in abundance ; and near Bal-

2056 Birds.

ronald we were fortunate in obtaining three pairs of the red-necked phalarope, evi-
dently just arrived, and out of one Mr. Graham took a perfect egg. It does not seem
a fact generally known, that the bird with the neck and throat most deeply coloured,
and if anything the larger of the two, is the female. This we ascertained to be the
case in each of the three specimens we obtained. They were very tame, allowing us
to come within a few yards of them. They were in company with the dunlins.

On the 5th of June we made an excursion to the lakes in the interior of the island,
accompanied by Lord Macdonald’s keeper and a party of stout islanders, carrying a

light boat from loch to loch. On Loch Scatavagh we expected to have met with.

geese, but their nests had been robbed, and they had left the islands in the loch. Here
the three different kinds of gulls were breeding abundantly. On one of the islands
we rose a jack snipe, apparently from its eggs, which we sought for in-vain. On
Loch Ean (the Bird Lake) we saw several arctic skuas, and found one egg deposited
on the ground without any nest. They had only just begun to lay, being three weeks
later than any of the other gulls. Here we found the black-throated diver breeding,
and obtained two eggs. The old birds again eluded us, though my brother got a fine
shot at the female with cartridge ; unluckily too near, for the cartridge passed close to
the bird’s head without bursting. The nest had been robbed before, and the birds had
a second time chosen precisely the same locality for depositing their eggs, which were
laid, without any nest, close to the water’s edge. We saw several pairs of wild geese
late in the evening, but could not be sure which kind they were of. We heard that in
winter the quantity and variety of wild-fowl in this island is wonderful. The whim-
brel, called here the mayfowl, is in abundance, but never remains to breed. We saw
no greenshanks, mentioned as not an uncommon bird by Mr. Mc Gillivray.

I cannot close my account of North Uist without expressing my admiration at the
exertions of Lord Macdonald, so fully carried out for the benefit of the people by Mr.
Macdonald and the Rev. Mr. Mc Rae. I should be sorry to make any comparison
with the sister kingdom, but the state of North Uist affords a bright example of how
much good may be done, even with small means, by a landlord anxious for the
good of his tenantry, when aided by a zealous factor, and an active, kind-hearted
clergyman.

After being most hospitably entertained in North Uist, we returned back to our
kind friends at Rowdil, and made preparations for our voyage to St. Kilda, for which
we hired a very comfortable little cutter of forty tons, formerly engaged as the mail-
packet between Skye and Harris, well manned by an able crew of five men, which in
most seasons of the year is necessary, for the navigation is dangerous, from the cur-
rents and storms rising up very suddenly. We were to be taken to St. Kilda, back to
Rowdil, thence to Stornaway, and to be landed at Loch Inver, in Sutherlandshire, for
£17. Our starting-place was Ob, the south-west point of Harris, where we were de-
tained three days by contrary winds. Our companions were, the Rev. Neil Macken-
zie, the former clergyman of St. Kilda, to whose kindness and zeal we were mainly
indebted for the great success we met with, and who was anxious for a passage to vi-
sit his old flock,—and the Rev. Mr. Macdonald, the clergyman of Harris, in which
parish St. Kilda is situated, and whose services as an interpreter we found very useful
in an island where not a word but Gaelic is understood. The distance from Ob is
is about sixty miles, but from Cape Greemenish, on the west coast of North Uist, it is
but forty-two; perhaps the most treacherous passage ever made in those seas. We
weighed anchor on the 12th of June, at six in the morning, with a favourable wind,

— See eT

ee ee ae err COU Oh Ooh

People of St. Kilda. 2057

passed Pabbay, North Uist, and the rocks of Hasker, and till within fifteen miles of
St. Kilda seemed likely to make an excellent passage. Borrera, an island five miles
north of St. Kilda, rose majestically 1400 feet out of the sea, but a haze prevented our
seeing its kindred rock. Shortly after catching sight of Borrera a sudden storm over-
took us, and for four hours we were beaten about most helplessly. Our pilot was out
of his reckoning, and when everything was prepared to stand out to sea for the night
we unexpectedly swung into the bay of St. Kilda, just visible through the fog, and
east anchor within 200 yards of its rocky iron-bound shore at four in the afternoon.
The whole air and sea were alive with birds; the puffin and guillemot on that side
the island in the greatest abundance. Upon waking in the morning we were delighted
with the first clear view of this wonderful island. St. Kilda is in the shape of a half-
moon, three miles long by one and a half wide, great majestic rocks starting up out of
the sea, the highest (Conaker) 1400 feet, rivalling in height the neighbouring rock of
Borrera. At the entrance of the bay stands a round-shaped rock, called Levenish, and
the west side has the cliffs in curious shapes like pinnacles. The village gives one the
idea of a number of bee-hives, all thatched, with no chimneys, the smoke escaping
through the roof; some few have glass windows, and two or three of the commonest
articles of furniture, but most are very dark and dirty. The only slated buildings are
the manse (now deserted since Mr. Mackenzie’s absence), the church and store. We
went ashore the next day, which was Sunday, and attended service at the church.
Every human being was there; and the attention to the whole service, lasting near
four hours, was wonderful: even during the English service not a word was spoken,
neither was there any curiosity shown at our appearance among them. Their affection
for their minister seems very great ; and his account of them, very much corroborated
by what we saw, proves, that though separated by a stormy ocean from the rest of the
world, and visited by not more than three or four vessels in the year, they deserve the
credit of being the most virtuous, moral and religious people in the British Isles. All
the vices common to the world are unknown to them, and their minds seem perfectly
uncorrupted: with the exception of an occasional difference there is nothing to disturb
the harmony of the Republic, which St. Kilda most nearly resembles. They have
their annual parliament to debate about the rock and the fulmars: every portion is
most carefully divided, and lots are cast for the different portions, some being much
better than others. They consider it one of their first duties to provide for the widows
and old maids; and their strict and regular attendance to their religious duties, in the
absence of their minister, is very striking. We found them hospitable, most anxious
to serve us, and, unlike their brethren in the mainland, we had great difficulty in per-
suading them to take what we considered they were entitled to for two hard days’ work
among the cliffs and rocks. Tobacco is to them the greatest luxury, and we fortu-
nately had taken out several pounds of pigtail, which delighted them nota little. The
whole population does not exceed a hundred, and has been stationary for many years.
The men are fair, about the middle height, and well clothed in the homespun woollen
clothing of the Highlands, blue jackets and trowsers. The women are dark, many of
them good-looking were it not for their dirty and untidy appearance. [I did not dis-
cover that they were long-lived. The oldest man on the island was not above 70.
The annual average of births and deaths is five. In the last twelve years the births
have been sixty-eight, deaths sixty-five. The annual average of marriages is two,
Last year every child born was carried off by a disease called in St. Kilda the ‘ eight-
day sickness,’ which quite baffles the skill of the medical men. It is a species of

2058 7 Birds.

croup, and is peculiar to the Westmann Islands, under the dominion of the King of
Denmark, and St. Kilda. They subsist entirely upon the sea birds, principally the
puffin, which is in immense abundance : their means of taking them, by long rods with
nooses attached to them, and their extraordinary adroitness in clambering in pairs
among perpendicular cliffs, have been too often described to make it necessary for me
to occupy more of your space on the subject; but when I state that eleven hundred
gannet are taken in a single night, it will give a good idea of their wonderful skill.
They keep their peat, which is merely cut from the surface of the soil, in small cairn-
like buildings of great antiquity. The present proprietor, Mr. Macleod, is most kind
and charitable to the people: he sent a large vessel laden with meal .in the time of
the distress, and at the present moment has offered an annual stipend of £100, in ad-
dition to £50 previously given, to any clergyman who will undertake the spiritual
charge of these poor islanders. His family was originally from St. Kilda; his grand-
father was catechist of the island, and the present man bought it a few years ago for
£1400. The people pay their rent in kind. Each family contributes seven stone of
feathers, valued at five shillings a stone; these are procured from the fulmar, gannet
and puffin. It requires the feathers of eighty fulmars to make a stone, the same num-
ber of gannets and eight hundred puffins. Each family has also to contribute twenty
pecks of barley (bear), at a shilling a peck ; and from most of the families the propri-
etor receives rent, for a cow’s grass seven shillings, for a sheep’s grass one shilling,
and for a lamb’s grass sixpence per annum. The average number of sheep possessed
by each family is eight : some few have two cows. The price of a full-grown sheep is
five shillings, of alamb ninepence. In addition to exporting wool and feathers, the
people send out annually thirty-two barrels of bird-oil, principally obtained from the
fulmar, which sells at £3 the barrel. The average number in each family is four:
one man, and one only, has five children. The houses are twenty-eight in number, of
which twenty-one have land attached to them, and are inhabited by married men and
widowers. The remaining seven are occupied by old maids and widows. Fishing is
entirely neglected, from the extreme danger of the rocks ; and they only possess two
boats, which they use to go to Borrera about once a month, to Soa, an island not more
than half a mile from St. Kilda, and Dun, which is only separated from the main
island by a chasm in the rock. St. Kilda is the only inhabited island of the four,
And now, having I fear wearied your readers with this long description of the inhabi-
tants of St. Kilda, whom it is impossible for any one to visit without feeling deeply
interested, I will proceed to give you an account of our ornithological researches in
this isolated spot.

On the first morning, attended by the whole male population of the island, we as-
cended the cliff from the village to its north-eastern side, their chief preserve of the
fulmar, which we saw in countless thousands, some upon their single white egg, others
gliding through the air, with their graceful noiseless flight within a few feet of us,
The islanders would only take one bird and its egg from this locality, for fear of dis-
turbing their great breeding-place, but promised us a larger supply from Borrera the
following day. It is the young fulmar which is the valuable product of the island ;
its feathers are more prized, its flesh more tender, and the oil extracted from it more
pure and in greater abundance than from the old birds. We procured two or three
remarkable nuts, taken from the crops of the young fulmars, apparently Brazilian.
We could only account for their being found in such an unlikely quarter, by the birds
having settled on the wrecks of some vessels sailing from South America. I shall be

Birds. 2059

happy when I come to London to show you one which was taken from the bird last
year. The view from the highest point of this cliff was magnificent. It was very
striking, looking northward, southward, eastward and westward, to see nothing but a
wide expanse of blue ocean (save the neighbouring rock of Borrera) covered for a few
miles by innumerable sea fowl.

We proceeded in the afternoon to the isle of Dun, forming the western horn of
the bay of St. Kilda. Here the razor-bill, puffin, guillemot, black guillemot, oyster-
catcher, eider duck, fulmar, herring gull, and the greater and lesser black-backed
gulls, were breeding in abundance; but in addition to these we discovered the chief
object of our visit to St. Kilda. Not far from the top of the cliff were a colony of the
fork-tailed petrel, breeding, like the stormy petrel, under the stones and rock, about a
yard deep. We were first attracted to them by a low chirping noise, which from time
the females made while sitting upon their eggs. In one hole only did we find the
male and female together. The egg is considerably larger than that of the stormy
petrel, and resembles it in being surrounded at the larger end by a beautiful zone of
red freckles. ‘They are nearly three weeks before the stormy petrel in depositing their
eggs; and in the localities where we found the fork-tailed petrel there was not a sin-
gle stormy petrel. |

On the following day we divided, one party going to Soa, the chief breeding-place
of the shearwater, and the rest of us rowing over to Borrera, where the gannet
breeds in great abundance. This rock, with its smaller satellites, lies five miles north-
east of St. Kilda, and, excepting in a north wind and calm sea, is unapproachable
from St. Kilda. It is a mile and a half long by halfa mile broad. We were fortu-
nate in our day, and after a two hours’ row by fourteen men, in a very clumsy boat,
we arrived at one of the smaller stacks of rocks close to Borrera, entirely occupied by
kittiwakes and guillemots. By the aid of our glass, we distinctly made out two spe-
cimens of the ringed guillemot (Uria lacrymans), which the intelligence of the islanders
enabled us to obtain, one, sitting on its egg, taken by the noose in the manner I be-
fore described, a male bird, and proving the absurdity of the idea that the ringed
guillemot lays a white egg. The egg we took was of a bright green, covered with ir-
regular lines of brownish black. The bird itself differs very little from the common
guillemot, except in being a trifle smaller, and having the bill a little more slender.
We took an egg from the common guillemot, quite white, excepting two or three brown
spots; aud one I received from Hamborough this year was perfectly white. Brunnich’s
or the thick-billed guillemot is found in Soa. The other party took one egg, which
does not at all differ from some varieties of the egg of the common guillemot; it is
streaked, and not spotted or blotched, and of a bright green colour. Borrera is the
chief pasturage for their sheep, which are very wild. The wool is of a dun and gray
colour, and very fine. The mutton excellent, though of course not fat. The ascent
up Borrera was very difficult : with a rope round our bodies we were taken in tow, and
without shoes, owing to the slippery state of the rocks, half carried half scrambling,
succeeded in mounting to a height of 700 feet, about midway to the summit.
We then proceeded to the top, the same height as Conaker, about 1400 feet above the
sea level, and to describe the view I should be gifted with the pen of a Scott or a Cow-
per. If St. Kilda struck us with astonishment, what shall I say of Borrera? It alone
amply repaid us for all our trouble, all our journies. Every step we took the view be-
_ came more splendid ; the two highest pinnacles appear to stretch up to the sky, both
of them quite perpendicular into the sea 1400 feet. The stacks about it look like dots

2060 Birds.

in the ocean; and the gannets nestling on its sides give it quite the appearance
of a chalk cliff; the sea of the brightest blue, covered with myriads of sea fowl ; turn-
ing your eyes towards St. Kilda you see the whole of it, with Soa tacked on as it were
to it on one side, and Dun on the other, apparently one island with a great loophole
in it, while the mighty Conaker raises himself majestically above the other numerous
peaks. It is impossible to describe the grandeur of a great mass of rock rising straight
out of the sea, far—far away from any land, except its subject rocks. Looking from
the other side you see the whole of the Long Island, from the Butt of Lewis to Barra
Head, 130 miles long, and everywhere else the clear blue Atlantic. Our first prize
was several specimens of the common stormy petrel, none of which had begun to lay,
though the eggs in each when opened were quite visible. We also obtained four more
fork-tailed petrels and their eggs, several fulmars, gannets and herring gulls, with
their eggs. On our way back, my brother fired and killed a pair of shags, and one of
the active islanders clambered up the rock and brought us down three of their eggs.
We arrived safely at St. Kilda, and found the party from Soa before us. They had
been more fortunate than us, in procuring one egg of the common stormy petrel, with
three pairs of old birds, one fork-tailed petrel, and two pairs of shearwaters with their
eggs. The shearwater’s principal resort is Soa; there are none in Borrera or St. Kil-
da, and but few in Dun. Like the stormy petrel, they breed in holes under rocks and
stones. Their breeding-places are very difficult to be discovered, for, unlike the
stormy petrel, they do not attract you by any sound. The sure way to procure them
is to watch them into their holes at night, the only time they are found stirring; and
sometimes the islanders discover them by the sagacity of their dogs, who smell them
in their retreats: but though we tried very hard, we could only obtain two eggs, and
they were nearly hatched. Mr. Mackenzie informed us, that when he was on the is-
land, a roller was seen for two or three days one winter, but having no powder he was
unable to secure it: he also mentioned the whimbrel, common and jack snipes, com-
mon gray linnet, wild swans and wild geese, as occasional visitors. We found a star-
ling breeding in a curious place, about two feet under a large stone, on the steep side
of Conaker.

Having procured all that these islands possessed in the way of ornithology, we took
leave of our hospitable friends on the evening of the third day, who really seemed
sorry at our departure, and all shook hands with us most heartily. Their leave-taking
with their minister was very touching : they stood on the rocky shore, in a bright moon-
light night, grouped round him, listening with the greatest attention to his parting
exhortations for two hours, and when he made the signal for departure there was not
a dry eye in the island. So much had this good man made himself beloved, that the
people would have obeyed him in everything except leaving their barren rock, to which
they are most deeply attached. We weighed anchor at about five o’clock in the morn-
ing, amidst the regrets of the people ; the sea like glass, and scarce a breeze to carry
us to Harris; and we did not arrive at our moorings at Ob till eleven at night. On
the following day we had a delightful sail through the Sound of Harris, and along the
east coast of that island and Lewis to Stornaway, passing the Shiant Isles, well worth
visiting on account of the innumerable sea-fowl resorting to them; and after remain-
ing at the capital of the Hebrides long enough to land Mr. Graham and our treasures,
all of which he had to prepare, we set sail to Loch Inver, there taking leave of our
vessel and our civil and agreeable crew, after a delightful cruise of a fortnight among
these wild islands.

a, a

om OO hs

Birds. 2061

I will just add a list of the birds we saw in the outer Hebrides, and the date of
their being seen.

List of Birds of the Outer Hebrides.

Golden Eagle (Aguila chrysaétos). Stornaway, May 29.

White-tailed Eagle (Aquila albicilla). Stornaway, May 29 ; St. Kilda, June 15.

Peregrine Falcon (Falco peregrinus) and young. Rowdel, Isle of Harris, June 1;
St. Kilda, June 15.

Merlin (Falco Zsalon) and eggs. J.och Seaforth, May 31.

Thrush (Turdus musicus). St. Kilda, June 14; Harris, June 17.

Wheatear (Sylvia enanthe). Everywhere abundant.

Pied Wagtail (Motacilla Yarrellii). St. Kilda, June 15.

Meadow Pipit (Anthus pratensis). St. Kilda, June 15.

Rock Pipit (Anthus obscurus). St. Kilda, June 15.

Twite (Fringilla montium). Harris, North Uist, St. Kilda, May 29 to June 17.

Starling (Sturnus vulgaris) and nest. St. Kilda, June 15.

Raven (Corvus corax) and young. Loch Tarbert and St. Kilda, May 31.

Hooded Crow (Corvus corone). Everywhere abundant, May 29 to June 16.

Rock Dove (Columba livia). Sound of Harris, June 2; St. Kilda, June 15.

Golden Plover (Charadrius pluvialis) and eggs. Loch Seaforth, May 31.

Ringed Plover (Charadrius hiaticula) and eggs. North Uist, June 2.

Peewit (Vanellus cristatus) and eggs. Everywhere abundant, May 31 to June 15.

Turnstone (Strepsilas interpres). Scalpa, June 1.

Oyster-catcher (Hematopus ostralegus) and eggs. Everywhere abundant, May 31
to June 15.

Curlew (Numenius arquata). Harris, June 1.

Whimbrel (Numenius pheopus). North Uist, June 4.

Common Redshank (Yotanus calidris). Harris, North Uist, June 1 to 8.

Common Snipe (Scolopax gallinago) and eggs. North Uist, June 4.

Jack Snipe (Scolopaz gallinula). Loch Scatavagh, North Uist, June 5.

Common Sandpiper (Totanus hypoleucos). Harris, June 1; St. Kilda, June 14.

Greenshank (Totanus glottis). Loch Seaforth, May 31.

Dunlin (Tringa variabilis). Abundant, Harris, North Uist, June 1 to 6.

Purple Sandpiper (Tringa maritima). Scalpa, May 31.

Red-necked Phalarope (Phalaropus hyperboreus). Balronald, North Uist, June 7.

Gray-legged Goose (Anser ferus) and eggs. Loch Langavat, May 31.

Bean Goose (Anser segetum). Scalpa, May 31.

Common Shieldrake (Tadorna vulpanser). Sound of Harris, June 2.

Eider Duck (Anas mollissima) and eggs. Sound of Harris, June 1; St. Kilda,
June 15.

Red-breasted Merganser (Mergus serrator) and eggs. Very common, June 1 to 8.

Great Northern Diver (Colymbus glacialis). Sound of Harris, June 2.

Black-throated Diver (Colymbus arcticus) and eggs. Loch Ean, North Uist,
June 5.

Red-throated Diver (Colymbus septentrionalis) and eggs. Loch Langavat, Lewis,
June 1.

Common Guillemot (Uria troile) and eggs. St. Kilda, Borrera, June 15.

Brunnich’s Guillemot (Uria Brunnichii) and eggs. Soa, June 15.

VI P

2062 Birds.

Ringed Guillemot (Uria lachrymans) and eggs. Borrera, June 15.
Black Guillemot (Uria grylle). Scalpa, May 31.
Puffin (Alca arctica) and eggs. St. Kilda, Borrera, June 15.
Razor-bill (Alca torda) and eggs. St. Kilda, Borrera, June 15.
Common Cormorant (Phalacrocorax cristatus) and eggs. St. Kilda, June 15.
Green Cormorant (Phalacrocorax graculus) and eggs. St. Kilda, June 15.
Gannet (Sula Bassana) and eggs. Borrera, June 15.
Common Tern (Sterna hirundo). Sound of Harris, June 2.
Arctic Tern (Sterna arctica) and eggs. Sound of Harris, June 7.
Kittiwake (Larus tridactylus) and eggs. Borrera, St. Kilda, June 15.
Common Gull (Larus canus) and eggs. Borrera, St. Kilda, June 15.
Lesser Black-backed Gull (Larus fuscus). Lewis, Sound of Harris, St. Kilda,
June 1 to 16.
Herring Gull (Larus argentatus) and eggs. Borrera, St. Kilda, June 15.
_ Great Black-backed Gull (Larus marinus) and eggs. Lewis, Sound of Harris,
St. Kilda, June 1 to 16.
Shearwater (Puffinus anglorum) and eggs. Soa, June 15.
Fulmar Petrel (Procellaria glacialis) and eggs. St. Kilda, Borrera, Dun, June 15.
Fork-tailed Petrel (Procellaria Leachii) and eggs. Dun, Soa, Borrera, June 15.
Stormy Petrel (Procellaria pelagica) and eggs. Soa, Borrera, June 15.

W. M. E. MILner.
Nunappleton, Tadcaster,
February 20, 1848.

A few Words on the subject of Nomenclature in Ornithology.—In thanking you for
the ‘ List of British Ornithology,’ which you so obligingly sent me, allow me to say a
few words on the subject of nomenclature in general, and if you think them worthy of
the pages of the ‘ Zoologist,’ pray insert them there. I have no doubt that the
list you have compiled is one of the best ever put forth, but I think many of the names
of the birds init might be improved. Considerable you may think it to be, but I en-
tertain a hope of one day seeing such a specific name applied to each bird, as at once
to distinguish it even from those most nearly allied to it. I hope to see the specific
name of the bird taken from some well-known habit, or some peculiarity of formation
or plumage. The same remark applies to every branch of Natural History. The
contributors to the ‘ Zovlogist’ profess especially to take Gilbert White as their au-
thority in all relating to Natural History ; how then do they, among other naturalists,
observe his suggestions with reference to the two species of Mammalia he discovered ?.
It is almost needless to say, not at all. Of the first, his bat, he says, the “ large spe-
cies of bat which I call Vespertilio altivolans, from its manner of feeding high in the
air.’* Of the other, his mouse, he says, “ Linnzeus, perhaps, would call the species
Mus minimus.” + The first of these names is positively given, the second suggested,
but in such a way as at once to show what the wish of the author was on the subject.

* Letter xlvi. (Pennant). + Letter xv. (Pennant).

Birds. 2063

I think it would show more respect to the memory of the author of ‘Selborne,’ for na-
turalists to continue these two excellent names, than to stick a staring ‘ Whitei’ after
‘Turdus’ and ‘ Testudo.’ With the former of these animals he had nothing at all to
do, and the latter he did not discover to be a distinct species from the T. Greca of
Linneus. To return, however, to birds. I was glad to see that the simultaneous dis-
coverers of the pink-footed goose called it by names so expressive as they did; the
bird, whether spoken of with regard to tip or toe, can, by its name only, at once be
distinguished from its congeners: but I was sorry the other day at the name applied
to the new British duck, and it has already called forth one remonstrance against it
in the ‘ Zoologist.’ I hope its discoverers, for it seems to have had several, will par-
don me if I venture to suggest its being called Fuligula or Aithya (of the generic
name I am not speaking) leucoptera, and white-winged pochard, instead of F. feri-
noides and Paget’s pochard ; for in the description of it, it is said that it can be at
once distinguished from the dun bird, by the conspicuous white bar on the wing. I
think it is Mr. Blyth who, in his edition of the ‘ Natural History of Selborne, has
suggested some excellent names: among others, I remember that he proposes to call
the redstart Pheenicula albifrons instead of P. ruticilla, which literally translated would
be ‘ red-haired red-tail;’ the long-tailed tit also, Mecistura rosea, for caudatus—al-
though good when joined to Parus—becomes nonsense united with Mecistura, and the
bird’s habits hardly warrant the application of vagans. I could mention several other
cases, but should trespass too long on your attention. I should like to see the subject
of names well discussed in the ‘ Zoologist, for until it is I despair of seeing an ‘ Act
of Uniformity’ passed with respect to nomenclature, or when passed generally observed ;
and I hope that one of its first clauses will run to the effect that “ WHeErtzas it has
been thought expedient that the names of V. altivolans and M. minimus be restored,
as originally given by White, Be rr THEREFORE Enacrep that they be and are
restored.” I hope you will understand my meaning, that I think the specific names
given to animals by their discoverers should not be observed (much less any others),
unless they are indicative of some peculiarity of that animal alone.—Alfred Newton ;
Everton, Biggleswade, February 18, 1848.

Griffon Vulture (Vultur fulvus): correction of a previous error.—The interesting
paper from the pen of the Rev. C. Bury, on the birds of the South of Spain (Zool.
1958), reminds me to correct a mistake I made in a notice on the same subject some
time ago (Zool. 1213). The vultures I saw on the banks of the Guadalquiver were
evidently not the Egyptian vulture, which I did not at that time know to be a compa-
ratively little bird. They were more probably the griffon vulture. I saw one of the
large vultures stuffed at Tangiers, and another in the Natural-History Museum at
Gibraltar, killed there by Sir Robert Wilson’s son, if I remember right. As, however,
the Egyptian vulture is found in those parts of the world, my mistake is only worth

‘noticing for the sake of distinguishing the occurrence of the large vulture also— 7.
Wolley ; 3, Roxburgh Terrace, Edinburgh, February 7, 1848.

Occurrence of the Rough-legged Buzzard (Falco lagopus) in Suffolk. A female,
neatly mature, was killed in the neighbourhood of Woodbridge, in November.—F’. W.
Johnson ; Ipswich, March 1, 1848.

Occurrence of the Short-eared Owl (Strix brachyotus) near Worcester.—T wo speci-
mens of this bird have lately been shot near Worcester.—M. Curtler ; Bevere House,
Worcester, February 27, 1848.

Occurrence of the Ring Ouzel (Turdus torquatus) in Suffolk.—A fine male speci-

2064 Birds.

men of this somewhat uncertain visitor came into my possession in October last ; about
the same time a second was observed at Blakenham by Mr. H. Haward, of Bramford.
—F. W. Johnson ; Ipswich, March 1, 1848.

[A great number of these birds were observed passing in a south-easterly direction,
throughout southern counties, about the middle of October last.—#. N.]

Early Nesting of the Robin (Sylvia rubecula).—A nest of this species was built in
a shed belonging to H. G. Busby, Esq., of Moreton, in the marsh: it was found with
five eggs, in the second week of January last. Mr. Busby states, that either the in-
trusive visits of the curious, or the intensely cold weather that we had in the middle of
January, caused the robin to forsake her nest.—T. Goatley ; Chipping Norton, Febru-
ary 16, 1848.

Enquiry respecting the Egg and Nest of the Thrush Nightingale (Sylvia Turdoides).
—Many of the readers of the ‘ Zoologist’ would be much obliged to Mr. John Han-
cock if he would communicate, through the pages of that valuable journal, some ac-
count of the egg of the thrush nightingale, which he is stated to have obtained in
Northamptonshire. Of what material was the nest constructed? in what situation
was it placed? in what locality was it found—wood, open country or hedgerow? In
common with many others I shall feel much obliged for answers to these queries.—D.
C. Burlingham ; Lynn, 1 mo. 28, 1848.

[The subject is one of great interest; and I hope Mr. Hancock will comply with
the request.—E. N.]

Occurrence of the Bohemian Waxwing (Bombycilla garrula) at Earsdon, Northum-
berland.—A pair of Bohemian waxwings, in very fine plumage, were shot near Ears-
don on the 8th instant.—T. J. Bold ; 42, Bigg Market, Newcastle-on-Tyne, February
19, 1848.

Occurrence of the Bohemian Waxwing near Yarmouth—I purchased yesterday,
in Leadenhall Market, a very fine specimen of the Bohemian waxwing, which had
been killed near Yarmouth on or about the 14th instant: it had been shot while
feeding on haws, three of which I found in its throat.—Richard Strangeways ; 70,
Chiswell Street, February 23, 1848.

Occurrence of the Bohemian Waxwing in Suffolk.—Several specimens of this rare
bird have been observed in the neighbourhood of Ipswich within the last few weeks :
seven of them have been procured.—F’. W. Johnson ; Ipswich, March 1, 1848.

[Numerous instances of this occasional visitor have occurred during the winter ;
always, however, near the eastern coast.— LF. N.]

Extreme abundance of the Mealy Redpole (Fringilla canescens) near [pswich.—The
mealy redpole has been extremely abundant in the vicinity of Ipswich during the au-
tumn and winter, associating with siskins: the common redpole has been at the same
time unusually scarce ; out of nearly fifty specimens killed or taken alive only one
was of the commoner species.—Jd.

Scientific dictum of Dr. Johnson respecting Swallows.— Swallows certainly do
sleep all the winter. A number of them conglobulate together by flying round and round,
and then all in a heap throwing themselves under water, and lie in the bed of a river.”—
Boswell’s Life of Johnson.

On. the supposed Occurrence of Turkeys’ Bones at Lough Gér.—I wish, through the
medium of your pages, to call the attention of your correspondent, Mr. Glennon, to a
statement made by him in his paper on the extinct deer and other animals, the bones
of which were found at Loch Gir, in the county of Limerick (Zool. 1589), which

Birds. 2065

appears to require explanation. The passage to which I allude is as follows: “ We

found the bones of five varieties of the cow or ox, five of the deer, two of the goat,

and two of the hog or pig, together with those of the hare or rabbit, swan, goose, duck,
turkey, and of several game birds.” Now I don't like this discovery of the bones of
the turkey. This useful. bird was not introduced into England very long before the

middle, certainly (I think) not before the beginning, of the sixteenth century ;* and it

is a native of America. Is there any reason to believe that any species of turkey was
indigenous to Ireland? I never heard of any evidence in support of such an opinion ;
but unless we suppose that it was so, we must either conclude that Mr. Glennon has
mistaken the bones of some other bird for those of the turkey, in which case doubt
would be thrown upon the accuracy of his other anatomical statements, or that they
are really the bones of the turkey, and were therefore, with the other bones, placed in
their present position ata period far subsequent to the supposed date of the existence
of the giant deer. Iwas much interested in the discussion of which Mr. Glennon’s
paper forms part, and certainly came to a conclusion in favour of the theory that the
giant deer was contemporary with man ; but as accuracy is the very soul of the state-
ments upon which this opinion is founded, I have thought it right to point out the ap-
parent error which exists in the passage in question. May I also inquire, of what
nature were the “several game birds”? mentioned in the sentence which I have
quoted, and to what existing species were they most nearly allied ?— William R.
Fisher ; Cambridge, February 24, 1848.

Oceurrence of the Houbara (Otis Houbara) in Lincolnshire.—A short time ago I
sent a communication to the ‘ Zoologist’ (Zool. 1969), to the effect that I had ob-
tained a male little bustard, which was shot at Kirton Lindsey, in this neighbourhood ;
but having since become better acquainted with the bustard family, I am convinced
of my error, and beg leave to correct it. The following is a description of the bird in
my possession.. Length 23 inches, expanse of wing 3 feet 8 inches, weight 23 Tbs. ;
the bill is dark lead colour, compressed at the tip, depressed at the base ; irides yellow ;
the head and throat rufous, mottled with black, with long loose feathers, of a slate co-
lour, hanging over the breast; the chin white; back of the neck white, minutely mot-
tled with brown ; the sides of the neck are ornamented with a range of feathers two
inches long, about two-thirds of the upper portion black, the lower part white; the
back and wing-coverts rufous, mottled with black, with zigzag bars of black across ;
the quill-feathers -black, extending to the end of the tail when closed ; under parts
white; legs lead colour. On inquiring of Mr. G. Hansley, from whom I received the
bird, if he could furnish any particulars respecting it, he sent me the following note.
“T shot the bird in a stubble field on Kirton Cliff. I did not see it until it got up
within twenty yards of me, and I cannot hear of its having been seen in the neigh-
bourhood before.” TI feel quite sure that this bird has never heen confined: its wings
and tail are in the greatest perfection, not a feather broken or dirty : its craw was full
of caterpillars, beetles and small snails.—Alfred Roberts ; Brigg, Lincolnshire, Janu-
ary 25, 1848.

[This bird has been purchased by Mr. T. E. Higgins, of York, and turns out to
be the houbara, a well-known North-African species of the bustard family. Mr. G. R.
Gray, of the British Museum, has obligingly handed me the following synonyms: it

* About 1530.

2066 Birds.

is the Eupodotis undulata of G. R. Gray, the Houbara undulata of G. R. Gray’s
‘Genera of Birds,’ p. 83, the Otis houbara’ of Gmelin, &c. It is well figured in
Gould’s ‘ Birds of Europe.’ Mr. Gray thinks there can be no doubt that it is one of
the specimens brought by Mr. Fraser from Africa.—E. N.]

Another extremely large Red Grouse (Lagopus Scoticus).—Having just read Mr.
Bladon’s account of the large grouse shot at Pont-y-pool, I beg to say, that last Thurs-
day week Mr. J. Baron Fielding, of Alershole, near Todmorden, killed a red grouse of
the extraordinary weight of 1 Tb. 15 ounces.—T. sieistsied 96, Ormond Street, Man-
chester, March 1, 1848.

Migration of Plovers.—In answer tv the query of Mr. Clibborn as to the migration
of plovers (Zool. 2023)—plovers, both gray and golden, are of a highly migratory na-
ture in this country. The birds observed by his correspondent were doubtless wending
their way southwards, either in consequence or in anticipation of the cold weather
which occurred about that time. With reference to the power of foreseeing changes
of weather, which birds of this class possess to a surprising degree, it would be useful
if those who observe such migrations would also send notices of the state of the atmo-
sphere, &c., before and after these movements.— William R. Fisher ; Cambridge,
March 2, 1848.

Occurrence of the Common Bittern (Ardea stellaris) at Prestwick Car and Blagdon,
Northumberland.—A specimen of the common bittern was seen at Prestwick Car a few
weeks ago: another, or perhaps the same individual, was shot at Blagdon by the game-
keeper of Sir M. W. Riding, Bart., on the 4th instant.—T7. J. Bold ; Newcastle-on-
Tyne, February 19, 1848.

Occurrence of the Common Bittern at Ipswich.—Several specimens have been ob-
tained in the vicinity of Ipswich. They appear to be as plentiful as last year.—F.
W. Johnson ; Ipswich, March 1, 1848.

Occurrence of the White Spoonbill (Platalea leucorodia) in Sussex.—On the 13th
of October, 1847, a specimen of the white spoonbill was shot by a man in the Pre-
ventive Service, at Cuckmere Haven. I saw the skin immediately after it had been
taken off, but unfortunately had not an opportunity of dissecting the body so as to as-
certain the sex. ‘The crest was slightly developed, and I think the bird must have
been a young male.— William Borrer, Jun. ; Cowfold, Horsham, Sussex, February 18,
1848.

Occurrence of the Green Sandpiper (Totanus ochropus) at Cambo, Northumberland.
—I yesterday saw a specimen of the green sandpiper which had been shot at Cambo
the previous day.—T. J. Bold ; Newcastle-on-Tyne, February 19, 1848.

Figg of the Greenshank (Totanus glottis)—In compliance with your request and
that of Mr. Fisher (Zool. 2024), I send you an accurate drawing and description of
the egg of the greenshank, mentioned in a previous number (Zool. 2015), as obtained
from a bird shot in Sutherlandshire. The egg is larger than that of the redshank by
six lines in length and four in breadth: itis of a pale greenish white colour, blotched
and spotted with ferruginous and dull red, chiefly at the larger end.— W. M. EF. Mil-
ner ; Nunappleton, Tadcaster, February 20, 1848.

[I am much obliged by the kindness of my correspondent in this prompt compli-
ance with my wish: I have sent the drawing to Mr. Fisher, and shall be happy to
transmit it to any ornithologist who desires it. It is a departure from the present plan
of the ‘ Zoologist’ to give coloured figures, and requires further consideration.—
FE’, N.|

Birds. 2067

Variety of Moor-hen (Gallinula chloropus).—The following description of a variety

of the moor-hen was furnished me by H. Haward, Esq., who killed it at Bramford,

near Ipswich, December 16, 1847. “The beak is greenish yellow at the tip, red at
the base ; irides red ; the back, scapulars and upper tail-coverts light chesnut ; wing-
coverts, tertials, quill-feathers and tail black, edged with chesnut; head grayish
black ; neck, breast and all the under surface of the body grayish white, inclining to
chesnut on the flanks and sides; vent-feathers black ; under tail-coverts white ; legs
and toes green ; the webs of the feathers on all parts of the body disunited, having
the appearance of hair.”—F'. W. Johnson ; Ipswich, February 19, 1848.

Occurrence of the Egyptian Goose (Anser Egyptiacus) ix Sussex.—An Egyptian
goose was shot on the harbour at Shoreham on the 5th of January. This bird I ex-
amined before it was skinned, and it proved by dissection a male, and by plumage im-
mature. The gizzard contained nothing but fine sea gravel. The chesnut-coloured
patch on the breast was much less clearly marked than in the following specimen.
Another Egyptian goose, in the fullest adult plumage, was shot on the mill-pond,
near the church, in the parish of Shermanbury, on the 11th of January. It was ob-
served to arrive in the evening from the N.W., and rose immediately on being ap-
proached by the person who shot it. The bony enlargement at the divarication of the
trachea was rather larger and more truly ossified than in the former specimen. The
gizzard contained a small quantity of grass, and fine sea gravel similar to that in the
first specimen. The feathers of the lower part of the breast and belly were slightly
stained with that peculiar rusty tinge by some attributed to the action of sea water.
It is somewhat singular that both birds were shot on the same river, the Adur, the first
at its debouchment, and the second just above the point to which the tide rises, by the
course of the stream perhaps twenty miles as the crow flies, about twelve from the sea.
Both birds had every appearance of being truly wild. The weight of the last-men-
tioned specimen was exactly 5 ibs; the measurement, from the tip of the bill to the
tip of the tail, 2 feet 4 inches; and that of the extent of wing, from tip to tip, 4 feet
3 inches.— Wm. Borrer, Jun. ; Cowfold, Horsham, Sussex, February 18, 1848.

Occurrence of the Velvet Scoter (Anas fusca) and Common Scoter (Anas nigra) in
Suffolk.—A magniticent male specimen of the velvet scoter was received from Aldbo-
rough by Mr. H. Haward, of Bramford, in January last: the same gentleman killed
a young female of the same species, in the river Orwell, a few days subsequently. I
obtained a fine adult male of the common scoter from Beccles, in February, and have
since heard of the occurrence of another on the coast.—F. W. Johnson ; Ipswich,
March 1, 1848.

Occurrence of the Surf Scoter (Anas perspicillata) in Shetland.—Last summer, in
June, as I was collecting through the north part of Shetland, I observed a very rare
British visitor, namely, a fine male specimen of the surf scoter, in ‘“ Rona’s Voe,” in
company with some red-breasted mergansers. I tried to get a shot at it for three days
in succession, but was unsuccessful, as it always got on the wing before we could get
within gun-shot of it, and the fourth day I never saw it at all—Robert Dunn ; Helis-
ter, near Weesdale, Shetland Isles, February 18, 1848.

Occurrence of the Summer or Tree Duck at Tenbury.—A specimen of the summer
or tree duck has lately been shot at Tenbury, in Worcestershire.—M. Curtler ; Bevere
House, Worcester, February 27, 1848.

Occurrence of the Black-throated Diver (Colymbus arcticus) at Cullercoats, Nor-
thumberland.—A specimen of the black-throated diver in a very interesting dress, the

2068 Birds.

black throat characteristic of the summer plumage being nearly complete, was shot off

the fishing village of Cullercoats on the 5th instant—T. J. Bold ; Newcastle-on-
Tyne, February 19, 1848.

Enquiry respecting the Masked Gull (Larus capistratus), and Remarks in reference

to the Glaucous Gull (Larus glaucus) and Greater Petrel (Puffinus cinereus).—Mr. .

Bury has stated (Zool. 1963) that he found the masked gull (Larus capistratus) was
abundant at Malaga. I shall be greatly obliged to Mr. Bury if he will give us some
further particulars of this interesting fact, and say if he found them breeding in num-
bers together, or if mixed with the common black-headed gull, as it is at present quite
undetermined if we are to consider the masked gulias a distinct species, or only an
accidental variety of the common black-headed gull. Several of our authorities in
these matters are disposed to give up the masked gull entirely as a distinct species,
but I am quite undecided myself upon the point, and any information tending to set-
tle the question would be very desirable. Mr. Burlingham enquires (Zool. 2027),
what is the distinction between the young of the glaucous gull and the Larus fuscus ?
First, I should observe that the glaucous gull is analogous in size to the great black-
backed gull (Larus marinus), and has no relation to the Larus fuscus, which is the
lesser black-backed gull. The young glaucous gull is easily known by any one who
has once seen it, by the pale fallow colour of its plumage, and is on the Yorkshire
coast called the cream-coloured gull. The young Iceland gull, which is occasionally
killed here, is of the same pale colour, but is easily distinguished by its smaller size ;
but both these gulls are at once distinguished from all others by having the quill-
feathers either pure white or cream-coloured, whereas all the other commoner gulls,
however they may differ in size, age or species, have their quill-feathers black. In
the same page, Mr. Milner has recorded another specimen of the greater petrel being
killed on the Yorkshire coast, but has called it the Puffinus Anglorum, which is the
common Manx shearwater, and which in some respects might be called the greater
petrel, as we have the obscurus, which is still smaller; but I have no doubt, though I
have not seen it, Mr. Milner’s bird is the true greater petrel (Puffinus cinereus) of Mr.
Gould,—a bird of which only a few specimens have been recorded as British. I state
this from the circumstance of the person from whom Mr. Milner’s specimen was ori-
ginally procured having lately examined my specimens, and pronounced them tobe
the same as the one referred to ; my specimens being the ones first recorded as British,
and those from which Mr. Gould made his drawings.— Arthur Strickland ; Burlington
Quay, Yorkshire, March 6, 1848.

[The introduction of the specific name of fuscus instead of marinus is an error of
my own, and not of my correspondent’s; this is also pointed out by Mr. Fisher: I
cannot account for its occurrence, except that I trusted to memory instead of referring
to a list. With respect to the second error, if it be such, a little explanation is neces-
sary. In Doubleday’s list the names of the shearwaters stand thus :

SHEARWATER.
Pufinus Anglorum, Ray.

GREY SHEARWATER.
Puffinus cinereus, Steph.

DUSKY SHEARWATER.
Puffinus obseurus, Steph.

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:
;

Birds. 2069

And in this way the names stood in Selby, Gould, and all the works published at that
time. Subsequently Temminck, in his ‘Second Supplement,’ says that our bird is
not the true cinereus, which is a southern species, but the Puffinus major of Faber,
the two supposed British species being only different states of plumage of the same
bird. Having written to Mr. Doubleday on this subject, he tells me that he believes
Temminck to be right. It should be observed that both Mr. Gould and Mr. Yarrell
express doubts of the British examples being the true Puffinus cinereus : I cannot find
that between the specimens obtained by Mr. Strickland and those of the common Bri-
tish shearwater the slightest discrepancy in structure has yet been detected; the dis-
crepancies pointed out are those of colour and size, and are much less than occur in
the cognate genera of sea-fowl.— F. N.]

Occurrence of the Little Gull (Larus minutus) at Belfasti—Mr. W. Thompson re-
cords in the third number of the ‘ Annals of Natural History’ the occurrence of two
specimens of the little gull, in the estuary at Belfast, in December, 1847: one of them,
a beautiful adult specimen, was shot, and was preserved by Mr. Darragh, the curator
of the Belfast Museum ; the other escaped.—Edward Newman ; February 29, 1848.

Occurrence of Bonaparte’s Gull (Larus Bonaparti) at Belfast —In the same num-
ber of the ‘ Annals of Natural History,’ Mr. W. Thompson records the occurrence of
a specimen of this North-American bird on the river Lagan, about a mile above the
lowest bridge at Belfast, on the Ist of February last. It is described in the ‘ Fauna
Boreali-Americana,’ p. 425: in this work it is stated to be common in all parts of the
fur countries, where it associates with the terns, and is distinguished by its shrill and
plaintive cry. Audubon observed it at Cincinnati, and shot one specimen at the mouth
of the Arkansas: afterwards he saw it in abundance in Chesapeake Bay in April, and
at Passamoudy in May. In the latter place it was so abundant that he killed seven-
teen with one discharge of a double-barrelled gun. Mr. Thompson’s Irish specimen
is 13 inches 9 lines in length, and the tips of the wings pass the tail 1 inch 9 lines.
The beak is 1 inch 1 line in length measured from the forehead, 23 lines in breadth
and 33 lines in length; it is black, and rather paler at the base beneath: legs and
feet pale flesh-colour. The bird weighed 5% ounces: its stomach contained the re-
mains of two specimens of opossum shrimp, a little vegetable matter, and some small
pebbles. Mr. Thompson has given the following detailed account of its plumage.
- “ Head white, excepting the usual blackish seasonal ear-spot of Xema; a little of this
colour before the lower portion of and beneath the eye, and a little above it posteriorly
—also blackish, mixed with white on the nape: thence to the back very pale pearl-
gray: back or mantle (‘ manteau,’ Temm.) pearl or pale bluish gray. Tail pure
white, except from about a line inwards from the tip, where a band of black, nearly
an inch in breadth, appears. The wings exhibit generally the bluish gray of matu-
rity, but have clove-brown markings on the bastard wing, lesser coverts and scapulars.
Anterior border of the wing white from its shoulder, for the breadth of four greater
primary coverts. Primaries exhibiting in degree considerably more black than the
specimen described in ‘ Faun. Bor.-Amer.— outer margin of the first entirely black ;
of the second, from the tip upwards for 5} inches, black, thence white ; of the third, from
the tip upwards, black for 4 inches next the shaft, for 3} inches on outer margin. Re-
mainder of the primaries termivated with brownish black, except at the extreme tip.
On the third, the first indication of white appears in a mere line of that colour, thence
it becomes gradually larger in size and deeper in shade to the seventh, where it as-
sumes the pearl-gray of the lower portion of the same feather. The black becomes

VI Q

2070 Birds.

more and more tinged with brown from the first primary to the last; the light-coloured
tip, on the contrary, becomes gradually of a deeper shade from the third to the last.
Shafts of all the primaries white, except the upper portion of the first, which is dusky.
Black appears on the inner web of the three longest primaries, much lessening, both in
length and breadth, from the first to the third: in the first it occupies 4 inches in
length, and its greatest breadth from the shaft is 4 lines 14 inch. The secondaries
exhibit a large space of blackish brown towards the tip, within their pearl-gray mar-
gins: the tertiaries have more or less of blackish brown irregularly disposed towards
their tips. Under surface of wings entirely white, except that the portions of the pri-
maries, secondaries and tertiaries, which are dark above, appear grayish. Entire un-
der surface of body, from the bill to the extremity of the under tail-coverts, white, of
an extremely faint roseate hue.”—Id.

Occurrence of the Glaucous Gull (Larus glaucus) and Iceland Gull (Larus leucop-
terus) in Shetland.—In the latter part of November, 1847, a friend at the north part
of Shetland sent me word that some gulls, which he thought were called ‘ burgomasters,’
were attracted to a locality there by some whales which had been driven ashore. I
went over, and remained there till the 15th of December, by which time I had pro-
cured one immature and four adult specimens of the glaucous or large white-winged
gull (Larus glaucus) and one adult specimen of the Iceland gull (Larus lewcopterus).
I sometimes did not see one of these birds for two or three days together, but as the
ravens were very numerous, feeding upon the whales, I filled up my time by shooting
what I could of the finest of them. It is remarkable, although I have resided nearly
six years here, that I never had the pleasure of seeing either a mature glaucous gull
or a mature Iceland gull before, but nearly every winter I have shot one or two imma-
ture birds of both kinds. The appearance of the adult birds this season I should think
is owing to the very severe gales of wind we have had, and which must have driven
them here. Early in January I again visited the place where I shot the glaucous
gulls, and got four more adult birds and one immature Iceland gull; and I went over
again in the early part of this month, but only procured one adult specimen and one
immature Iceland gull. I do not expect to get any more this season, but if I do I
will acquaint you, and shall be glad if you consider these observations worthy of in-
sertion in your valuable journal. Robert Dunn ; Helister, near Weesdale, Shetland
Isles, February 18, 1848.

Young of the Glaucous Gull (Larus glaucus).—In answer to Mr. Burlingham’s 3

inquiry respecting the young of the (lesser) black-backed and glaucous gulls (Zool.
2027), the most obvious distinction between these species is, that the primary quill-
feathers in the wing of the latter are never dark, in the former they are always so. It
is true that in the young of the two kinds the colours of this part and also of the whole
body in some degree approximate, but I think never sufficiently to create confusion.
The tinge of brown which exists in the quill-feathers of the glaucous gull is moreover
of a yellower cast than in the (lesser) black-backed species, and the same remark ap-
plies to the colour of the whole body. Is not your correspondent’s bird the young of
the greater black-backed gull (LZ. marinus)? The adult glaucous gull is surely a much
larger bird than the adult lesser black-backed gull.— William R. Fisher ; Cambridge,
February 25, 1848.

Note on the Black-backed and Glaucous Gulls.—In reply to Mr. Burlingham’s in-
quiry (Zool. 2027), respecting the difference between the young of the lesser black-
backed gull (Z. fuscus) and that of the glaucous gull (Z. glaucus), I imagine that in

i

Birds. 2071

the young, as in the adult, the ends of the quill-feathers of L. fuscus will be found to

_ be black and white, while in L. glaucus they are white altogether, or at least of the

same dusky colour as the rest of the bird.— Beverley R. Morris, A.B., M.D. ; York,
March 8, 1848.

Inquiry respecting Larus maximus.—The Rev. G. Gordon, in the Fauna of Moray
(Zool. 515), writes ** black-backed gull (LZ. maximus).” What gull is here intended to
be specified? I presume the lesser black-backed gull (L. fuscus), as he afterwards
mentions the great black-backed gull (L. marinus).—Id.

Capture of Sea-fowl near the North Cape by Foxes —“ In the vicinity of the North
Cape, where the precipices are almost entirely covered with various species of sea-fowl,
the foxes proceed on their predatory expeditions in company; and previous to the
commencement of their operations they hold a kind of mock fight upon the rocks, in
order to determine their relative strength. When this has been fairly ascertained,
they advance to the brink of the precipice, and, taking each other by the tail, the
weakest descends first, while the strongest, forming the last in the row, suspends the
whole number, till the foremost has reached the prey. A signal is then given, on
which the uppermost fox pulls with all his might, and the rest assist him as well as
they can, with their feet against the rocks: in this manner they proceed from rock to
rock, until they have provided themselves with a sufficient supply.’—(Brooke’s ‘ Tra-
vels to the North Cape.’) ‘“ This story,” says the reviewer of the above work (‘ Quar-
terly Review,’ October, 1823, p. 132) “is of Iceland manufacture, and is told by
Dr. Henderson ; but we have seen a version of it in an old French Voyage to the East
Indies, where it is told, with admirable gravity and effect, of a party of rats, who
[which] combined in this way to steal eggs out of the bung-hole of a barrel.” I have
transcribed these passages, which accidentally caught my eye this morning, because
the story related in them (and especially the French version of it) bears such a striking
resemblance to an anecdote related to your correspondent Mr. Bury, and given by him
in his amusing ‘ Notes on'the Mammalia of the Isle of Wight’ (Zool. 787), detailing
the manner in which eggs are removed by rats up a flight of stairs, that I can hardly
doubt their being derived from the same source. It is well known that many stories
now current amongst us, especially such as are used to frighten or to amuse children,
though often modified to suit our times and institutions, are of Northern or Eastern
origin ; and as Mr. Bury does not appear to be quite certain that the person from whom
he had this account was an eye-witness of the fact, I have little hesitation, in the ab-
sence of such certainty, in believing the story to be another version of the Icelandic
tale above related.— William R. Fisher ; Cambridge, February 25, 1848.

Ornithological Notices in Norfolk for the month of February, 1848.—Early in this
month several more specimens of the waxwing were obtained in various parts of Nor-
folk, and several examples of the hooper (Cygnus ferus) have occurred. A young male
peregrine falcon was observed to frequent the neighbourhood of Whitlingham for
nearly a month, and was killed at that place on the 11th instant. During the latter
part of the month several specimens of the great tit have been observed, apparently
performing a (returning) migratory movement, similar to that observed in the begin-
ning of last year in the case of the marsh tit (Zool. 1691, 1701).—J. H. Gurney, W.
R. Fisher ; March 2, 1848.

On the Partial Migration of Birds.—The county of Durham, though small, yet,
from the different altitudes of the land, the rich variety of hill and dale, clothed with
various plants, each sustaining many different species of insects, of course gives us

2072 Birds.

much feeding-ground for birds at different seasons of the year ; on that account I have
for years watched with pleasure the migratory habits of birds: therefore if you think
the following observations will any way elucidate the subject of migration, and the
enquiry of your correspondent about the plover family (Zool. 2023), it is at your ser-
vice. The whole western part of the county of Durham is a range of very high hills,
covered with heath ; and of course this is the golden plover’s summer residence. Here
they remain until late in October or the early part of November, when they descend
to the amphitheatre of hills and high table land around Bishop’s Auckland, which are
principally sheep-walks, where for sometimes three weeks or a month (much depending
upon the season, whéther frosty or open weather), at the gray of morning or in the
evening hour, their shrill whistle may be heard. In the day-time they are frequently
seen in company with the peewits, forming large flocks, but after about the time
named above they leave us for the coast, which is low, especially the south-east por-
tion, forming a fine champaign district for many miles inland, and where the snow
seldom lays for more than a few days, frequently not many hours: on this ground,
along the beach, or on the muddy flats formed for some miles along the Tees, by the
flow and ebb of the tide, they spend the depth of winter, and of course are only partial

migrants (that is, with us), for I have got them on the coast at that time of the year. —

The first I observed this season was on the 11th of February, but now that the hills
have cast off their snowy covering these birds have passed on westward. The curlew,
whimbrel, starling, and all our indigenous thrushes, the blackbird excepted, are par-
tial migrants when the winter is severe. While on the subject of migration, may I be
allowed to call attention, through your valuable journal, to the affirmed migratory ha-
bits of the female chaffinch. Both White and Selby say the hen chaffinches migrate,
while the males, I suppose being either less Quixotic, or possessing in a smaller degree
the perceptive faculties, and of course not being so well qualified to make geographical
discoveries, stay contentedly at home: they cannot be guided by the same laws which
are generally allowed to govern other birds, that is, the want of food; for if the males
and our other indigenous finches can subsist through winter, we may ask, why not the
females also? Is it not more likely that the flocks seen by these observers consisted
of both sexes? The adult males denuded of their summer dress might easily be mis-
taken for young males, whilst the young males may have been classed with the females.

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I think that none of our indigenous birds exhibit a greater contrast between their sum-

mer and winter dress, for they not only lose that beautiful bloom in winter which makes
them so conspicuous to the most casual observer, but their markings are very faint un-
til the latter part of February or March, and it is not until April that they attain the
full bloom which makes them the ornament of our hedge-rows. The latter part of
last April and the beginning of May, as will be remembered, was very cold and wet,
which caused us to have a very limited number of some of our summer visitants, espe-
‘cially the swallow family, the redstarts, the wheatear and the pied flycatcher (I only
heard of a single pied flycatcher having been seen), while the spotted flycatcher, the
whitethroat, the grasshopper warbler and most of our other visitants abounded.—J.
Duff ; Bishop's Auckland, March 13, 1848.

[My correspondent will perhaps reconsider this explanation. Mr. Selby says,
“the males remain and are met with during winter in immense flocks.” The converse
of the explanation is therefore required. If a change in plumage has taken place, it
must be that females have assumed the male dress in the winter. About London we
see both sexes all the year round.—£. N.]|

Birds— Reptiles. 2073

Occurrence of the Stormy Petrel (Thalassidroma pelagica) at Hailsham.—A speci-

- men of this bird was picked up in the church-yard of the above place, during the gale

of the 26th ult. It was blown against the spire, and was unable to rise from the
ground.— James B. Ellman ; Battel, March 11, 1848.

Frog-eating in England, and Inquiry respecting the Edible Frog (Rana esculenta).
—I shall be obliged by thy informing me, through the medium of thy interesting pe-
_ viodical, whether the species of frog sometimes used in France as food is commonly
found in England. I have been accustomed to suppose that it is unknown among us,
or that it is very rarely met with. I make the inquiry because of the following cir-
cumstance. I was taking a walk yesterday morning, by the side of a large artificial
piece of water that serves as a reservoir to supply one of the canals in our neighbour-
hood, and had stopped to converse a few moments with the man who looks after the
sluices, &e., when he suddenly exclaimed, “‘ There goes the Frenchman again, he’s
come to get frogs!” or some very similar expression. I saw a man and woman ata
distance, walking slowly by the side of a channel that carries off the waste water from
the reservoir; and having my curiosity excited by what I had just heard, I learned
from the man I was conversing with that they were French people, and that they often
came there to get the frogs out of the ditches, &c., and that they sometimes took away
with them a reticule-basket full. I walked over directly towards them, and when I
reached the spot I found the man had crossed a hedge into a neighbouring field, where
he was raking in a cow-pond with a long-handled rake. I saw him in a short time
draw out several of the reptiles he was in search of, and toss them over the hedge to
the woman. She took them up, and, severing the fore quarters from the hinder ones
with what appeared to be a heavy knife, she stowed the hind quarters in her basket,
leaving the fore part to struggle on the ground. When I drew near, and stood to look
at them, they ceased from their labours, evidently not liking to be observed. When I
looked round me, on the bank of the water-course where I stood, I saw abundant evi-
dence of the successful “ hunting ” of this couple on previous days. The ground was
strewed with the rejected portions of their prey. The separation of the parts had been
made just behind the fore legs, so that the head, shoulders and fore legs were thrown
away, while the rest of the body and the hinder legs were carried off—I suppose for
food. I examined a number of the heads and legs, and can only say, that they were
undoubtedly of the same species that swarms in almost all our road-side ditches and
ponds in the spawning season. The French man and woman were a well-dressed,
well-fleshed and well-looking couple, with nothing like an appearance of poverty or
want about them, so that I cannot suppose they sought such food from any other cause
than choice. The circumstance has certainly occasioned me some surprise, and I
think it is one that may also interest some of thy readers.— William Lean ; Birming-
ham, 3rd of 3rd mo., 1848.

[For a figure of the so-called edible frog my correspondent is referred to p. 467 of
the ‘ Zoologist,’ and for other remarks as to the occurrence of the same species in Eng-
land to pp. 393, 677 and 727. The species alluded to in the places cited is not un-
common in certain parts of England, France, Holland, Belgium and Germany. It
is the dictum of technical naturalists that this animal is exclusively that in which our

2074 Reptiles—Fishes.

neighbours were once said to delight, but out-of-door naturalists have found no proof
of the assertion ; in fact, on the contrary, the common frog (Rana temporaria) is that
which is served occasionally as a Parisian dish. It is doubtless a fact that some na-
turalist has seen the real esculenta caught for this purpose, and so has applied the
maxim ex uno disce omnes ; but the result of a good deal of enquiry on the subject, in
the markets and hotels of Paris, convinced me that there was no selection made of
either species, and that the captors did not even know the difference between them.—
E. N.)

Tameness and Voracity of a Toad.—Staying one summer, when a boy, not far
from the town of Dorking, in Surrey, I observed that three or four currant-bushes,
trained against a wall at the end of the garden, were almost entirely stripped of their
leaves by the ravages of a small green caterpillar, which swarmed all over the branches.
Perceiving, at the same time, a toad, sitting very quietly in a corner, at no great dis-
tance, it occurred to me to try if he would eat them. Accordingly, having collected
a large quantity, I presented him one on the end of a short stick, and was much
pleased to see him put out his long tongue, draw the caterpillar in, and swallow it
greedily. I continued to feed him for about a quarter of an honr. Taking a turn in
the garden the following day, about the same hour, I perceived the old fellow in the
corner again, and presented him with a number of caterpillars as before. The two
next days he returned to the same place, and I fed him again ; but the next, in con-
sequence of the stuck of caterpillars being exhausted, I was unable to give him his
usual repast. The following day also he was there again, but receiving nothing he
came no more. It was always about the same hour in the afternvon that he was at
his post, as if he had some idea of the time of day when I should come to feed him.
—J. G. Leadbitier ; 6, Frederick’s Place, Gray’s Inn Road, March, 1848.

Snakes destructive to Mice—When grouse shooting with my brother, upon the
Durham Moors, he shot a snake which was basking in the sun, and which, from its
apparent fulness, I was induced to have opened by my gamekeeper, who found within
it three mice lying head to tail, the head having in every instance been swallowed first.
We particularly noticed the state of decomposition in which the mice were, and con-
cluded that they had been swallowed on three successive days, and that a mouse per
day might be the usual portion of food : this, however, is mere conjecture. Mice upon
dry moors are sometimes numerous, but I suppose that snakes also feed upon young
birds.— Isaae Cookson ; Meldon Park, near Morpeth, Northumberland, February 22,
1848.

Voracity of Fishes—“ This preparation will serve as an illustration of the vora-
ciousness of their habits. Here is the skeleton of a frog-fish, two and a half feet in
length, in the stomach of which is the skeleton of a cod-tish, two feet long; in whose
stomach again are contained the skeletons of two whitings of the ordinary size ; in the
stomach of each whiting there lay numerous half-digested little fishes, which were too
small and broken down to admit of preservation. The frog-fish, with all these con-
tents, was taken last summer by the fishermen, and offered for sale in thé market as
an article of food, without any reference at all to the size of its stomach, which to them

is an every day appearance.”—Dr. Houston’s Lecture before the Zoological Society of
Dublin.

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Fishes. 2075

Occurrence of the Mullet (Mugil chelo) in great Numbers at Coldingham.—* Dur-
ing the past and beginning of the present week, a rather singular circumstance oc-
curred at Coldingham shore, in the appearance of a large shoal of fish, very rare in

this locality, of the mullet species. An unusual number of fish were observed swim-
ming about for several days, going and returning with the tide, but no particular no-
tice was taken of them until Monday last, when they set in very thick, literally
crowding the harbour. The entrance was secured by nets, and a large quantity of the
fish caught, and conveyed fresh to the Edinburgh market. ‘They have not since been
seen, and it is believed have not appeared on any other part of the coast. The case
is not altogether without a precedent in this quarter, a somewhat similar occurrence
having taken place about ten years ago, a little farther to the west.— Berwick Adver-
tiser, April 10, 1847.

Occurrence of the Long-tailed Shark (Carcharias Vulpes) near Berwick-on- Tweed.

—“ On the 30th of July, 1846, a long-tailed shark was captured in our bay. It had

got entangled in a herring-net, and killed itself in its efforts to escape. None of our
fishermen had ever seen the fish before, which may therefore be considered amongst
the very rarest of our visitants.

“The total length of the specimen was eleven feet and an inch, and the circum-
ference in front of the dorsal fin, where the body was thickest, was three feet two
inches. The length of the body was a little upwards of five feet six inches, being
about half an inch shorter than the tail; and it was this disproportionate length of
the tail that gave to the creature its peculiar and bizarre appearance. The body was
fusiform, even, and very smooth to the eye, with a silky glossiness, of a leaden colour,
paler on the sides, and white marbled with bluish on the ventral surface. Although
apparently very smooth, yet the resistance to the finger, when it was drawn from the
tail forwards, proved that the skin was finely shagreened. The tail was shaped like a
straight sword. Its origin was marked by a deep incisure or fosse in the back, and
from this it tapered gradually to the tip, where it is obtusely pointed ; and just in
front and beneath the termination there is a small lobe. A sort of narrow fin ran
along the inferior edge, becoming broader towards the base or origin, where it dilated
into a falciform lobe.

“ Snout obtusely pointed ; nostrils small, half-way between the snout and mouth ;
mouth inferior, lunate ; teeth proportionally small, triangular, cuspidate, smooth;

eye circular, an inch in diameter, dark, with an elliptical pupil; pectoral fins falci-
form ; dorsal fin with a dilated base prolonged behind into a lobe; ventral fins meet-
ing below on the mesial line, and concealing the vent ; adipose fin small, rhomboidal,
elongated and pointed posteriorly; nearly opposite, but a little posterior to this fin, on
the ventral line, there is a small anal fin.

“ Length from the snout to the eye four inches; length from the snout to the in-
sertion of the dorsal fin two feet seven inches; length of dorsal fin one foot; length
of the pectoral fins one foot eight inches; breadth at their base ten inches ; breadth of
the tail at its origin seven inches ; length of its large lobe eight and a half inches.”—
Dr. Johnston, in ‘ Proceedings of Berwickshire Naturalists’ Club.’

Curious Anecdote of a Pipe-fish (Syngnathus acus) and small Crustaceous Animal.
—“< We had last summer, 1846, an opportunity of observing the capability of the fins
and tail, in enabling the fish to achieve a movement of a very unusual kind. We had
taken in a towing-net one of the pipe-fishes (Syngnathus acus), which had been swim-
ming near the surface, and had placed it in a basin of sea-water. One of the long-

2076 Insects.

bodied Crustacea, which are abundant during fine weather, and had been captured at
the same time, was placed in the same vessel. It was a species of Gammarus, and
about an inch in length. The Gammarus would seem to have got tired of swimming,
and for a resting-place it fixed itself on the back of the pipe-fish close to the tail.
The fish had not been a consenting party to this arrangement, and soon evinced its
dissatisfaction by lashing the tail with great violence on each side, to dislodge the in-
truder. He, however, kept his hold, and so soon as the fish ceased for a few seconds,
he crept a little further up the back, as if aware that the velocity of movement was
less near the centre of the circle. The fish lashed the water again with great violence,
but without any good result; and so soon as it stopped, the Gammarus crept up a
little nearer to the head. The Gammarus seemed to be the marine prototype of the
Old Man of the Mountain, whose pertinacity, in retaining his place on the back of
Sinbad the Sailor, is a portion of that lore of our boyhood that is never afterwards for-
gotten. The pipe-fish then changed its tactics. Instead of lashing with its tail, it
gave to its whole body the kind of movement it might have had if fixed on a Lillipu-
tian spit, and in the act of being roasted. The body was made to revolve round and
round on its longitudinal axis ; but the Gammarus still held on, and, at each interval
of rest, made a few steps further in advance. This was more than once repeated, un-
til, pitying the poor pipe-fish, we removed the cause of its annoyance to another ves-
se].—Patterson’s ‘ Zoology for Schools, p. 221.

Occurrence of Vanessa Antiopa at Cromer.—I caught one specimen of this rare
butterfly hanging on to a wall. He seemed to be in a state of stupor, for when I took
him, which I was obliged to do with my fingers, not having any net in my hand at
the time, he did not make any attempt to escape, although he was decidedly alive at
the time. I thought at first that he had only just emerged from the chrysalis, but
that can hardly have been the case, since his wings were quite stiff, and had got rather
dirty. I took him in the beginning of September, 1847.—A. D. Michael ; 9, Red
Lion Square, March 1, 1848.

Occurrence of Sphinx Drurei at Bishop’s Auckland.—I have obtained a fine spe-
cimen of Sphinx Drurei. It is generally supposed to be an American species, and
my specimen was taken in a Sean near this place—Joseph Duff ; Bishop’s
Auckland, March 13, 1848.

[The locality rather favours the idea of importation in this instance.—EZ. N.]

On rearing Acherontia Atropos.—In the month of July, 1846, ten fine larve of
this species were brought to me. I placed them in a large flower-pot, nearly full of
soil, in a hot-house, and in less than a week they had all burrowed. In the beginning
of August I got them all out from underneath the soil, in the chrysalis state, and put
them on the surface. I kept the soil very moist, and about the 15th of October one
of them changed, but produced an imperfect moth. Fancying this was caused from
the soil being too damp, I did not water it for a day or two, and then began again,
though not so much as before. By the 26th of October I had seven beautiful and
perfect specimens of the moth, the other two being cripples—V. Curiler ; Bevere
House, Worcester, March 1, 1848.

On rearing Plusia Iota.—I have read with much interest the remarks of the Rey.
William Turner (Zool. 2033), on the difficulty of rearing this moth from the caterpillar,

————

———

Insects. 2077

_ and although I have never made any experiments with this species, yet I have fre-
_ quently lost the larve of others in a similar manner. I have always thought that ny

failures were caused by the caterpillars having been attacked by a parasitical fungus,
and my opinion is confirmed by a Report made to the Entomological Society of
France,* on the investigations into the nature of the muscardine affecting the silk-worm,
by M. Guérin-Ménéville, who had been requested by the Minister of Agriculture and
Commerce to apply his entomological knowledge to the subject, in order if possible to
discover a remedy for the disease. Of this Report I subjoin an epitome. The true
nature of the muscardine became known by the memoirs of Messrs. Audouin, Turpin
and Boisduyal. It is a fungus developed in the parenchyma and cellular tissue of the
caterpillar. It spreads with such great rapidity that its progress is sometimes visible
to the eye: it is contagious and epidemic, and always fata]. It is not confined to the
silk-worm, nor to caterpillars reared in confinement, but has been observed in many at
liberty. It is almost always after the last moult, and about the time they are ready to
change to pup, that the caterpillars become affected. Sometimes, in different species
of larve, it presents a different appearance, though it is believed there is really but
one species of it; but one constant character has always been observed, namely, that
caterpillars which have died from this cause become very dry and brittle, and a very
slight pressure will break them into pieces, when the interior of the body appears
whitish, powdery and mouldy. It has always been found to exist in greatest abun-
dance when large numbers of caterpillars have been placed in a small space, and it is
thought that the vitiation of the atmosphere by their excrements has been a fertile
source of its appearance and extension. The curative means to be adopted are not
given. This account does not agree exactly with that of Mr. Turner, for he says that
his caterpillars ‘‘ turned almost black, the intestines seemed to decompose, and they
hung like little bags of fluid;” neither does he say that they afterwards became dry
and brittle. With these exceptions, the symptoms he details seem to agree with those
of the muscardine, and I believe that this or an analogous disease caused the death
of such of his caterpillars as attained their full growth. In conclusion, I hazard an
opinion that to this disease is owing the scarcity of many species of our Lepidoptera.
—J.W. Douglas ; 19, Nelson Square, Peckham, March 1, 1848.

Occurrence of Nyssia hispidaria in abundance near Huddersfield.—I have captured
during the last two days about seventy specimens of Nyssia hispidaria, upon the stems
of oak trees. Most of the trees which I got them upon were covered with lichen and
moss. I found the greater part of them about five o’clock in the evening.—John Col-
lins ; Kirkburton, Huddersfield, February 26, 1848.

Remarks on the Apterous Females of our British Geometre.—Though we find that
some two or three of the late autumnal Geometre have apterous females, the great
bulk of them make their appearance during the winter and early spring. The reason
of their being so restricted in their powers of locomotion may probably find its solution
in the less erratic flight of their mates, whose movements at the fall and opening of
the year are necessarily more sluggish than we observe to be the case with those spe-
cies that appear during the warm evenings of May and June. The females of the
Hibernie generally are apterous, or partially so. Of the group, progemmaria has the
rudimental wings the most conspicuous ; they vary as much in tint as in size, presenting

* “Annales de la Société Entumologique de France,’ 1847, tome v. bulletin p. Ixv.

Vi R

2078 Insects.

all the gradations of shade from pale stone-colour to ashy-brown. The double strige,
which are common to all the wings, are usually distinct, being considerably darker
than the general ground colour and somewhat undulated. Rupicapraria ranks next
for size of wings, the anterior pair of which have a single broad purplish brown bar in
the centre, which passes into a slender striga on the secondary wings. The colour is
whitish ash, with a pinkish hue. The abdomen is darker and glossy, and the tail
slightly tufted. Aurantiaria makes the next best show, but the wings are still more
rudimentary than in either of the two already described. The insect is dark umber-
brown, the scales on the rings of the abdomen being dotted with dirty yellow. The
upper wings are traversed by two dark bands; on the lower, two are likewise visible
with the microscope. The little rarity leucophearia is very nearly, if not entirely, ap-
terous. Its colour is gray, and its general outline is so distinct from others of the
group that it is readily distinguished. It is found, like most of its congeners, on the
boles of oaks, but from its hiding in the crevices of the bark it is very seldom met with.
Defoliaria, an autumnal species, is entirely apterous. Its colours sufficiently charac-
terize it. It is yellow, beautifully mottled with scales of shining black. It is decidedly
the largest of the apterous Hibernie. Anisopteryx escularia is by far the rarest of
these wingless creatures. As its specific name implies, its caterpillar feeds on the
horse-chesnut, and the perfect insect is to be found in March on the boles of this tree.
It is perfectly apterous, without even the rudiments of wings. Its colour is light
brown ; its abdomen, which is a little darker, is furnished with a brush, its best cha-
racteristic. The largest of our apterous females is Phigalia pilosaria. It is party-
coloured: the upper side of the abdomen has a rufous tinge, with dark irrorations ;
the under side is whitish, thickly sprinkled with dusky atoms. Small rudiments of
wings protrude on each side of the thorax. Next in size are the Nyssie, the one
(zonaria) being strictly littoral, the other (hispidaria) not uncommon in our oak-woods
during the month of February. In colouring, as also in size, hispidaria bears some
resemblance to pilosaria, but its slightly pectinated antenne and its thick hairy legs
readily distinguish it. It wants, moreover, the irrorations that characterize pilosaria. Its
ally, zonaria, is blackish, very pilose, having the rings of the abdomen margined with
orange. The wing-scales are more prominent than in hispidaria. The last and com-
monest of the apterous females is Cheimatobia brumata, which usually appears abun-
dantly in November and December. I found last year between thirty and forty on a
single evening. It is likewise the smallest. Its colour is glossy brown, the wings be-
ing far less produced than those of its companion on the same hedge, rupicapraria,
and wanting the roseate hue which renders the latter such a favourite with collectors.
—Peter Inchbald ; Storthes Hall, Huddersfield, February 18, 1848.

Correction of an Error at page 1988.—I find I have committed a great error in
giving leucomelana, Guenée, as synonymic with Weaverana, Dale. I should have said
ochromelana, Guenée, to which insect the description applies. Leucomelana of Guenée
is the betuletana of Haworth.— H. T. Stainton ; Mountsfield, Lewisham.

Coriscium quercetellum and C. alaudellum of Zeller, described many years previously

by Haworth as Gracillaria substriga and G. cinerea,—Adverting to my remarks (Zool.
1995) on the registration of new species of native Invertebrata, I beg to call attention
to an important fact, frequently lost sight of in the anxiety of naturalists to register
their apparent novelties, that is, they are novelties occasionally in name alone, so diffi-
cult has the extrication of synonymes become : as examples, [ would adduce the recent
notice of Coriscium quercetellum, Zeller, and C. alaudellum, Dup. (Zool. 1985), with

Insects. 2079

the remark “ These two Tine are unrecorded as British.” Now the former of these
insects is the Gracillaria substriga of Haworth (Lep. Brit. 532), and the latter G. ci-
-nerea of the same author (Lep. Brit. 530), both of which have been frequently taken
at Coombe Wood, and in other places in the vicinity of London. Haworth’s descrip-
tions were made and in type so long back as 1812 (as appears by an original proof-
sheet of the fourth part of Lep. Brit., in my library, which, with other like portions of
the same work, has been in my possession upwards of thirty years), although, from cir-
cumstances, not published till 1829, ten years anterior to Zeller’s name, which appeared
in the Isis in 1839, and nine years before the appearance of Duponchel’s, in 1838 ;
and in the interim Haworth’s name had reappeared in my Illustrations (Haust.) iv.
364-5, in 1834. The third species, C. citrinellum (Fish. v. R. 1839), is synonymous
with my Gracillaria leucapennella, Illust. (Haust.) iv. 368, 1835, the G. sulphurea of
Haworth’s MSS. and some cabinets.—J. F’. Stephens ; Eltham Cottage, near Brixton,
March, 1848.

A Monograph on the British Argyromiges. By H. T. Stainton, Esq.

Ir is not my intention to enter into the generic characters of the insects I am
about to describe: they are divisible into several very distinct groups, which the Con-
tinental Lepidopterists have made into genera. Zeller, who appears to have paid
more attention to them than any other entomologist, divides them into Lithocolletis,
Opostega and Lyonetia ; the last, however, contains many of our Microsetie.

Lithocolletis has the back of the head rough, the antenne simple, with the basal
joint thickened ; and has an ocellated spot at the apex of the anterior wings, which
are in most cases adorned with brilliant metallic colours.

Opostega has the basal joint of the antenne very thick, and hollowed in the form
of a spoon on the outside, so that when in repose these hollows in the antenne cover
the eyes of the insect.

Lyonetia has the antenne as in Opostega, but the head is provided with a tuft of
hair, whereas in Opostega it is smooth.

These insects, which are all, with very few exceptions, double-brooded, are found
on palings and trunks of trees, or beaten out of hedges and bushes, from the middle
or end of April to the beginning of June, and again in August and September. Some
few species appear to last all the summer through. The larve of all the genus Litho-
colletis of Zeller, of which the metamorphosis is known, have only fourteen feet ; they
are miners, and feed on the parenchyma of leaves, and change therein to the pupa
state. The larve of some of the genus Lyonetia of Zeller live on, not in, the leaves,
and have sixteen feet.

I have divided the Argyrumiges into several sections.

Section A.— Anterior wings metallic or very glossy, with paler fascie or comma-shaped
marks on both margins.

1. lautella. 4. cavella.

2. Schreberella. 5. Spinolelia.
3. ulmifoliella. 6. connexella.

2080 Insects.

7. Emberizepennella. 14. elatella.

8. tristrigella. 15. pomonella.
9. Freelichiella. 16. pomifoliella.
10. trifasciella. 17. securiferella.
11. Messaniella. 18. Junoniella.
12. quercifoliella. 19. alnifoliella.

13. ilicifoliella.

Section B.— Anterior wings white, with darker fascie or lines.

20. Cramerella. 23. hortella.
21. tenella. 24. sylvella.
22. roborella. 25. comparella.

Section C.—Anterior wings dark, with paler markings from the costa and inner margin,
but without the metallic lustre which adds so much to the beauty of Section A.

26. corylifoliella. 27. Demaryella.*

* Sections A, B and C form the genus Lithocolletis of Zeller, which that author
thus subdivides.
A. The fringe of the anterior wings forms a small tail.
a. The small tail appears to come oud from the tip of the wing.
1. roboris. 2. scitulella.
b. The small tail appears to come down from the tip of the wing.
3. Saportella. 4. Amyotella. 5. distentella. 6. _ilicifoliella.
7. delitella.
B. The fringe of the anterior wings does not form a small tail.
a. At the base of the anterior wings is a whitish streak.
8. Rajella. 9. elatella. 10. tnsignitella. 11. lautella. 12. pomifo-
liella. 13. pomonella. 14. salictella. 15. Manni. 16. ulmi-
foliella. 17. cavella. 18. Junoniella. 19. frawxinella. 20.
quercifoliella. 21. Messaniella. 22. betula. 23. connexella.
24. scopariella. 25. Alniella. 26. Heegeriella.
h. At the base of the anterior wings is no whitish streak.
a. The anterior wings have sharp, but no metallic markings, and at the tip
a bright streak or point.
27. Cramerella. 28. tenella. 29. abrasella. 30. acerifoliella.
8. The anterior wings metallic, with clear metallic fascie and marginal
streaks.
31. Emberizepennella. 32. Freelichiella. 33. Kleemannella.
34. ulminella.
y. The anterior wings powdery, with a few sharp markings, and nearly
without splendor.
35. Heydenii. 36. agilella. 37. pastorella. 38. tremule. 39. po-
pulifoliella. 40. comparella, 41. acaciella.
Those in italics have not yet been detected in this country, though they probably
will eventually reward the researches of the diligent.

F

Insects. 2081

Section D.— Anterior wings with several radiating dark lines in the fringe at the apex,

28. scitella. 30. cerasifoliella.*
29. spartifoliella.

Section E.—Anterior wings long and narrow, caudate at the apex. (They do not at
first sight, however, present this appearance, the long cilia giving a regular form
to the extreme margin of the wings).

31. Clerckella. 32. padifoliella.

Section F.— Anterior wings irrorated with black dots, forming bands and spots, but with
no defined markings.

* 33. rhamnifoliella. 35. crategifoliclla.
34. Boyerella. 36. Sircomella.t

Besides these species there are four others not referrible to any of our existing
genera, which have certain affinities with the Argyromiges, and which I have intro-
duced here in the hope of calling attention to their existence. I can only find that
one of them is known on the Continent.

37. Loganella. 39, argentipunctella.
38. omissella. 40. quercetella.

Reference to the Plates.

Pl. 1, fig. 1. lautella. Pl. 1, fig. 10. Freelichiella.
3 2. Schreberella. 34 11. tristrigella var. strigi-
Pe 3. ulmifoliella. fasciella.
e 4. Spinolella. e 12. trifasciella.
ii 5. connexella. Pl. 2, fig. 13. quercifoliella.
bs 6. securiferella. PB 14. Messaniella.
ay 7. Emberizepennella. * 15. ilicifoliella.
a 8. cavella. nf 16. elatella.
y 9. tristrigella. re 17. Junoniella.

* Section D forms a portion of Zeller’s genus Opostega, which also includes two
of our Aphelosetiz, viz. Auritella and Salaciella.

Salaciella, Tr., Zeller, Dup. This is placed in many cabinets as the cygnipen-
nella of Stephens (Mr. Stephens has made two species of cygnipennella of Hubner,
describing the female as cygnipennella and the male as semialbella). As there is
much confusion about this insect and cygnipennella, Hub., I think it advisable to say
a few words about it. The structure of the antenne, which places it in the genus
Opostega, should surely be sufficient to separate it from cygnipennella, Hub., added to
which the insect is smaller and the anterior wings very glossy, whereas in cygnipen-
nella they are much duller. Salaciella is much rarer than cygnipennella. I took se-
veral at light in July and August last year.

+ These two sections form part of Zeller’s genus Lyonetia, which, as I have be-
fore observed, also contains most of our Microsetie.

2082 Insects.

Pl. 2, fig. 18. pomonella. Pl. 3, fig. 30. padifoliella.
19. alnifoliella. » 31. corylifoliella.
5 20. Cramerella. 3 32. Demaryella.
: 21. tenella. ; 33. rhamnifoliella.
i 22. roborella. “ 34. Boyerella.
“A 23. hortella. £ 35. crategifoliella.
% 24. sylvella. “5 36. Sircomella.
“a 25. comparella. zs 37. Loganella.
3 26. scitella. bs 38. omissella.

Pl. 3, fig. 27. spartifoliella. 93 39. argentipunctella.
“a 28. cerasifoliella. o 40. quercetella.

” 29. Clerckella.

Sp. 1. rauretia, Heyden (fig. 1).

Lithocolletis lautella, Heyden MSS., Zeller, Linn. Entom. i. 194, fig. 14.

Argyromiges cydoniella, Stephens? Illustrations, iv. 255. St. Mus.

Tinea cydoniella, Haworth? Lepid. Brit.575, N.51. Fabricius? ? Ent. Syst. iii.
li. 323.

Expansion of the wings 3 lines. Head black. Forehead shining, silvery white.
Palpi silvery white. Antenne black. Thorax golden orange. Abdomen dark fus-
cous, rufous at the extremity. Legs and tarsi silvery gray. Anterior wings bright
golden orange, with a short, silvery, basal streak, margined with black: on the costa
are three somewhat triangular silvery spots, the first a little before the middle, the se-
cond a little beyond the middle, and the third near the apex; on the inner margin are
two silvery spots, the first opposite the first costal spot, the second intermediate be-
tween the second and third costal spots; all these spots are margined interiorly with
black. At the extreme apex is an oval black spot, contiguous to which, towards the
anal angle, is a small silvery spot. In some specimens there is a small silvery spot on
the inner margin near the base; cilia pale. Posterior wings fuscous, with paler cilia.

This species is very scarce in this country, but several were taken last August off
beech-trees, near Tunbridge Wells, by Mr. Weir.

Zeller says of this species that “ it flies near Vienna in May, on whitethorn, in ~

company with Kleemannella, scarce. Heyden reared this species near Frankfort-on-
the-Maine, in May, June and July, from caterpillars off oaks.”

This insect, which has hitherto been called in this country the cydoniella of Fab.,
most certainly does not answer to his description, for Fabricius says, “ Anterior wings
golden, with a line at the base, and eight very white marginal spots disposed in pairs.”
Now there are only five marginal white spots (the sixth spot is not marginal), and
though the first two form a pair, the other inner marginal spot is intermediate between
the costal spots. Duponchel has figured as the cydoniella of Fabricius an insect
which appears referrible to pomonella, and Zeller refers doubtingly Fabricius’ insect
to his pomifoliella.

Haworth unfortunately only copies the Fabrician description ; but in his descrip-
tion of mespilella, he says, “ very like cydoniella,” so that I doubt much whether he
intended our insect ; besides he says, “ it varies with the wings much paler, perhaps
only in old specimens.” Now I have not yet seen a pale specimen of lautella, so that
this renders it still more probable that the ingect intended by Haworth is not lautella.

——

oe

+ ewgine

Insects. 2083

Mr. Stephens also unfortunately only copies the Fabrician description, and omits

_ both the remarks of Haworth, so that we should be completely in the dark as to what

species he intended were it not for his own collection, which contains four specimens
of lautella labelled cydoniella.*

Sp. 2. ScHrEBERELLA, Fabricius (fig. 2).

Tinea Schreberella, Fabricius, Ent. Syst. iii. ii. 326, N. 168. Haworth, Lepidop.
Brit. 575, N. 52.

Argyromiges Schreberella, Stephens’ Illustrations, iv. 255 and Wood’s figures 1316
and 1319. ;

Elachista Schreberella, Duponchel, Sup. iv. 465, Pl. 86, f. 2.

Lithocolletis ulminella, Zeller, Isis, 1838. Linn. Entomol. i. 246, fig. 37.

Expansion of the wings 33 lines. Head black. Forehead metallic. Palpi metal-
lic. Antenne black, tipped with white. Thorax black. Abdomen deep fuscous.
Legs and tarsi deep fuscous, very glossy. Anterior wings brilliant deep orange, suf-
fused with black at the base, with two nearly straight silvery fascie (bordered with
black both internally and externally), one before, the other rather beyond, the middle ;
on the inner margin, near the anal angle, is a silvery spot, opposite to which, on the
costa, is another; from the apex of the spot on the inner margin a dark streak arises,
which is continued to the apex of the wing and through the cilia ; beneath this streak,
close to the apex, is a small silvery spot ; cilia deep fuscous, darkest opposite the
above-mentioned streak. Posterior wings deep fuscous, with paler cilia.

This insect at first sight resembles the preceding, but is at once recognized by the
two distinct silvery fascie. The colouring in these two species is much more splendid
than in any of their congeners.

Taken in some plenty July 31st last, at Stoke Newington, near some pollard elms,
by Mr. Bedell. I took a single specimen off a low fence near Beckenham, May 15th,
and one was taken by Mr. Bedell there six days previous. Zeller says, “ According
to Mann’s communication it occurs near Vienna, on elms, in plenty, and flies in June;
and according to Heyden it is very abundant on elms near Frankfort-on-the-Maine.”

There can be no doubt about this being the Schreberella of Fabricius, who says of
it, “ Wings golden at the base, with two fascie in the middle, and with two opposite
silver spots at the apex.” It is not a little singular, as Duponchel has remarked, that
an insect so well characterised and described by Fabricius should be totally omitted
by Hubner and Treitschke.

Zeller says he cannot recognize in this insect the Schreberella of Fabricius, be-
cause “he has omitted the most important character, namely, the mark at the apex.”
He says that Heyden and Fischer von Roslerstamm differ from him on this point, and
Mann in his Catalogue gives Schreberella, Fab. (ulminella, Zeller).

* Tt may not perhaps be out of place here to censure the practice of copying ano-
ther author’s descriptions without adding a single word, to enlighten future writers,.
as to whether the insect the first author described was really intended. This practice
causes a very great part of the ambiguity of synonymes.

2084 Insects.

Sp. 3. ULMIFOLIELLA, Zeller (fig. 3).

Lithocolletis ulmifoliella, Zeller, Isis, 1889. Linn. Ent. i. 210, fig. 18.

Elachista ulmifoliella, Treitschke ? ix. ii. 187.

Tinea ulmifoliella, Hubner ?? Ti. 444.

Argyromiges Klemannella, Stephens’ Illustrations? iv. 256 (non Fab). St. Mus.
Bent. Mus. Wood, f. 1317.

Expansion of the wings 33 lines. Head whitish fulvous. Forehead silvery white.
Palpi silvery white. Antenne black. Thorax deep fuscous. Abdomen deep fuscous.
Legs fuscous. Tarsi white, spotted with fuscous. Anterior wings bright orange (but
not so rich a colour as the two preceding), with a narrow silvery streak at the base,
extending nearly to the middle; just beyond the middle is a silvery fascia, curved
outwardly, margined interiorly with a deeper orange ; beyond this there are three sil-
very spots on the costa and two on the inner margin ; at the apex is a distinct black
spot: the cilia are varied with bright tawny and silvery white, the latter colour being
in continuation of the silvery spots ; from the apex to the anal angle is all silvery ; at
the anal angle is a deep tawny patch in the fringe, which comes just between the two
silvery spots on the inner margin. Posterior wings silvery gray; cilia silvery white.

Taken in plenty May 2nd and 9th last year, off dwarf birches, at West Wickham
Wood, by Mr. Bedell.

Zeller says of this, “It flies near Vienna, in Bohemia, and near Dresden, where
Fischer has bred them from the larve. Near Glogau it is abundant from the middle
of April, in May and June, in birch and hazel bushes.” _ This is decidedly the ulmi-
foliella of Zeller, who refers it without any doubt to the ulmifoliella of Hubner, of which
he says, ‘‘ Hubner’s magnified figure is certainly rough, but it allows us to recognize
our species. It belongs (it shows there three white fascie) to my variety 6.* The odd
costal spot is in that figure separated from the costa, and is attached to the black api-
cal spot.”

It has not yet been my fortune to see a specimen at all answering to the iis of

Hubner, in which there are decidedly three white fasciz. For
ayy this reason I have not ventured to call this the ulmifoliella of
Hubner; but as I think it not very improbable that specimens

may occur resembling his figure, I have not thought it advisable to supersede the —

name as used by Zeller.

Mr. Stephens has copied the description of Kleemannella of Fabricius, ‘Wings
golden, shining, with the two first fascie entire, the other two interrupted in the mid-
dle, almost united ; a black spot terminates the wing,” to which he makes no addition ;
and I should never have thought that he had intended this insect, but in his cabinet I
find a specimen of ulmifoliella labelled Kleemannella. I believe the Kleemannella
of Fabricius has not occurred in this country. Haworth it is true also quotes Fabri-
cius, and says, “ Found near Coombe Wood, scarce, in May.” He adds no remark,
and does not refer to it in any of his other descriptions. Haworth’s tristrigella comes
nearer than any other British species to the Fabrician Kleemannella, but Zeller has
figured an insect in the Linnea, fig. 36, as Kleemannella, which agrees perfectly with
the description of Fabricius, but it does not appear identical with any British species.

* “Var. b. The first pair of spots forming a fascia.”

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Sp. 4. caverta, Zeller (fig. 8).

Lithocolletis cavella, Zeller, Linn. Entom. i. 213, f. 19.
Lithocolletis Schreberella, Zeller, Isis, 1839.

Expansion of the wings 4 lines. Head pale tawny. Forehead pale tawny. Palpi
whitish fulvous. Antenne white, annulated with black. Thorax pale tawny. Ab-
domen fuscous, tipped with fulvous. Legs and tarsi silvery gray. Anterior wings
pale tawny, with a white angulated fascia in the middle ; beyond this are three white
spots on the costa, and two on the inner margin. The first spot on each margin and
the fascia are margined internally with dark tawny ; at the apex-is a black spot, and
between the two first marginal spots is another not very distinct black spot. In cer-
tain lights a pale basal streak is visible: cilia pale, with a brown patch opposite the
anal angle, and an arch of black dots round the apex. Posterior wings clear gray,
with paler cilia,

I have a specimen of this species, which I took on the 14th of May, last year, on a
low fence near Beckenham. I know no other British specimen.

Why Zeller should ever have called this Schreberella I am at a loss to conceive,
and I cannot state the objection better than Zeller has himself done in the ‘ Linnea.’
“‘ Fabricius speaks of two fascie and two opposite spots on the anterior wings, whilst
our species has only one fascia.”

It looks, at first sight, not unlike a pale ulmifoliella, but the fascia is more angu-
lated, and the lower arm of this fascia is longer than the costal arm (this is not suffi-
ciently shown in the Plate). The fourth costal spot also differs from that in ulmifoli-
ella, not being so close to the apical spot.

Sp. 5. SprnoLenpa, Duponchel (fig. 4).

Elachista Spinolella, Duponchel, xi. 535, Plate 308, f. 8.
Argyromiges alnifoliella, Bent. Mus.

Expansion of the wings 33 lines. Head whitish fulyous. Forehead silvery white.
Palpi silvery white. Antenne black, tipped with white. Thorax fuscous, with the
sides silvery. Abdomen fuscous. Legs and tarsi silvery white. Anterior wings
bright brownish orange, with a silvery white fascia about the middle, slightly curved
outwardly ; the basal half of the wing is not concolorous, but it is pale or silvery white
on the inner margin and between the costa and the middle of the wing; beyond the
medial fascia are three silvery spots on the costa and two on the inner margin, and at
the apex is a black spot, and another black spot is visible in some specimens (in cer-
tain lights) between the last inner marginal spot and the opposite costal one: cilia
varied silvery white and tawny, according to the colour of the parts of the wing from
which they rise. Posterior wings silvery gray, with fuscous cilia.

Somewhat resembles ulmifoliella, but the spots are of a purer white; the medial
fascia is more nearly straight, and the pale marks at the base do not in the least re-
semble a streak, which is well defined in ulmifoliella.

I have only seen five specimens of this insect ; two of them in my own possession,
one belonging to Mr. Logan, one to Mr. Desvignes, and that in Mr. Bentley’s collec-
tion. My first specimen was beat out of a birch tree near Latham Moss, Stirling-

VI | i)

2086 Insects.

shire, in June, 1844, by Mr. Jobson; my second I beat out of a low hedge near
Ambleside, May 31st, 1846.

Note.—Since writing the above I find that Mr. Sircom takes this insect, not un-
commonly, among sallows.

Sp. 6. CONNEXELLA, Zeller (fig. 5).
Lithocolletis connexella, Zeller, Linn. Entomol. i. 226, fig. 25.

Expansion of the wings 3% lines. Head pale tawny. Forehead silvery white. -
Palpi silvery white. Antenne tawny, annulated with white. Thorax pale tawny.
Abdomen fuscous. Legs and tarsi silvery white. Anterior wings pale tawny, with a
pale streak at the base, extending nearly to the middle, and then joining a spot from
the inner margin ; in the middle of its length it also touches an inner marginal spot ;
on the costa are four triangular white spots, the first a little before the middle, the
others at regular distances between it and the apex; on the inner margin are two
white triangular spots, one between the second and third costal spots, the other nearly
opposite the fourth costal spot ; at the apex is a small black spot, and another is visi-
ble, in certain lights, between the second costal spot and the opposite spot on the inner
margin : cilia pale gray, varied with white patches opposite the pale spots on the wing,
and with a row of black dots forming an arch round the apex. Posterior wings clear
gray, very shining, with paler cilia.

A single specimen of this species was taken last summer by Mr. Bedell, who did
not observe at the time that it was distinct from Blancardella, consequently nothing is
known of where it was taken. This is the only British specimen I have yet seen.

Zeller says “I took several specimens of this scarce species near Glogan, at the
end of April and in May, in birch woods, in company with other species of Lithocol-
letis. Mann finds this rarely near Vienna, in May and June, on willows.”

Sp. 7. EMBERIZEPENNELLA, Bouché (fig. 7).

Ornix emberizepennella, Bouché, Naturgeschichte der Insecten, I. 8. 132.

Lithocolletis emberizepennella, Zeller, Isis, 1839. Linn. Entomol. i. 241, fig. 34.

Argyromiges tristrigella, Stephens’ Illustrations? iv. 256. St. Mus. (non Haw.) ~
Wood, f. 1320.

Expansion of the wings 4—4% lines. Head bright orange-tawny. Forehead
white. Palpi white. Antenne white, annulated with black. Thorax bright orange-
tawny. Abdomen fuscous, rufous at the extremity. Legs white. Tarsi white, spot-
ted with black. Anterior wings bright orange or brownish orange, with two entire
yellowish white fasciz, one near the base, nearly straight, the other about the middle,
distinctly angulated and margined internally with black; beyond these are three yel-
lowish white spots on the inner margin, the first of which is margined internally with
black, and on the costa are two yellowish white spots ; all these five spots are continued
through the cilia; at the extreme apex is a small black spot, and another distinct be-
tween the first costal and first inner marginal spot: the cilia are of the colour of the
parts of the wing from which they spring. Posterior wings shining gray ; cilia paler,
and somewhat of a yellowish tinge.

A searce species. I know only five British specimens; one in my own collection,

Insects. 2087

one in that of Mr. Allis, one in that of Mr. Desvignes, one in that of Mr. Douglas,
and one (probably that from which Wood's figure was taken) in that of Mr. Stephens.
All these, except Mr. Stephens’s, were mixed with specimens of tristrigella, conse-
quently I can give no information of their time and place of capture.

Zeller says of this “ I found this species at Frankfort and Berlin, in gardens, on
Lonicera caprifolium, not scarce, in May and August. Mann took it at the same
time near Vienna. Probably it occurs everywhere where honeysuckles are grown in
gardens.”

I should not have quoted Mr. Stephens’ Illustrations at all as a synonyme for this,

but as I find that the only specimen placed in Mr. Stephens’ cabinet as tristrigella is
emberizepennella, I presume Mr. Stephens had that insect in view at the time. The
description in the Illustrations is a translation of Haworth’s description of tristrigella.

Sp. 8. TRISTRIGELLA, Haworth (fig. 9).

Tinea tristrigella, Haworth, Lepidop. Brit. 576, 55.

Argyromiges tristrigella, Stephens’ Illustrations ? (non St. Mus.)

Var.? Argyromiges strigifasciella, mihi (fig. 11). As this may perhaps eventually
prove a distinct species, I shall give a completely separate description of it. The
description that immediately follows belongs only to the typical tristrigella.

Expansion of the wings 33—3% lines. Head tawny. Forehead white. Palpi
white. Antenne white, annulated with black. Thorax tawny. Abdomen fuscous.
Legs fuscous. Tarsi black, spotted with white. Anterior wings reddish orange, with
three pale fascie, equidistant, the first before the middle, the second in the middle,
and the third towards the apex; the two first are nearly straight, the third is angu-
lated, and from the middle of it there is a slender white line towards the extreme apex,
slightly curved at its extremity: all these fascie are margined internally with black,
and beneath the apical streak is a black patch consisting of a number of very minute
black dots: cilia rufous-orange, with two pale patches on the costa, one arising from
the third fascia, and the other from the extremity of the apical streak. Posterior wings
clear gray, with fuscous cilia.

_ Though I have often taken this insect myself, I cannot say when or where, and I
believe most persons are in the same predicament. Mr. Bedell took some specimens
on the Dartford Heath fence, May 19th, 1846.

There is no doubt of this insect being the tristrigella of Haworth, who says, “ An-
terior wing's brownish yellow, with a straight fascia before the middle, a second in the
middle, and a third beyond the middle, equidistant, silvery gold.”

Var. ? STRIGIFASCIELLA.

Expansion of the wings 4 lines. Head tawny. Forehead white. Palpi white.
Antenne white, annulated with black. Thorax tawny. Abdomen fuscous. Legs
fuscous. Tarsi white, spotted with black. Anterior wings tawny, with a pale nearly
straight fascia before the middle, and an angulated one in the middle ; beyond this
there is a pale spot on the inner margin near the anal angle: the first fascia is nar-
rowly margined with black internally, the second is margined internally with a black
fascia, very broad at the costa, but terminating almost in a point on the inner margin;

2088 Insects.

another broad dark fascia precedes the inner marginal spot ; beyond this spot the cos-
tal half of the apex is tawny, the half nearest the anal angle is much spotted with deep
fuscous: cilia tawny. Posterior wings clear gray, with paler cilia.

I am inclined to think this distinct from tristrigella, but having only seen one spe-
cimen, which is in the collection of Mr. Bedell, I am reluctant to found a species upon
it where there is the slightest reason to doubt. Its main points of difference from
tristrigella are —

1. The angulation of the second pale fascia, which in tristrigella is nearly straight.

2. The breadth of the black margins to the fascie, which makes it approximate in
appearance to trifasciella.

3. The absence of the pale spot on the costa opposite the inner marginal spot.

Sp.9. Fra.icaiew.a, Zeller (fig. 10).

Lithocolletis Frelichiella, Zeller, Isis, 1839. Linn. Entomol. i. 243, fig. 35.
Argyromiges Kleemannella, Haworth ? Lepidop. Brit. 576, 54.

Expansion of the wings 4 lines. Head brownish orange. Forehead white. Palpi
white. Antenne white, annulated with brown. Thorax brownish orange. Abdomen
fuscous. Legs and tarsi deep fuscous. Anterior wings deep brownish orange, very
glossy, with three nearly straight, equidistant, pale fascie, and beyond these two pale
spots on the costa and one on the inner margin; at the apex is a black spot: cilia
pale, with an arch of black dots round the apex. Posterior wings gray, with paler
cilia.

This species having in this country been mixed with specimens of tristrigella in
cabinets, I can obtain no information how or when the specimens were taken. I must
have taken several last summer, but for want of labelling captures can say nothing
about them.

Zeller says “‘ This scarce species is found near Vienna, on alders, in the leaves of
which the caterpillar mines: the chrysalis lives through the winter, and the perfect
insect appears in May and June; near Frankfort on the Oder; in Livonia, in June
and July ; near Dantzig ; near Glogau, where I took a tine female on the 18th of June,
on birch.”

As this species comes nearer than any other known British species to the Fabrician
Kleemannella, I have quoted Haworth doubtingly as a synonyme.

Sp. 10. tTrirascreLLa, Haworth (fig. 12).

Tinea trifasciella, Haworth, Lepidop. Brit. 576, 56.

Argyromiges trifasciella, Stephens’ I)lustrations, iv. 257. St. Mus. .

Argyromiges alnifoliella, Stephens’ Illustrations, iv. 259. St. Mus, (non Hub.)
Wood’s figures 1327 and 1329.

Lithoeolletis torquillapennella, Heyden MS.

Lithocolletis Heydenii, Zeller, Linn. Entomol. i. 247, fig. 38.

Expansion of the wings 4 lines. Head bright tawny. Forehead white. Palpi
white. Antenne white, annulated with black. Thorax tawny. Abdomen fuscous.
Legs white. ‘Tarsi white, annulated with black. Anterior wings bright tawny, with
three pale fascie ; the first before the middle angulated and margined internally with

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Insects. 2089

black ; the second about the middle angulated and broadly margined internally with
black ; the third nearly straight, but somewhat interrupted, also margined internally
with black ; the black margins of all these fascie are broadest on the costa; from the
middle of the third fascia a black patch extends to the anal angle; at the apex is
another small black patch, above which is a small pale streak : cilia pale tawny.
Posterior wings clear gray ; cilia paler and slightly fulvous. .

Not an uncommon species: I beat two specimens out of a hazel bush at Birch
Wood, September 17th, 1846. i

Zeller says “ Heyden discovered this beautiful species at Frankfort on the Maine,
on honeysuckle, and presented me and Fischer von Roslerstamm specimens under the
name of Torquillepennella, which I have allowed myself to change.”

It is rather strange that Zeller has not recognized this insect in the trifasciella of
Haworth : it is true that he does not appear acquainted with the ‘ Lepidoptera Britan-
nica, but Mr. Stephens, whom he often quotes and criticises (pretty severely some-
times), has given a translation of Haworth’s description in his ‘ Illustrations.’

The specimens placed as alnifoliella in Mr. Stephens’ cabinet are two faded speci-
mens of trifasciella; and I presume this is the insect to which he alluded in his
description of alnifoliella, which certainly could never do for the real alnifoliella of
Hubner.

Sp. 11. Messantevua, Zeller (fig. 14).

Lithocolletis Messaniella, Zeller, Linn. Entomol. i. 221, fig. 23.
Tinea Harrisella, Haworth ? Lepid. Brit. 577, 60.

Expansion of the wings 4—5 lines. Head tawny. Forehead white. Palpi white.
Antenne white, annulated with fuscous. Thorax tawny. Abdomen fuscous, with the
extremity pale tawny. Legs fuscous. Tarsi whitish, with darker annulations. An-
terior wings shining, pale tawny, with a pale basal streak reaching nearly to the mid-
dle of the wing: on the costa are four paler markings, and on the inner margin the
same number: the first costal spot is narrow, and slightly curved at its extremity ; the
second is nearly straight, and points towards the anal angle; and the third and fourth
are slightly curved: the first inner marginal spot is very indistinct and very short ; it
is opposite the middle of the basal streak ; the second arises exactly opposite the first
costal spot, is very long and curved, and continued towards the apex of the wing as far
as the extremity of the second costal spot ; the third inner marginal spot arises rather
beyond the second costal spot, and terminates just below the extremity of that spot ;
the fourth arises near the anal angle, and generally meets (or very nearly so) the third
costal spot ; all these spots are margined internally with brown: at the apex of the
wing is a small black spot: cilia tawny between the third and fourth costal spots, and
again a little beyond the fourth costal spot; the remainder very pale tawny, with a
black arch round the apical spot. Posterior wings clear gray; cilia grayish fulvous.

I beat this insect in great plenty, two years ago, out of an evergreen oak, which it
seemed to frequent throughout the summer.

Zeller says of it, “ I took this species from the middle of February to the end of
March, near Messina, on the mountain on each side of the road to Palermo, at Buon-
retiro, Tremmonti and St. Michael. They frequented the dry foliage on the bushes
of Quercus pubescens. Probably it is not scarce there, but as the weather was at the

2090 Insects.

time wet and windy, they seldom flew out with beating; and as I took them for
nothing else but our common quercifoliella, so I gave myself less trouble about them
than I should have otherwise done. It probably occurs in other parts of the South of
Europe, on the same species of oak.”

This species exists in most collections in this country, mixed with the next species,
under the name of Harrisella; and as Haworth has described quercifoliella as Har-
risella var. 8., the question arises—is this insect his typical Harrisella? but there we
can get no information, his description being merely a copy of Linneus’s, which is so
extremely vague that any one of this section of the genus would answer it equally well :
—“ Wings gold and silver varied, with the apex obtuse, not pointed like the preceding
(Clerckella) ; in the apex the colour is ustulated, brownish, with a subocellated black
spot.”!! I am inclined to fancy this species has been overlooked on the Continent, as
in this country, for it would be strange indeed that an insect should occur both in
England and Sicily, and in no intermediate country.

Sp. 12. QUERCIFOLIELLA, Fischer-v-R. (fig. 13).

Lithocolletis quercifoliella, Fischer von Roslerstamm, MSS. Zeller, Isis, 1839.
Zeller, Linn. Entom. i. 218, fig. 22.

Elachista quercifoliella, Duponchel ? xi. 531, Pl. 308, fig. 5.

Tinea Harrisella, var. B., Haworth, Lepid. Brit. 577, 60. Wood's fig. 1322 ?

Expansion of the wings 33—43 lines. Head tawny. Forehead white. Palpi
white. Antenne white, annulated with fuscous. Thorax pale tawny. Abdomen fus-
cous, with the extremity fulvous. Legs shining whitish. Tarsi white, with a brown
spot at the end of the joints. Anterior wings pale tawny, shining, with a long, nar-
row, pale basal line to beyond the middle of the wing : on the costa are four pale spots,
on the inner margin three: the first costal spot is slightly curved, and bordered with
brown on both sides ; the second is straight; the third and fourth comma-shaped (these
are only margined inwardly with brown : the first inner marginal spot is small, curved,
and terminates before the end of the basal streak ; the second is nearly straight, and
terminates between the second and third costal spots ; the third is very indistinct, and
has rather a tendency to meet the third costal one: these spots are all margined in-
ternally with brown. In some specimens there is a pale mark on the inner margin
near the base. At the apex is a round black spot: cilia tawny between the third and
fourth costal spots, and just beyond the fourth; the remainder glossy pale fuscous,
with a black arch round the apex of the wing from the fourth costal spot to the third
inner marginal spot. Posterior wings clear gray ; cilia grayish fulvous.

A very common species, frequenting oaks.

Zeller says of it, “ This species is found near Reichstadt, in Bohemia, near Bres-
lau and Glogau. Here (Stettin) it is one of the commonest Lithocolletes in oak woods,
and flies at the end of April and in May, and again in July and August. It appears
nearly the earliest in the genus: on the 14th of April, 1833, I beat a fresh specimen,
along with Plutella fissella, out of the dried leaves of a low oak. The caterpillar
lives in oak leaves, and Mann has bred them from the same leaf with abrasella and
ilicifoliella.”

This species is well described by Haworth, thus: “ Anterior wings golden, with a

Insects. 2091

streak from the base beyond the middle, and with seven oblique, marginal, opposite
(the last excepted) silvery spots, and a subocellated black spot at the apex.”

- The figures in Wood and Duponchel have both the same fault,—that of the basal
streak not being long enough.

Sp. 13. ImicrFOLIELLA, Fischer-v-R. (fig. 15).

Lithocolletis ilicifoliella, Fischer von Roslerstamm, MSS. Zeller, Linn. Entom. i.
183, fig. 9.

Elachista ilicifoliella, Duponchel, Sup. iv. 309, Pl. 76, fig. 4.

Argyromiges mespilella, Stephens ? Illustrations, iv. 256. St. Mus. Bent. Mus.
Wood's fig. 1318 ?

Expansion of the wings 44—4+4 lines. Head white, with a few brown hairs. Fore-
head white. Palpi white. Antenne white, annulated with fuscous. Thorax pale
tawny, the sides silvery white. Abdomen fuscous, with the extremity fulvous, Legs
whitish. Tarsi white, annulated with fuscous. Anterior wings shining, pale tawny,
with a silvery white basal streak reaching over a third of the wing: on the costa are
four silvery white spots, and on the inner margin three : the first costal spot is narrow,
and points towards the anal angle ; it is nearly straight, and terminates a little beyond
the basal streak ; it is not bordered with brown on either side, and its inner margin is
continued on the costa, half-way to the base of the wing: the second, third and fourth
costal spots are nearly comma-shaped, and margined internally with brown : the first
inner marginal spot is narrow, slightly curved, and terminates just beyond the first
costal spot, like which it is not margined with brown on either side ; the inner margin
to the base of this spot is generally pale silvery; the second inner marginal spot is
nearly opposite the second costal spot ; the third is between the anal angle and the
apex ; both the second and third are margined internally with brown ; at the apex is
a long black spot: cilia tawny before the third and between the third and fourth
costal spots : just beyond the fourth spot is a dark mark in the cilia (which Zeller has
apparently, if this be really his species, magnified into a hook) ; the rest of the cilia is
pale, with a black arch round the apex, and continued to the anal angle. Posterior
wings clear gray; cilia grayish fulvous.

This species is very apt to be confounded with pomonella, but it differs by the first
pair of spots not being margined with brown, by the inner margin of the first costal
spot being continued towards the base, and by the tarsi being spotted instead of white.
I have a specimen of this insect which I took last year (probably on Penge palings, in
May, in company with pomonella) ; and it is in other collections mixed with pomo-
nella.

Zeller says of it, ‘‘ A discovery of Mann’s ; flies at Tivoli, near Vienna, in May,
July and August, in company with abrasella, &c., on oaks. Herrich Schaffer found
this also near Ratisbon.”

Sp. 14. ELaTELLA, Zeller (fig. 16).

Lithocolletis elatella, Zeller, Linn. Entomol. i. 190, fig. 12.
Lithocolletis confertella, Mann ? in Cat.

Expansion of the wings 3% lines. Head pale tawny. Forehead silvery white.
_ Palpi silvery white. Antenne white, annulated with pale tawny. Thorax pale tawny,

2092 Insects.

the sides silvery white. Abdomen fuscous, reddish at the extremity. Legs and tarsi
silvery. Anterior wings very glossy, pale tawny, with a silvery streak at the base, the
upper side of which is straight, but the under side, after continuing straight for a third
of its length, first swells out a little below and then meets the upper side at its ex-
tremity, thus terminating in a point (or very nearly so): there are four silvery spots on
the costa, and three on the inner margin: the first costal spot is triangular, with the
point towards the anal angle ; the inner side nearly twice the length of the outer side,
and margined with black on both sides: the second, third and fourth costal spots are
comma-shaped, and margined internally with black: the first inner marginal spot ex-
tends beyond the middle of the disk in a slanting direction, and then turns nearly at
right angles, terminating in a short longitudinal streak ; the upper half of this spot is
margined on both sides with black ; the second inner marginal spot is triangular, but
with the apex slightly curved outwards, margined internally with black ; the third
spot is slightly comma-shaped: at the apex is an oblong black spot, above which
(forming, as it were, the upper half of it) is a short white streak, which joins the fourth
costal spot : cilia varied, with tawny and silvery white, the latter colour being opposite
the spots. Posterior wings clear gray ; cilia paler and slightly fulvous.

This is another of the species which may easily be confounded with pomonella :
the greatest characteristic by which it may be distinguished readily is, probably, the
white streak which is attached to the apical black spot. The form of the basal streak
is also another good character. This insect was taken by Mr. Sircom, among grass
on Durdham Downs.

Zeller says, “ I took two males and one female, May 15th, 1842, near Glogau, in
an oak wood, in company with a specimen of pomifoliella.”

Note.—I confess to being rather dubious whether this be really elatella of Zeller.
At the time I wrote the description and drew the figure I entertained no doubt, but
have since seen an insect which resembles still more closely Zeller’s figure, and ap-
pears to differ somewhat from that I have described. It has the anterior wings less
glossy, and the first inner marginal spot more curved, and continued nearly to the
apex of the second inner marginal spot. in the white streak attached to the apical
black spot, and the shape of the basal streak, it resembles the insect above described.

Sp. 15. Pomone ua, Zeller (fig. 18).

~

Lithocolletis pomonella, Zeller, T.iun. Entom. i. 201.

Lithocolletis Blancardella, Zeller, Isis, 1838 and 1839.

Elachista Blancardella, Treitschke ? ix. i. 186, x. iii. 216.

Argyromiges Blancardella, Stephens ? Illustrations, iv. 255.

Tinea Blancardella, Haworth? Lepidop. Brit. 575, 53. . Fabricius? Ent. Syst. iii.
ii. 327.

Tinea mespilella, Hubner? Ti. 272. Haworth ? Lepidop. Brit. 576, 57.

Expansion of the wings 34—4} lines. Head white, with a few tawny hairs.
Forehead white. Palpi white. Antenne white, annulated with fuscous. Thorax
pale tawny, with the sides whitish. Abdomen fuscous, with the extremity fulvous.
Legs and tarsi white. Anterior wings shining, pale tawny, with a silvery white basal
streak and four spots on the costa, three on the inner margin, all silvery white ; the
basal streak is narrow and straight, and not edged with brown: the first costal spot

Insects. 2093

has a broadish base, is very nearly straight, and points towards the anal angle; the
other three are comma-shaped ; the fourth just touches with its apex the oval black
spot at the apex of the wing: the first inner marginal spot is much curved, and
reaches to just beyond the apex of the first costal spot ; the second is somewhat trian-
gular, though its inner margin is slightly curved; the third is opposite the third costal
spot, which it very nearly joins: all these spots are margined internally with brown :
cilia varied, according to the parts of the wing from which they spring, with a darker
arch from the fourth costal spot to the anal angle: the inner margin of the wing is
often whitish from the base to the first spot. Posterior wings clear gray; cilia paler
and fulvescent.

Closely allied to the next species, but differs in the generally paler colour of the
anterior wings, and the hind tarsi are quite white instead of being spotted.

I took this species in plenty last May on the Penge palings ; I do not remember
ever taking it before.

Zeller says of it, “ This probably not scarce species flies in April and May, and
again later in the season, near Glogau, in an oak wood, in which there is a mixture
of whitethorn and sloe, &c.”

Zeller mentions two varieties of it, viz.—

“Var. 6. With the first pair of spots united, forming a very acute angle.
“Var. c. With the first and second inner marginal spots united at their apices.”

It is among specimens of this insect that I have found mixed elatella, ilicifoliella
and securiferella. Several other allied continental species may yet have escaped de-
tection.

Fabricius’s description of Blancardella would suit this insect very well, only it
would equally suit ilicifoliella, pomonella and others. He says, “‘ Anterior wings
golden, with a slender silvery basal line, which joins the side of the thorax. Four
spots on the costa, three on the inner margin, all beyond the middle.”

Haworth has copied Fabricius without remark, but he describes as var. 8. an insect
with a medial fascia, which from his description I cannot make out at all. Mr. Ste-
phens also adds but little to the description of Fabricius. _Haworth’s description of
mespilella would also suit our insect very well, and I have very little doubt that this
insect was the one he intended; but Mr. Stephens has copied Haworth’s description,
and apparently applied it to a different species.

- Hubner’s figure of mespilella is too coarse to be of any use where the species are
so very closely allied.

Sp. 16. pPoMIFoLIELLA, Tischer.

Lithocolletis pomifoliella, Tischer, MSS. Zeller, Isis, 1839. Linn. Entom. i.
196, f. 15.

Tinea Rajella, Haworth ? Lepidop. Brit. 577, 56.

Argyromiyes Rajella, Stephens? Illustrations, iv. 256. St. Mus. Bent. Mus.
Wood’s fig. 1314.

This species differs so little from the preceding one that it would be superfluous to
write a full description of it. It is generally smaller than pomonella, the anterior
wings are much deeper tawny, and the hinder tarsi are spotted with black, instead of
being pure white as in that species. It is one of the commonest and most generally
distributed species in the genus.

VI T

2094 Insects.

Zeller says, ‘“ As a certain resort of this species I know the neighbourhood of
Dresden, where Tischer has bred it from caterpillars off fruit trees, . . . and Glogau,
where I have taken several specimens, principally in birch and oak woods, in which
there are bushes of whitethorn, sloe, willow, &c.”

This insect has so long gone in this country by the name of the Linnean Rajella,
that I think it necessary to state fully my reasons for changing that name. Linneus
says (‘ Fauna Suecica,’ 1407),—

“ Rajella ; wings golden, with six silvery spots, the second and third united.

“ De Geer, Ins. i. tab. 31, figs. 11, 12.

“ The larva inhabits the inside of alder leaves, &c. .

“* Description.—Small ; resembling Phalena Geedartella. Anterior wings brown-
ish or golden, with three silvery white spots on each side, of which the second is nearly
transverse.”

The only addition Linneus makes in the ‘Systema Nature,’ i. ii. 898, is that he
says “ with seven silver spots.” Now the first difficulty that will strike every one is
‘‘ resembling Gedartella:” fortunately there is in the Linnean cabinet a specimen la-
belled Rajella, and it is our Brockella. How the mistake arose must ever be a mys-
tery, as no part of the description will apply to Brockella ; moreover the insect figured
in De Geer is truly an Argyromiges, and we see from that figure the meaning of Lin-
neus’s words “ the second and third united :” the spots are united, not across the wing,
but join one another along the inner margin and along the costa, being thus connected
laterally by their bases, not transversely by their apices. I am rather perplexed as to
what Linneus means by “ the second is nearly transverse :” the first costal spot in
De Geer’s figure extends more than half across the wing, with a tendency to meet the
second inner marginal one ; but further than that there is no appearance of a transverse
fascia.

De Geer gives very precise information about the habits and appearance of the
larva, which feeds on the parenchyma of alder leaves, in which it turns to a chrysalis,
and the moth comes out about the 12th of June, whereas pomifoliella has nothing to
do with alders. These reasons would be quite sufficient to upset the nomenclature,
but Zeller has figured an insect precisely similar to De Geer’s figure, which is proba-
bly the next species.

Haworth copies Linneus, and adds, ‘ perhaps a variety of mespilella, but much
less, with the wings almost without yellow or golden ;” though what he means by the
latter half of the sentence I cannot discover. The description given by Mr. Stephens
is also a copy of Linneus ; but in order to make it more distinct, he adds, after the
words “the second and third of which are frequently united,” “so as to form one or
two transverse fascie,”’ thus, as Zeller remarks, taking Linneus’s words in qa a dif-
ferent sense from what was intended.

Sp. 17. sECURIFERELLA, Stainton (fig. 6).

Elachista Rajella, Duponchel, xi. 541, Pl. 308, f. 11.

Lithocolletis Rajella, Zeller? Linn. Butca, i. 185, fig. 11.

Tinea Rajella, Linneus ? Faun. Suec. 1407. Syst. Nat. i. ii. 898 (excl. similis
Geedartelle).

Expansion of the wings 3} lines. Head pale tawny or whitish. Forehead white.
Palpi white. Antenne white, annulated with fuscous. Thorax pale tawny, the sides

Insects. 2095

silvery white. Abdomen fuscous, wlth the extremity paler. Legs and tarsi white.
Anterior wings pale tawny, very shining, with a silvery white streak at the base, four
silvery white spots on the costa, and three on the inner margin: the basal streak is
straight, and its extremity in most cases joins the apex of the first inner marginal spot,
which is somewhat triangular (the union of this spot and the basal streak resembles a
hatchet, whence the name) ; the second inner marginal spot is also triangular and well
defined ; the third is very small and slightly curved : the first costal spot has a broad
base and is slightly curved at the apex, thus coming very near to the apex of the se-
cond; the second, third and fourth are comma-shaped; the apex of the fourth joins
the oval black spot at the apex of the wing, and in some specimens appears to be con-
tinued through it, so as to form a fourth inner marginal spot (could this be the cydo-
niella of Fabricius ?): cilia varied according to the colour of the parts of the wing from
which they spring, with a dark arch round the apex of the wing. Posterior wings
clear gray ; cilia paler and slightly fulvescent.

I have only seen three specimens of this insect; one in the collection of Mr. Be-
dell, one in that of Mr. Douglas, and the third in that of Mr. Thomson. They are
distinguished from pomonella by the triangular shape of the first inner marginal spot,
and by its being generally connected with the basal streak.

In Zeller’s figure of Rajella, the spots are connected along the inner margin, which
is not the case in the only specimens I have seen, but it may vary. Duponchel’s figure
does not represent the spots confluent on the inner margin.

The insect of Zeller is an alder feeder, and there is little doubt but that his insect
is the one figured and described by De Geer, and referred to by Linneus as Tinea
Rajella.

Sp. 18. Junonrevra, Zeller (fig. 17).
Lithocolletis Junoniella, Zeller, Linn. Entom. i. 215, fig. 20.

Expansion of the wings 32 lines. Head whitish. Forehead white. Palpi white.
Antenne white, annulated with fuscous. Thorax tawny, with the sides silvery white.
Abdomen pale fuscous Legs pale fuscous. Tarsi whitish, with a few darker spots.
Anterior wings rich deep tawny, with a broad white basal streak (occupying nearly a
third of the breadth of the wing), which in most instances joins the first inner mar-
ginal spot: this spot is curved; its length seems variable, as of two very fine speci-
mens I have before me, in one it terminates before the opposite costal spot, in the
other it is prolonged beyond it: the spot at the anal angle is triangular, slightly curved
outwardly at its apex ; between this and the apex of the wing is another very small
spot: on the costa are four white spots, the first of which is nearly straight, and points
towards the anal angle; it is margined on both sides with brown ; the other three,
which are comma-shaped, are margined internally with brown; at the apex is an ob-
long black spot: cilia varied on the costa and pale tawny on the hinder margin, with
a black arch round the apex extending to the anal angle. Posterior wings pale gray ;
cilia grayish fulvous.

I have seen this insect in several collections mixed with pomifoliella, and have one
specimen myself, but can say nothing as to where or when I caught it. Zeller, who
had only two specimens, without bodies, is also unable to give further information than
that he took them near Glogau.

2096 Insects.

Sp.19, ALNIFOLIELLA, Hubner (fig. 19).

Tinea alnifoliella, Hubner, Ti. 193.

Elachista alnifoliella, Duponchel, xi. 526, Pl. 308, fig. 2.

Lithocolletis Rajella, Zeller, Isis, 1839.

Lithocolletis alniella, Tischer, MSS. Zeller, Linn. Entom. i. 229, fig. 27.
Argyromiges Blancardella, Bent. Mus.

Expansion of the wings 4 lines. Head white, with a few dark hairs. Forehead
white. Palpi white. Antenne whitish, annulated with fuscous. Thorax tawny, with
the sides whitish. Abdomen fuscous, with the extremity paler. Legs white. Tarsi
white, spotted with black. Anterior wings dark tawny, with a rather broad white streak
at the base, four white spots on the costa, and three on the inner margin: the first
costal spot is long and rather triangular, and points towards the anal angle ; the other
three costal spots are all comma-shaped and very small: the first inner marginal spot
is very broad at the base, and the apex points into the middle of the second spot ; the se-
cond spot is, at its origin, triangular, but with its apex curved and much prolonged ; the
third, situated between the anal angle and the apex, is comma-shaped, and almost
joins the third costal spot; at the apex of the wing is a round black spot (rather oval
in the female): cilia varied silvery white and pale tawny. Posterior wings clear gray ;
cilia grayish fulvous. In the female, the base of the anterior wings on each side of
the basal streak is nearly all white.

Not a common species, but probably much overlooked, being confounded with
pomifoliella. I have several specimens from Scotland, taken last summer by Mr,
Jobson.

Zeller says of it, ‘“ This appears with us the earliest of the Lithocolletes ; I have
even taken it on the 4th of April. Its period of flight is April, May, beginning of
June, then in July and August. It frequents alder woods. I found it near Glogau,
Frankfort and Berlin, both in the perfect and larva states, which latter I have not yet
observed nearer. Tischer bred it at Dresden; Mann took it near Reichstadt and
Vienna, the first brood on hornbeam, the latter on beech, scarce.”

Hubnev’s figure, though very rough, has yet sufficient character abont it to be
recognized as this species. Zeller’s reasons for calling this Rajella in Oken’s Isis,
were —that it was an alder feeder, that he knew no other alder feeder in the genus,
that the Linnean Rajella was an alder feeder, and therefore probably identical with
this species ; but on finding afterwards another alder feeder, which, moreover, resem-
bled much better the figure in De Geer referred to by Linneus, he immediately
changed the name; and his reason for not calling it alnifoliella is, that Hubner’s
figure differs slightly from it, which is certainly true ; but as Hubner’s figure possesses
several of the characters of this species (which no other species possesses), I think my-
self justified in retaining Hubner’s name.

Sp. 20. CraMErELLA, Fabricius (fig. 20).

Argyromiges Cramerella, Stephens’ Illust. iv. 257. St. Mus.
Lithocolletis Cramerella, Zeller, Isis, 1839. Linn. Entom. i, 234, fig. 29.
Argyromiges hortella, Steph. ? Illust. iv. 257. St. Mus. Wood's figs. 1323 & 1324,

Expansion of the wings 33—4} lines. Head white. Forehead white. Palpi
white. Antenne white. Thorax white. Abdomen fuscous, with the extremity ful-

SE ————————— elle

Insects. 2097

vescent. Legs white. Tarsi white, spotted with fuscous. Anterior wings white (with
more or less of a yellowish tinge occasionally): on the costa are three fuscous streaks,
_and on the inner margin two; the first costal streak begins a little beyond the middle
of the wing, and points towards the anal angle; it meets the first inner marginal
streak, which begins a little before the middle of the wing, forming with it an acute
angle; the second pair of streaks is margined inwardly with pale fulvous ; these meet
at an obtuse angle, and the costal streak is at right angles with the costa ; just beyond
these two streaks is a white triangle on each margin, the remainder of the wing being
pale fulvous; the third costal streak resembles the second, and is also followed by a
small white triangle ; at the apex of the wing is a round black spot, round which, in
the cilia, is a series of black dots from the outer margin of the last costal triangle to
the anal angle: cilia pale, with two dark patches in continuation of the two costal
streaks, and a dark mark arising from the last, and continued to the extreme apex.
Posterior wings clear gray; cilia whitish.

A most abundant species, frequenting oaks.

Zeller says of it, ‘‘ This species is one of the most abundant near Glogau ; it flies
in May, July and August, principally in oak woods and hazel thickets. It is found
in June in the Zoological Gardens at Berlin. Mann collected it at Reichstadt, in
June, off larches; near Vienna, in June and August, off beeches, on which he also
found the caterpillar.”

This insect having been universally admitted as the Cramerella of Fabricius, I
have not ventured to oppose an unanimity so unusual ; but I will just remark here
that Fabricius says “ with three opposite oblique fascie.” Now this has three costal,
but only ¢wo inner marginal fascie. Zeller imagines Fabricius took the dark mark
in the fringe for a third fascia; perhaps so: at any rate it may as well bear the name
of Cramerella till a new species turns up which will agree better with the Fabrician

description. ES gn
. T. Stanton.
March, 1848,

(To be continued).

Occurrence of Vernal Diptera in Berwickshire, with Descriptions of two British Species.
By James Harpy, Esq.

AttuovucH we have hitherto had “* March weather ” in its fullest rigour and incon-
stancy, several Dipterous insects have already appeared to enjoy the intervals of sun-
shine between the reign of storm and cloud that distinguishes this period of the “ un-
confirmed year.” Many of them have, doubtless, weathered the winter ; but now their
numbers are augmented ; their sports are rendered more accordant with the character
of the season ; and the pleasure of observing them is increased, by their being associated
with vernal aspirations, as the harbingers of the gay procession to succeed, and the hours
of happiness in the study of the bright throngs kept in store for all who will

“‘ Come forth into the light of things,”
and accompany Nature, through her series of evolutions of myriads of existences.

As yet there have appeared only such kinds as depend for their sustenance but little
upon the flowery tribes, of which the coltsfoot and the opposite-leaved golden saxi-

2098 Insects.

frage (Chrysosplenium oppositifolium) are the only two, in a wild state, that have dared
to show their blossoms. Pollenia atramentaria is common on the flowers of the first
mentioned plant,—on the sides of walls,— and on windows; having passed the winter
in some corner, beyond the reach of the frosts. Numbers of Trichocera regelationis are
spread along the sides of walls, and on the borders of woods ; not regarding even the
chilling of the frosts and snows. It comes out of the ground in a recent state, soft and
white, having probably passed the previous state of its existence as a root-devouring
grub. In towns it resorts to cellars, and issues forth at evening ; but here it flies in
numerous parties, that are all the day, and late into the evening, tumbling through
each other. They are speedily dispersed, if one disturb them, and the scattered flies
generally alight ; but are withal sufficiently wary, and jealous of interference ; taking
flight readily at the spectator’s approach. In similar localities there are numbers of
Borbori, whose remarkable habit, when disturbed, is to push a way through about the
roots of the grass; mount the blades ; and when dislodged, to hurry over the walls in
all directions. I find three species, B. nitidus, B. equinus, of which there is a small
variety, that is perhaps the B. geniculatus of Macquart ; and, rarer than the others, B.
niger. There are also several species of the allied genus Limosina, of which as yet I
am dubious; but one, not uncommon in woods, under withered leaves, agrees best with
the L. geniculata of Macquart. In the same situations I find a pretty insect, which I
name Agromyza fulvipes with some doubt; along with a Phora, remarkable, like all
the genus, for its decided and rapid movements. It appears to be P. fuscipes of
Macquart. In windows, on wall-tops, and near the burrows of rabbits, several indi-
viduals of Blephariptera serrata show themselves ; also, but very rarely, B. cesia, and
a species related to B. fenestralis, but distinguished by the shorter sete of the antenne,
the deeper tint of the abdomen, and the dark-coloured femora. It squats close to the
stones on which it rests ; and like those of the others, its larva is in all likelihood co-
prophagous. I took a single individual, a male, of Helomyza flava, from the trunk of
a tree; which appears to have considerably anticipated its regular time of appearance.
Scatophaga squalida, both sexes, is widely distributed. Aricia errans basks in the sun,
on stone walls, by the side of ploughed fields ; and is by no means readily to be come
at. Forming little bands in the sunshine, and scattered along the margin of rivulets,
three or four minute species of Chironomus sail to and fro. A small species of Molo-
brus, with short antenne and black legs, is dispersed here and there ; in one instance I

noticed it in the nest of the yellow ant; and on the top of a wall I met with the fe- _

male of a species of Cecidomyia, for which I do not find any description. In marshy
places, and among moss, there is a species of Lonchoptera, everywhere abundant, of a
slaty-black colour, with the wings palest at their insertion. Several species of Myceto-
phila, and other fungivorous gnats, have appeared in damp, obscure situations ; or fre-
quenting the spruce fir, for which, perhaps on account of its resin, they evince a great
predilection. Here also an individual of Simulium reptans appeared ; a species which
occurs in large bands in the woods in May, and is sufficiently tormenting, if it settle
upon an exposed part of the body. Another very dark-coloured species also occurred,
which, not having the description before me, I conjecture may be S. nigrum. Of this
species Mr. Curtis (Brit. Ent. 765) remarks, that it appears in the “ beginning of
March, when a great number settled on a white beaver hat at Cobham, Surrey.” In
swamps, and on cleat running streams among the crowded star-wort (Callitriche verna),
small flights of Clinocera stagnalis, /al., settle themselves. They have very much the
habit of Medeteri, and their long legs, and the close, fine, white silvery down, with

Insects. : 2099

which as in Gerris and Donacia, the under part of their body is invested, prevents their
receiving injury from the turbulent element, on which they spend their existence.
The clouds on the transverse and intersecting nervures of the wings disappear in long
kept specimens; as in a typical example, presented by Mr. Haliday, the wings are
transparent throughout. Along with it, but showing a greater preference to shady
places, there are numbers of a small Medeterus, with reddish legs, beautiful green eyes,
and dusky wings. It is the M.curvipes (Dolichopus, Fall.) s. g.. Camptosceles, Hal.
The male is distinguished by its curiously bent intermediate femora and tibie. It
abounds all the summer. The clayey swamps are frequented by scattered individuals
of Ephydra littoralis. It is a sluggish fly, is easily taken, and moves by leaps rather
than by fair flight. It cares not whether it alight on water or dry ground, being pro-
vided with a shining polished surface, that repels water like an oil-cloth. Here also I
found a single specimen of E. guttata (Hydrina vernalis, Desv.) It belongs to the va-
riety with the legs black, and the facial reflections white. The only other species was
E. quadriguttata, Meig., of which I could see no more than a single specimen. As
this species is not characterized by Mr. Haliday in his ‘ Remarks on the Generic Dis-
tribution of the British Hydromyzide’ (Annals of Nat. Hist. iii. June and August,
1839) I shall conclude these general observations by appending its characters, as well
as those of Phora fuscipes, which I do not find recorded as a British insect.

Fam. HYDROMYZIDAZ, Fallen.
Gen. Epnypra, Fallen.
S.G. Seatetya, Desv.
E. avapricutta, Meig. Dipt. Eur. vi.

Face slightly prominent, yellowish clay-colour, with scattered blackish bristles ; an-
tenne very dark brown, tips paler ; front light brunneous, the sides shining, with an
opaque central spot; thorax of a fulvous clay-colour, and an indistinct appearance of
two dark lines (¢njured); halteres yellow: abdomen of a blackish green, rather shin-
ing: legs black, viewed from above, dark brunneo-cinereous, from beneath: wings
dusky, a white spot near the first transverse nervure, a second very minute, near the ex-
tremity of the cell, which is the second posterior ; a third the largest, in the first pos-
terior cell; a fourth behind the second transverse nervure, placed nearly in a line with
the first mentioned, and of the same size. Length 1 line.

Ephydra quadriguttata, Macquart, Suites 4 Buffon, ii. 538.

Has. Kitchen Cleugh Dean, Berwickshire. It is recorded as British in Curtis’s
‘ British Entomology,’ 413.

Fam. PHORIDA, Curtis.
Gen. Puora, Lair.

* Marginal nervure bifurcate at the extremity.
** Submarginal nervure straight at its extremity.

Pa. ruscipEs, Macq. Suites a Buffon, ii. 627.

Female.—Black ; antenne and palpi black, the latter with short black bristles,
sete of the former whitish at the extremity ; front somewhat shining, with several mi-
nute elevated points, bearing black bristles ; thorax rather shining, thickly punctulated,
with a slight central channel, finely griseous, downy, several curved bristles on the

2100 Insects.

sides; halteres black: abdomen subfusiform, opaque, slaty black, with a dense,
changeable, grayish down, some of the apical segments subcarinated along the
back ; two basal depressions, one on each side of the middle of all but the second
segment, which has a single, semi-obverse, reniform impression, finely punctulated,
and of a dark orange colour in the centre; first segment slightly pubescent on the
sides, emarginate in the centre; third, fourth, fifth and sixth with a neat row of black
punctures near the margins ; beneath with the tip of the body darkest: breast polished
and shining: legs black, the joints testaceous; posterior and intermediate femora
dusky or blackish in the middle, anterior subtestaceous ; tarsi dusky ; femora much
depressed and slightly channelled, intermediate smallest ; intermediate tibie with two
spines above the middle, posterior with one: wings subhyaline, vitreous, finely iri-
descent ; nervures very slightly testaceous at their insertion; cilie of the thickened
nervure short and little apparent ; marginal nervure thickened above the bifurcation ;
first longitudinal nervure bent at the insertion, second straightish throughout, third
slightly waved, fourth a false nervure, following the curvature of the inner lobe of the
wing. Length 1% line.

Male.—Of a deeper black; antenne and palpi velvety black, edged with a fine
changeable griseous down: abdomen dull black ; two first segments with the surface
unequal ; the apical segment polished, shining black: legs almost entirely black, ex-
cepting the testaceous joints and the subtestaceous anterior tibiz ; tarsi piceous.

Has. Beneath withered leaves, Kitchen Cleugh Dean, Berwickshire, in March.

Obs.—The above description was drawn up from the inspection of a single male
and female. I have since examined two other females, of a smaller size, which, al-
though agreeing in other respects, want the impressions and carina of the abdomen
mentioned as part of the female character. Perhaps they may have been partly occa-
sioned by the shrinking of the larger specimen in drying.

James Harpy.

Penmanshiel, by Cockburnspath, Berwickshire,
March 14, 1848.

Descriptions of the British Species of Bees belonging to the Genus
Halictus of Latreille. By Freperick Situ, Esq., Curator to the
Entomological Society.

(Continued from page 2044).

Sp. 5. HALicrus LEUCOPUS.
Melitta leucopus, Kirby.

Female.—(Length 3 lines). Head and thorax bright metallic green ;
the antennez slightly piceous at their apex beneath; the mandibles
ferruginous at their apex. Thorax shining and regularly punctate ;
the tegule piceous; the wings hyaline, splendidly iridescent; the

Insects. 2101

legs clothed with white pubescence, that on the tarsi beneath is ferru-
ginous. Abdomen black, with sometimes a little white marginal
fringe on the first and second segments, at their extreme lateral
margin.

- Male.—(Length 2% lines). Head and thorax brassy green ; apex
of the clypeus, labrum and mandibles pale yellow, the apex of the
latter ferruginous; the antenne nigro-piceous above, beneath pale
fulvous; the scape black. ‘Thorax shining, closely punctured ; the
metathorax rotundate, frequently of a blue-green; the tegule piceous ;
the wings hyaline, splendidly iridescent; all the tarsi and the base
of the posterior tibiz pale yellow; the claws rufous. Abdomen black,
shining, ovate ; the base of the two intermediate segments depressed,
and having a thin pale pubescence.

This is not an uncommon species, but not so abundant as eeratus,

and it is much more local.

Sp. 6. Hauicrus morio, St. Fargeau.
Hyleus morio, Fab., male. Melitta morio, Kirby.

Female.— (Length 2—2# lines). Head and thorax brassy green,
closely and minutely punctured ; the antennz fuscous at their apex
beneath. Thorax shining; the metathorax rotundate, of a dark blue
green; the tegule piceous; the nervures fuscous; the wings subhy-
aline, splendidly iridescent ; the pubescence on the legs is white, and
ferruginous on the tarsi beneath. Abdomen ovate, punctured and
shining ; the base of the two intermediate segments slightly depressed,
and having laterally a little short pubescence, frequently obliterated.

Male.—(Length 24 lines). Head and thorax blue-green, closely
and finely punctured ; the antenne as long as the head and thorax, be-
neath fulvous ; the scape black ; the apex of the clypeus pale yellow;
the tegule piceous ; the wings hyaline, splendidly iridescent. Abdo-
men linear ; the base of the two intermediate segments much depressed,
and having a little very fine short white pubescence laterally, fre-
quently obliterated.

Closely resembling H. zratus, but the abdomen is more strongly
punctured, and the metathorax atro-czrulescent.

Sp. 7. Haricrus SMEATHMANELLUS.
Melitta Smeathmanella, Kirby.

Female.—(Length 3 lines). Bright metallic green, shining, closely

and finely punctured ; the antennz fuscous beneath ; the scape black ;
VI U

2102 Insecis.

the mandibles ferruginous at their apex. Thorax, the tegule and
nervures testaceous; the wings hyaline, splendidly iridescent; legs
black, frequently nigro-piceous, with the tarsi dark ferruginous. Ab-
domen very bright and shining; the base of the two intermediate
segments laterally have a little short fine white pubescence ; the inci-
sion at the apex ferruginous.

Male.— (Length 23 to 3 lines). Bright metallic green ; the apex of
the clypeus pale yellow ; the antennz as long as the head. and thorax,
fulvous beneath ; the scape black; the apex of the mandibles ferru-
ginous; the face and cheeks have a thin clothing of fine white pu-
bescence. Thorax, the tegule piceous; the wings as in the female.
Abdomen linear, nigro-zneous, shining ; at the base of the two inter-
mediate segments, laterally, sometimes is a little fine short white pu-
bescence, frequently obliterated.

I suspect that the Halictus viridis of St. Fargeau is the male of the
present species, but I hesitate to speak positively. This insect is ra-
ther local, but not rare about London. Mr. Kirby says the male has
no white hairs at the base of the intermediate segments ; but‘in recent
specimens it will be found that they have a little white pile, as in
rata.

Sp. 8. Harictus minutus, St. Fargeau.
Melitta minuta, Kirby.

Female.—(Length 23—3 lines). Black; head and thorax closely
and finely punctured ; the antennez fulvous beneath; the mandibles
ferruginous at their apex. Thorax shining; the metathorax rotun-
date; the tegule piceous ; the nervures nigro-piceous ; the legs nigro-
piceous, their pubescence white ; the apical joints of the tarsi ferru-
ginous. Abdomen shining, very delicately punctured ; the margins of
the segments nigro-piceous ; beneath, the segments are ciliated with
fringes of long pale hair.

Male.—(Length 2—23 lines). Black; the antenne as long as the
head and thorax, fulvous beneath ; the scape black ; the face clothed
with fine short white pubescence; the apex of the clypeus pale yel-
low, as well as the mandibles towards the apex, which is ferruginous.
Thorax shining, punctured, not so closely as in the female ; the tegule
piceous ; the wings hyaline, iridescent ; the apical joints of the tarsi
ferruginous. Abdomen linear, the intermediate segments slightly de-
pressed at their base.

Some of the small specimens of the female of H. punctulata very

Insects. 2103

closely resemble this species; but in that insect the thorax is much

more coarsely punctured, the punctures larger and not so close to-

gether as in minuta. This species is very abundant. 1 quite agree
with St. Fargeau that this cannot be the minuta of Schrank. The
habit of nidification is quite conclusive: none of the Andrenides
burrow in wood.

Sp. 9. HALicTus MINUTISSIMUS.
Melitta minutissima, Kirby.

Female.—(Length 2—23 lines). Black; head very finely and
closely punctured ; the mandibles ferruginous at their apex. Thorax
regularly punctured, but not so closely as on the head} a central dor-
sal impression and a scratch over each tegula ; metathorax posteriorly
rotundate ; tegule piceous; nervures nigro-piceous ; wings subhy-
aline, iridescent; legs nigro-piceous. Abdomen shining, oblong-
ovate ; the margins of the segments sometimes rufo-piceous.

Male.—(Length 2 lines). Black; the antenne not quite so long
as the head and thorax, fulvous beneath ; the scape black; the apex
of the clypeus, the labrum and the mandibles yellow, the latter black
at their base and ferruginous at their apex ; the tegule nigro-piceous ;
the wings hyaline, clouded at their apical margins, splendidly iri-
descent; the tarsi rufo-piceous. Abdomen ovate, slightly pubescent,
the intermediate segments depressed at their base.

Of this species, the smallest of the genus, I possess a specimen,
which is Stylopized: so small is the exerted head of the Stylops that

it is not observable without a glass.

Sp. 10. HAaLicTus NITIDIUSCULUS.
Melitta nitidiuscula, Kirby.

Kemale.—(Length 2—3 lines). Black; the antennz fulvous be-
neath; the scape black; the apex of the mandibles ferruginous.
Thorax slightly ewneous, shining and punctate; the tegule and
nervures piceous ; wings subhyaline; the legs piceous or nigro-pi-
ceous; the tarsi rufo-piceous. Abdomen frequently nigro-piceous,
shining and delicately punctate; margins of the segments slightly
piceous.

Male.—(Length 2}—24 lines). Black; the face clothed with short
white pubescence ; the antenne fulvous beneath; the scape black ;
the apical margin of the clypeus, the labrum and mandibles very pale

2104 Tnsects.

yellow, the apex of the latter ferruginous. Thorax shining and punc-
tate ; metathorax posteriorly smooth and shining; the wings subhy-
aline, iridescent ; the extreme base and apex of the tibia and all the
tarsi pale yellow. Abdomen linear, shining, delicately punctured ;
the margins of the segments nigro-piceous ; beneath, the three inter-
mediate segments have on each side a tuft of white pubescence. |

This species very closely resembles, in the female sex, that of H.
minuta, and is not easily separated from it ; its thorax has, however,
a slight zneous tinge, and its punctures are of different sizes, inter-
mixed with very minute punctures, observable under a high power :
in minuta the punctures are even and equal in size, and the neuration
of the wings stronger than in the present species. The male is readily
distinguished from every other species with which I am acquainted :
it is remarkable for the little tufts of hair on the segments beneath. I
possess four specimens of the female infested by Stylops.

Sp. 11. HALicrTus LonGuLus, n. s., Smith.

Female.—(Length 4 lines). Black; the head and thorax very
closely and regularly punctured ; the antenne slightly nigro-piceous
towards the apex beneath. Thorax rather coarsely but closely punc-
tured, thinly pubescent at the sides, and on the metathorax laterally,
which is rotundate ; the tegule nigro-piceous ; the nervures piceous ;
the wings subhyaline; the legs have an ochraceous pubescence, that
on the tarsi beneath is fulvous; the tarsi ferruginous. Abdomen
elongate, closely and delicately punctured; the basal segment very
smooth and shining; the margins of the segments nigro-piceous, re-
gularly clothed with a short pale pubescence, most dense at the sides

and apex ; the margins of the three intermediate segments depressed. —

This very distinct species was captured at Bonchurch, in the Isle
of Wight, in the month of July, by Mr. Charles Bowring, and
obligingly presented to me by that gentleman. The form of the ab-
domen most resembles that of a male. The species is easily distin-
guished from any other with which I am acquainted. I possess two
specimens of the female, but do not know the male.

Sp. 12. Hatictus Lta&vis, Sé. Fargeau.
Melitta levis, Kirby.

Female.—(Length 3% lines). Black; the head and thorax closely
punctured ; a few scattered fulvous hairs on the face and disk of the

Insects. 2105

thorax, more dense on the sides; the tegule nigro-piceous; the

wings hyaline; the nervures piceous; legs nigro-piceous, the pu-

bescence pale fulvous, bright fulvous on the tarsi beneath; all the
tarsi ferruginous. Abdomen widest towards the apex, nigro-piceous,
darkest towards the apex, very smooth and shining: the apical seg-
ments have a fine short pale pubescence; the margins of the segments
beneath have a long thin fringe of pale hair.

This species was unique in the Kirbyan cabinet until the last sea-
son, when the son of the Rev. Mr. Dawson captured a single speci-
men in the Isle of Wight, which I detected amongst a collection of
bees made in that locality. Mr. Dawson obligingly presented the

‘specimen to me, and I have therefore been able to point out some

additional peculiarities—Mr. Kirby’s insect having now lost its head,
and being much faded and mutilated. The male is not known. I
suspect the species is extremely local; mine came from Ventnor. So
exceedingly smooth is the abdomen, that no punctures are observable,
even under a Codrington lens. The species is easily discriminated :
the abdomen may be termed subclavate in form.

Sp. 13. HAaLictus VILLOSULUS.
Melitta villosula, Kirby, male. Melitta punctulata, Kirby, female.

Female.—(Length 33}—4 lines). . Black; a little thin pale pu-
bescence on the face ; the apex of the mandibles ferruginous. Tho-
rax shining, regularly, deeply, but not very closely punctured ; the
metathorax rotundate ; the wings subhyaline, iridescent ; the nervures
nigro-piceous ; the pubescence on the legs pale ochraceous ; on the
tarsi beneath it is fulvous; the apical joints of the tarsi ferruginous.
Abdomen subovate, shining, very delicately and closely punctured,
the basal segment very smooth and shining; a little thin pale pu-
bescence at the sides and towards the apex ; that at the apex is pale
fulvous. ‘

Male.—(Length 23 lines). Black; the face clothed with short
white pubescence ; the antenne not quite so long as the head and

thorax, fulvous beneath ; scape black. Thorax shining, regularly but

not closely punctured, clothed with griseous pubescence, frequently
obliterated on the disk; the tegule nigro-piceous, the nervures the
same ; wings hyaline, iridescent ; legs nigro-piceous ; the tarsi rufo-
piceous. Abdomen subovate, convex, shining, regularly but very
delicately punctate, also having a thin rather long pubescence towards
the apex.

2106 Insects.

I have no doubt upon my mind as to the propriety of uniting the
sexes described as distinct species by Mr. Kirby. I have taken the
two in company on many occasions, and once found punctulata in
great abundance in Hampshire: a colony had established themselves
in the pathway of a garden; here I took the males in company.
Where colonies of bees are found, the males are frequently found
early in the morning, and not to be met with later in the day. This
species appears to be generally distributed.

Sp. 14. Ha Licrus MALACHURUS.
Melitta malachura, Kirby.

Female.—(Length 4—4% lines). Black; the head and thorax
closely punctured ; the apex of the mandibles ferruginous. Thorax,
the tegule nigro-piceous; the wings subhyaline; the nervures pi-
ceous; the pubescence on the thorax is pale fulvous ; the disk nearly
naked ; the pubescence on the legs is pale fulvous, on the tarsi be-
neath rufo-ferruginous; the apical joints of the tarsi ferruginous.
Abdomen oblong-ovate, smooth and shining, widest towards the apex,
clothed, except the basal segment, with a short, pale, fulvous, downy
pile, visible in certain lights, more dense towards and at the apex ;
the margins of the segments narrowly piceous ; the segments beneath
have a long pale fulvous fringe.

This insect I found not uncommon, some years ago, in the neigh-
bourhood of Brentford, which is the locality named by Mr. Kirby ;
also near the suspension-bridge, Hammersmith. I never met with its
male. The species is easily distinguished by not having the usual
marginal fascia on the abdomen, for although that is common also to

punctulata, and three or four of the smaller species, still malachurus is —

a much larger insect than any other destitute of the marginal fascia.
The single specimen which Mr. Kirby described from is one of the
smallest I have seen. I captured this species-in July.

Sp. 15. HALicTUS ABDOMINALIS.

Hyleus abdominalis, Panzer, male. Apis bicincta, Schrank? Ha-
lictus albipes, St. Fargeau. Andrena vulpina, Fab., Panzer,
female. Halictus vulpina, St. Fargeau. Halictus terebrator,
Walckenaer.

Female,—(Length 4—53 lines). Black; head and thorax closely
punctured ; the face thinly clothed with fulvous pubescence. Thorax

eee eS ee

Tnsects. 2107

thinly clothed with fulvous pubescence on the disk, more densely so
on the sides; the metathorax rugose, truncate posteriorly ; the wings
-subhyaline, slightly clouded at their apical margins; the tegule pi-
ceous ; the nervures ferruginous; the legs have a rich rufo-fulvous
pubescence, that on the tarsi beneath is rufo-ferruginous ; the apical
joints ferruginous. Abdomen ovate, shining, and very delicately
punctate; the margins of the segments are pale rufo-piceous, and
have a thin fascia of fulvous pubescence, except the basal one, which
has only a little laterally ; the basal margin of the second and third
segments has an interrupted fascia of white pubescence, the latter
sometimes almost or entirely obliterated; the apex fulvous; beneath,
the pubescence is fulvous.

Male.—(Length 34—4} lines). Black; the face has a clothing of
short white pubescence, slightly stained with yellow at the base of
the antenne, which are not quite so long as the head and thorax ; the
clypeus produced in front, more or less yellow at the apex ; the man-
dibles ferruginous at their apex, and sometimes having a yellow stripe
in the middle. Thorax very closely punctured, thinly clothed on the
disk with pale fulvous pubescence; the tegule rufo-piceous, with a
yellow spot in front; the wings hyaline, iridescent, and slightly
clouded at their apical margins; the four posterior tibiz, at their base
and apex, the anterior pair, with a line above, yellow; all the tarsi
yellow, with the apical joints ferruginous. Abdomen, the first seg-
ment, except the extreme base, and the whole of the second and third
segments, red ; at the basal margin of the second and third segments,
laterally, is a patch of white pubescence, beyond which is a black dot.

Var. 1, with a black spot in the centre of the second and third seg-
ments.

Var. 2, with a broad black stain on the second and third segments,
leaving only the margins and sides laterally red.

Var. 3, only the margins narrowly red.

Var. 4, the margins only narrowly rufo-piceous.

The synonymes of this species, as quoted by St. Fargeau, and also
by Walckenaer, are not altogether satisfactory: St. Fargeau refers the
_ male to the Apis bicincta of Schrank, but the description of that au-
thor is too brief to be relied upon ; it would suit, equally well, two or
more distinct species. I think the female is the Andrena vulpina of
Fabricius’s ‘ Syst. Piez.’ As far as the description of that author goes
it suits our species very well. The Halictus terebrator of Walckenaer
is undoubtedly synonymous, yet, although that author was of the same
opinion, he, regardless of all laws of priority, sunk the name given by

.

2108 Insects.

Kirby. Since the male is the Hyleus abdominalis of Panzer, I have
adopted his name for the species: the red-banded variety has hitherto
been considered distinct by all authors, but it is only a variety of the.
dark-coloured male described in the ‘Monographia Apum Angliz.’
Last September I captured great numbers of both sexes mingled in
community, and in July I took several pairs zm coitu : it is one of the
most abundant species of the genus; and it is remarkable, that in
some localities I have observed that the males were almost all of the
red-banded variety, whilst in others they were all, or nearly so, of the
darker kind. The female is very partial to hard sandy spots in which
to construct her burrows, which are very numerous in some localities.

FREDERICK SMITH.
5, High Street, Newington,
February 19, 1848.

(To be continued).

Notice of the Occurrence of Rare Coleopterous Insects, with Observations on their Habits ;
to which is appended the Description of a Species hitherto unrecorded as British.
By Epwarp W. Janson, Esq.

Ocys tempestivus. This species is not uncommon at Colney-hatch during the
months of August and September : it frequents the trunks of trees growing in damp
places, lurking in inequalities of the bark at their bases in cloudy and bad weather,
and in the bright sunshine visiting even their topmost branches ; I presume in search
of minute insects. It is exceedingly nimble on foot, and is secured with difficulty.
I have occasionally taken it hybernating in crevices of the bark overgrown with moss.

Abdera bifasciata. Of this species, which, I believe, has hitherto occurred but
seldom, and a specimen or two only at a time, I am acquainted with a colony in the
decayed branches of an oak at Colney-hatch, where I annually secure many specimens
in the month of July.

Abdera quadrifasciata. This species, like its congener, A. bifasciata, is a wood-
feeder, and appears to be gregarious. I know of one locality only for this species, viz.
a decayed branch of an oak at Colney-hatch, by beating which with a heavy stick, in
the month of July, I have for several years past taken about half-a-dozen specimens.
I must observe that it inhabits the interior of the wood, and that the branch must be
struck with considerable force to dislodge it.

Phloiophilus Edwardsii. This variable species, of which the P. Cooperi is proba-
bly a variety, I have annually met with abundantly, in the month of June, in a copse
near Colney-hatch, but which has recently been destroyed in constructing the Great
Northern Railway. It is found on the dead branches of trees (I remarked it on those
of the oak and hornbeam), in damp and shady places; and as I have invariably found
it only on those overgrown with lichens, and observed that a tap insufficient to break

Insects. 2109

the branch caused it to be dislodged, I infer that it feeds on the lichens. I have occa-
sionally met with it in similar situations at Southwood, Highgate.

Ctenicerus sanguinicollis. I dug two specimens (males) from loam, at the foot of
an oak at Snaresbrook, in April last : the tree at whose base these specimens occurred
had been wounded, and the soil beneath was saturated with the discharged sap, and
contained numerous wireworms, probably larve of the present species. I obtained a
fine specimen of the female of this species in June last, by sweeping herbage on a bank
facing the river at Southend. .

Tetratoma ancora. Of this variable species I have, during the last four years, cap-
tured nearly as many dozen specimens at Colney-hatch : it is a wood-feeder, and in-
habits the rotten stumps of branches which have either been lopped off within an inch
or two of the trunk or fallen from decay ; on splitting these the insect is found con-
cealed in its burrow after the fashion of an Anobium, e.g. A. castaneum. I feel
satisfied that dead wood is its nidus, having always (with the exception shortly men-
tioned) taken it in this substance. It is possible that violent gales ur other circum-
stances may occasionally rupture the branches in which it lives, and, dislodging the
insect from its abode, it may seek a temporary asylum in moss. I have long been a
collector of moss, and have only on one occasion (a day or two subsequent to the trees
it inhabits having undergone lopping and trimming) met with the insect in such a si-
tuation. This species is found from the commencement of December to the end of
May. I have taken it from the oak and hornbeam, but have not yet succeeded in
rearing it from what I presume to be its larva.

Tetratoma Desmaretsit. I had first the pleasure of taking this conspicuous species
in the month of October, 1845, at which time I supplied the cabinets of Messrs. Wa-
terhouse, Wollaston, Stevens and Smith, with specimens: notwithstanding repeated
and fruitless search in the works of continental entomologists for a description agree-
ing with the species under consideration, the knowledge that there existed many books
to which I had not yet been able to gain access gave rise to the fear that it might
have been already described, and deterred me from announcing it as new and assign-
ing it a name which should hereafter be sunk as a synonyme, and I preferred the risk
of sacrificing that éclat which many (judging from their precipitate descriptions of
supposed new insects) appear to think attends the discovery of an unrecorded species,
to the stigma which, in my opinion, is attached to those who bestow a name on a con-
spicuous species previously described in a well-known work treating of the order to which
the said species appertains. At the latter end of the past year, chancing to fall in with
a copy of Latreille’s ‘Genera Crustaceorum et Insectorum,’ I at once recognized the
T. Desmaretsii of that work as the insect I had taken at Henhault. I showed speci-
mens to that accomplished entomologist, Dr. Schaum, then in London, who fully
concurred with me that it was the species thus designated by Latreille, observing that
he had seen the specimen which I had sent to Mr. Wollaston, and that it was of very
rare occurrence on the Continent, which latter remark is fully borne out by Latreille,
who says, “‘ once observed in the month of December, in a Boletus on an oak, in the
Bois-de-Boulogne, Paris.”

As above stated, I first met with this insect in the month of October, 1845. I beat
nine specimens from a partially-decayed oak-bough in Henhault forest : on visiting
the same tree, on the 26th of September of last year, I again succeeded in capturing
upwards of a dozen specimens: although on each occasion I devoted several hours
to searching for the insect in similar situations in the neighbourhood, I was unsuc+

VI X

2110 Insects.

cessful; and I greatly fear, from the ravage which time had made, since my previous
visit, on the only decaying bough on which this species was found, that the day is
at hand when the nidus of T. Desmaretsii will be no more. I feel satisfied that, like
its congener, T. ancora, this species is a wood-feeder, feeding not on the bark, but in
and upon the wood.

I will now conclude these rambling remarks by expressing my surprise that Mr.
J. F. Stephens, who received his specimen of this insect from me with the observation
that I intended shortly to notice its capture, should have recorded it in his list (Zool.
1996): if no actual merit attends the discovery of a species new to our Fauna, it is at
least somewhat uncourteous to deprive the discoverer of the pleasure which I am sure
every naturalist must feel in first announcing the capture of a well-marked species.

TetTratToMA Drsmaretsil, Lat. Gen. Crust. et Insect. ii. 180.

Length 1{—2 lines. Brassy green or olivaceous, clothed with griseous pubescence,
deeply and thickly punctured throughout, interstices shining: head pitchy black ;
mouth and antenne pitchy testaceous, the basal joints of the latter a little paler; club
large, dusky and pilose: thorax convex, transverse, considerably narrowed in front,
dilated behind the middle; its base sinuated, rather narrower than the base of the
elytra, and with two shallow fovee; all its angles rounded ; scutellum distinct, trans-
verse ; elytra with the lateral margins nearly parallel, slightly dilated posteriorly ;
beneath pitchy black, slightly pubescent, minutely and thickly punctured ; legs pale
testaceous. The colour varies according to maturity ; young specimens have the
elytra pitchy testaceous, with a greenish tint.

Epwarp W. Janson.

4, New Broad Street, London,

February 29, 1848.

Notes on the Capture of Harpalide and the Allied Families, in the Isle of Wight.
By the Rev. J. F. Dawson, M.A.

I sHA.t select those species only which are of less general distribution ; but must
premise, first, that those noticed are principally from the south coast of this island, in a
line extending from Black Gang Chine to the Culver Cliffs (there are, however, ex-
ceptions, which will be specified as the insects are enumerated); and secondly, that
the season of their capture does not extend beyond the end of May in each year.

Drypta emarginata, This insect has already been recorded (Zool. 1043) as cap-
tured by myself in 1845 and 1846, previous to which it had not, I believe, occurred
since 1815. It appears to be not only rare, but also extremely local here ; for though
I have taken it sparingly, both early in the spring and at the end of October, it seldom
turns up. A friend of mine, being anxious to capture the species, once gave a draw-
ing of it to a labouring man, desiring him to reserve anything he met with like it, in
his horticultural pursuits, Some time after the man met and accosted me—“ Please,
sir, I found one o’ them things as that gent gave me a pictur on, and I kept he some
time, but 'n got away ;’’ and when I expressed my doubts as to its being the genuine

—

Insects. 2111

_ article, he said, confidently—*“ Oh, yes, sir, I’m certain sure it was ; for Jem and me
look’d at ’n along with the pictur, and it was was just like he, for it had gotten sia legs
and two horns on its head !” It is rather inactive in its movements, and remains con-
cealed partially or wholly in the ground during the day, or under stones, in a soil of
stiff clay, full of cracks and crevices.

Dromius sigma, Dej. (bipennifer, Bab.) A dark variety, having the band on the
elytra broader than in those specimens which we take at Whittlesea Mere. Local ;
under stones on the heath opposite Steephill.

Dromius spilotus, De}. (impunctatus, Steph.) In considerable abundance in a ditch

by the side of an arable field near Sandown, in April and May, 1846. Soil, a light
~ dry sand.
Polistichus vittatus. One specimen, on the 25th of April, 1846, from the same
- locality as the last—not one in which we should expect to have found it; though if
its habitat at all resembles that of the allied genus, Cymindis, it may probably occur
on the high Downs at no great distance ; and it would appear to be a strictly vernal
species, as other recorded captures were made from March to April.

Dyschirius politus. Taken sparingly in May, 1845 and 1846, in a sandy situation
near the shore between Luccomb and Shanklin.

Dyschirius eneus, Zeig. (tristis, Steph., is apparently the female). I have captured
about twenty specimens in the same locality.

Trimorphus humeralis, Bonelli (scapularis and confinis, Steph.) Plentiful, in moss
from Shanklin Copse, in April and May.

Sphodrus leucophthalmus. This species visits the sugar at night placed on trees for
Noctuz, which proves very attractive also to Oncomera femorata.

Argutor longicollis. Occurs near Ryde and Sandown, but not in great abundance.

Amara ? (tricuspidata, Steph. Cab.) This species, which in form much
resembles a Bradytus, is not the true tricuspidata of Dejean, and appears to require a
name. It was in great profusion in May, 1846, among heaps of refuse left by a flood
at Ryde; but I have not taken it since.

Bradytus fulvus, Dej. Found in sandy places near the beach at Ryde.

Harpalus serripes, Schon. (stygius, Wilk). Stretching downwards from the high
headland which forms the eastern promontory of this island, and bordering on the cliff
in the direction of Sandown, is a tract of arable land, comprising several fields, of a
very light and arid sand, before you arrive at the clay, some one or more of which are
every year fallowed and cleaned for turnips, when vast quantities of twitch are col-
lected by the drags out of this kind of land, and thrown together into heaps, prepara-
tory to being carted away or burned. By turning over these heaps in the month of
May, an immense profusion of Harpali (as well as other allied genera, not to mention
those of various separate divisions of Coleoptera) is found, chiefly of the common spe-
cies,—rubripes in all its varieties (as marginellus, azureus, fulvipes, &c.), and amongst
them serripes, tardus, rufimanus (var.), anxius, &c., occur ; and in more limited num-
bers and less frequently, annulicornis, attenuatus, perplexus? and lentus? Of the
two last I have met with but one specimen of each, and am compelled to attach a ? to
the names.

Harpalus cupreus. By still continuing in the direction of Sandown, you come to
a ved clay soil, and here this rare species is now and then taken. As serripes and the
others occur only in the sandy district, so this is found but in clay soils, here, at Ryde

2112 Insects.

and at Cowes. Unlike the other species of the genus, it is rather sluggish in its
movements.

Harpalus semiviolaceus, Dej. (thoracicus, &c., Steph.) This species is locally
abundant on stony banks in the chalk district of Ventnor. Thus serripes may be ex-
pected to occur in sandy, cupreus in clay soils, and semiviolaceus in stony and chalky
districts.

Ophonus punctulatus and nitidulus. Scarce, under stones near the Culver Cliffs.

Ophonus obscurus, azureus, puncticollis and punctatissimus. All are very abundant
species.

Trechus exiguus var. luridus, Dej. ( flavicollis of the London cabinets).. Apparently
scarce here, as I have met with only four or five specimens, which were shaken out
of moss.

Trechus flavicollis, Sturm. Of this extremely rare species (the true flavicollis of
Sturm) only four examples have hitherto been captured in England, viz., a pair by
Mr. Dale, near Lymington, Hants, and a pair in a damp sandy situation on the South
coast of the Isle of Wight, in May, 1846, one of which was taken by my friend Mr.
Wollaston, and the other by myself at the same time. Though I have paid frequent
visits to the spot, it has not since turned up.

Trechus similis, Dej., Erich. (ruficollis, Steph.) Abundant in moss from St. Boni-
face Down. It is pretty plentiful in moory situations, where the heath grows ; and I
have found it in such at Weybridge, and on some high moors in North Wales.

Tachys obtusus, Sturm, and maritimus, Steph. Man. Both local, in sandy places.
By looking for them on the ground, among the scanty herbage, they may be taken in
company with Limnichus sericeus and Georyssus pygmeus, &c.

Philocthus hemorrhous. With the above, and from moss in winter.

Ocys currens. A single specimen was taken alive in my house last spring: I have
no idea whence it came. The insect frequents sandy situations, of which we have
nothing of the kind very near. _'The other species (melanocephalus) of this genus (for
tempestivus of Panzer is not an Ocys, but is identical with Trechus minutus, Fab.) is
very abundant in damp sandy places, between Luccomb and Shanklin.

Peryphus maritimus and ustus. The former abundant ; the latter scarce, on the
sea shore south of the island, in company with littoralis.

Peryphus nitidulus. This species is not found on the South coast, but in great
profusion running over the wet clay slopes on the edge of the shore, to the westward
of Cowes.

Lopha pusilla, Gyll. Not uncommon near Ryde.

Stenolophus Skrimshiranus, Lymneum nigropiceum and Blemus pallidus (which
last, however, is ascertained by Dr. Schaum to be distinct from the pallidus of Sturm,
and will require a change of name) have already been noticed (Zool. 1359). The two
latter are found only on the shore at some depth among the fine shingle; the former
in one solitary damp spot near Niton, among dead leaves and refuse. All three are
very local ; they may, however, be taken nearly all through the winter.

J. F. Dawson.
Ventnor, March, 1848.

7° ee,

Insects. 2113

Capture of Three Specimens. of Calosoma Sycophanta at Brighton.— Being at
Brighton during the summer of 1843, I met a friend, who informed me that he had
taken a curious green insect, crawling upon the gravel-walk of the esplanade opposite
Brunswick Square. Upon opening the box wherein it was confined, I was astonished
at beholding a brilliant male of that rare beetle Calosoma Sycophanta, which, although
three weeks had elapsed since it had been captured, was still alive: it is now in my
possession. My first impression was, that it had been brought into the Channel by
some homeward-bound vessel, and had flown ashore; but I am now convinced it is a
British specimen, as I have since been fortunate enough to receive two others from
the immediate neighbourhood.— William Courtis ; Ponder’s End, Enfield, Middlesex,
March 17, 1848.

Occurrence of Carabus clathratus in Sutherlandshire and the Hebrides——When on
our late tour, my brother took two specimens of Carabus clathratus in Sutherlandshire
and three in Harris: it seems to be by no means uncommon in these localities.— W.
M. E. Milner ; Tadcaster, March, 1848.

Capture of Coleoptera at Whittlesea Mere.—I spent a couple of days last July in
Holme Fen, where I made the following captures, among many others.

Odacantha melanura.

Demetrias unipunctatus, Creutz (monostigma, Leach). Abundant, by shaking the
bundles of sedge over my net. |

Dromius sigma, Dej., and bipennifer, Bab.

Dromius longiceps. Three specimens of this rare species, which had not been
taken for many years.

Dyschirius minimus, Curtis. Probably a mere local variety of gibbus.

Omaseus aterrimus, O. anthracinus, O. gracilis, Dej., (levigatus, Steph.), Oodes
Helopioides, Trechus placidus. These were on the mud among the reeds.

Silis ruficollis. Not uncommon, reposing on the flags at the edge of the Mere.

Anobium castaneum and rufipes.

Rhinonchus tibialis and crassus.

Pachyrinus quadri-tuberculatus and Comavri.

Orchestes scutellaris.

Grypidius Equisett.

Erirhinus schirrhotus.

Notaris Scirpi.

Galeruca rustica.

Haltica Cyparissie, Steph.

Haltica Salicarie. By sweeping.

On the same occasion I captured a pair of small Harpalide, which are certainly a
new genus to the British list, but of which I am unable to ascertain the name. In the
form of the thorax they appear to come very near Olisthopus. Lycena dispar has
become very nearly extinct: I could hear of only five larve having been taken, and
very few of the perfect insect appeared that season.—J. F. Dawson ; Ventnor, March
6, 1848.

2114 Insects.

Notes on the Haltice of the Isle of Wight. By the Rev. J. F. Dawson, M.A.

Tuts interesting tribe, being (from the circumstance of their affecting peculiar
plants) less generally distributed, have always proved more particularly acceptable to
my entomological friends ; and perhaps a notice of the various species which are found
in this part of the kingdom may not be out of place, more especially as out of the
whole number (about one hundred) which are found in England, nearly one half occur
within six or seven miles of this place. My experience, however, does not extend be-
yond the beginning of June in each year, from which time till near Christmas I have
no opportunity of ascertaining what further species our island possesses, in consequence
of my absence, particularly during the autumn—that best of all seasons for this par-
ticular tribe. ;

Phyllotraia antennata. This species is extremely abundant on various early plants,
but more particularly on the sunny sides of stone walls, where they may be found in
great profusion, in company with P. consobrina.

Phyllotrata consobrina. By far our commonest species, and occurring as ay as
February. I have also taken it on the opposite coast. Such being the case, it is ra-
ther singular that it should so long have continued unique in Mr. Curtis’s collection.
Since, however, I rediscovered it (as recorded in the ‘ Zoologist’), that gentleman in-
forms me he has taken it in his garden. I suspect that dispar, Rudd, is merely a va-
riety of this species. I have never seen Mr. Rudd’s specimens, but have been in the
habit of taking females corresponding with his description ; and these females, with
red basa] joints to their antenne, are certainly the consobrina.

Phyllotrata atra. Abundant on hedges near Cowes, also in the copses at St. Law-
rence, as well as by sweeping the herbage along the edge of the cliffs to the east of
Sandown.

Phyllotrata nemorum. Too generally distributed.

Phyllotrata flecuosa. By no means abundant, but taken by sweeping, and from
moss in winter.

Aphthona Pseudacori. Very abundant on Iris Pseudacorus in Newchurch Marshes,
and at Ryde.

Aphthona Euphorbia. Very common on hedges and a dwarf species of nettle.
An early species.

Aphthona atrocerulea. Not very common early in the spring.

Aphthona herbigradus. By sweeping, on the sides of the Downs, in April.

Graptodera oleracea. Plentiful, by sweeping in grassy places.

Graptodera Eruce. Common on the hazel.

Graptodera Mercurialis. On the plant whose name it bears, and, as usual, in
abundance.

Podagrica fuscipes. Of very early appearance, and in great profusion, on the
dwarf mallow, on which it feeds.

Podagrica erata. Everywhere in abundance on the bramble with us, though con-
sidered scarce in most parts of England.

Crepidodera ferruyinea and exoleta do not appear till June, after which they pro-
bably become as abundant here as elsewhere, in the localities they affect. The former
is found both in damp meadows and pond-banks, and also in the driest upland pas-
tures, where: not another beetle apparently has life (except indeed Spheroderma Car-
dui): the latter is found in situations commanding some degree of humidity.

Insects. 2115

Crepidodera Modeeri. Plentiful in Newchurch Marshes, &c.

Crepidodera rufipes. Also abundant in grassy places.

Crepidodera Helxines, fulvicornis and cyanea. On sallows and aspens, in profu-
sion. These three (?) species, especially fulvicornis, are very variable in colour, as we
know, exhibiting shades of golden, bronze, green, purple, &c., and these variations
are not confined to the sexes uniformly ; sometimes the bronze male is attached to a
blue or green female, and vice versd, and sometimes both sexes are of the same colour;
so that if these three be, as I suspect, but one species, it might deservedly be called
variabilis, in the fullest sense of the term.

Thyamis tabida. On Senecio jacobea ; a blood-red variety.

Thyamis flavicornis. I captured this species rather plentifully on the PeMosk,
in a ploughed field, near the spot where St. Catharine’s lighthouse stands. It oc-
curred in May, 1845.

Thyamis pratensis and apicalis. Not common, at least early in the spring.

Thyamis ochroleuca. This species does not occur early in the season, but was
tolerably abundant in my garden, in the summer time, four or five years ago.

Thyamis Ballote. A very early and abundant species, on Ballota nigra in certain
situations ; for though the plant grows here in profusion, it is only in one or two spots
I find the insect.

Thyamis dorsalis. This pretty species occurs very early, and in fact may be met
with all through the winter, on Senecio jacobea, in warm sheltered spots, open to the
sun, and is pretty abundant in such places in March and April.

Thyamis melanocephala. Common in herbage and moss.

Thyamis atricilla. In meadows and grassy places, and from moss, but not abun-
dant in the spring.

Thyamis thoracica. In the copses near Ryde and St. Lawrence, &c.

Thyamis fuscescens, lurida and pusilla. The two last most abundant.

Thyamis parvula. By sweeping the fine turf on the sides of the Downs: it occurs,
as usual, in company with Aphthona herbigradus, sparingly, in April. The two spe-
cies are generally found together, and I have taken them in similar situations, in
September, at Mickleham.

Macrocnema Dulcamare. By no means common, and apparently local. I have
taken about a dozen specimens, by examining the sunny sides of a stone wall, on warm
days early in the spring, where they appear basking and enjoying themselves, and evi-
dently prepared for a spring, so that it requires some address to secure them.

Macrocnema Napi and erythrocephala. Occasionally on oleraceous plants.

Macrocnema Spergule. Local, but in some plenty in the early spring of 1846,
from February to April. I have not since met with it here.

Macrocnema marcida. On Kakile maritima.

Macrocnema affinis. I have taken only one specimen: it may possibly occur, as
the season advances, more freely.

Mantura rustica and semienea. I have only met with two specimens of each, and
they were shaken out of moss from a sandy common near Newchurch. None of the
species of Mantura occur, I believe, very early.

Mantura obtusata. On the dwarf Cistus, in chalky soils, in April, 1848, sparingly ;
but it will probably occur more plentifully as the season advances, for I took it on the
Gogmagog hills, near Cambridge, at the beginning of June.

2116 Insects.

Chetocnema aridella and dentipes. Both very common.

Chetocnema Sahlbergii. _ I swept two specimens into my net on the edge of New-
church Marsh, and obtained one from moss last year.

Chetocnema aridula. One specimen, from the same locality, out of moss. It
much resembles aridella, but the thorax is more finely punctured, and ne a very
glassy appearance.

Spheroderma testacea and Cardui. Abundant enough in the summer.

Apteropoda graminis. From moss, and by sweeping in the copses at St. Lawrence,
&c., but not abundant. Some specimens. are brownish copper, others a brilliant
green.

_ Mniophila muscorum. I add this species, which is plentiful i in moss from Shank-
lin Copse. Its attempts at jumping are anything but brilliant.

To the above species, which I have been enabled to enumerate as actually oceur-
ring, there are, no doubt, others which might be added, Jater in the season ; as, for
instance Thyamis Verbasci, in districts where the mullein grows (for that is decidedly
an autumnal species) ; and, on the whole, I consider the island would well repay in-
vestigation in this group.

J. F. Dawson.
Ventnor, March, 1848.

Note on Lyctus canaliculatus, Fabr.—The British Admiralty having ordered the
use of the Acacia tree for building the most exposed parts of ships, it is interesting to
know that even this hard and bitter wood is not free from the attacks of timber-boring
insects. A solid, cubical and sound piece, above a foot square, which I had in my
possession, was, in the space of a few months, entirely bored through in every direc-
tion by hundreds of the larva of Lyctus canaliculatus, Fabr., and reduced to a
crumbling state. The borings were tortuous and more numerous towards the exterior
part and in the liber, the central part of the block being left uninjured or nearly so.
The perfect insect made its appearance on May 12th, and continued to come forth un-
til the end of that month.—Julian Deby.

Occurrence of the Locust near Doncaster.—A locust was brought to me on the 5th
of last September, by a man who had found it in a field at some distance from the
town. He had it in a box, with some leaves of coarse grass, which it was greedily
devouring. When I killed it—which I did by inserting a quill dipped in oxalic acid
into the thorax—it emitted a cry somewhat similar to that of the house cricket, but
exceedingly faint, and seemed very tenacious of life.—John Hawley.

Occurrence of the Locust at Bembridge-—In August, 1846, after nearly an hour’s
chase, I captured a fine specimen of the locust, in a stubble-field close to the sea, at
Bembridge, Isle of Wight. I was informed that several specimens had been taken in
that locality—Henry G. Barns ; 5, George Street, Whitechapel, April 8, 1848.

a.

Zoology of the Indian Archipelago. 2117

Zoology of the Indian Archipelago.

Tue living creatures of the Eastern Archipelago are numerous and varied. In the
vast woods, there so abundant and so extensive, the explorer may constantly hear the
rush of the elephant and see his dark colossal form bursting through the thickets, at
the same instant that his eye is attracted by some tiny lizard crawling up the trunk of
a tree, or making its slow way noiselessly over the face of a damp rock at the margin
of a stream. Four-footed beasts, birds of gorgeous plumage, and almost every variety
of reptile and insect, are to be met with, though comparatively few are of a malignant
or dangerous nature.

Borneo itself, one of the most extraordinary countries of the group of Twelve
Thousand Islands, harbours an immense variety of living creatures. In the northern
parts, in the recesses of deep forests, the natives say that the elephant exists, though
it has not been seen by any modern traveller. Most probably, however, it does live,
or did once live there, though it may now be extinct, as several teeth have been disco-
vered in the vicinity of Cape Unsing. We are inclined to believe, that when research
shall have been further extended, the elephant will be discovered treading the deep,
and at present inaccessible wilds, where for ages he has lived in perfect security. If
he be common, there must be a vast amount of herbage growing wild in the in-
terior.

It has been ascertained, that in the remotest marshy forests of the interior the rhi-
noceros exists. It is seldom seen, and is said to be rare. The habits of this animal,
however, lead us to conjecture that it may be much more common in Borneo than is
generally supposed. Loving the dark jungle, it seldom crosses the path of the travel-
ler, but rather haunts the least frequented spots, living on such vegetable substances
as it can procure.

No lions, tigers, wolves, foxes or jackalls, are to be found in Borneo, but a species
of panther has been seen, though not of a large size or sanguinary disposition. In
appearance it resembles the famous hunting cheeta of India. The small Malayan
bear is found on the west coast, and is also exceedingly common in the district inha-
bited by the tribe of Dyaks known as the Kayans, whose whole clothing is frequently
made of this animal’s skin. It also lives in the woods, feeding on vegetables, and
eating honey with avidity when it can procure it. Oftentimes it is seen climbing to
the tops of the tallest tapang palms, in search of the wild bees’ nest. The large Ma-
layan bear is common all over the country, and affords excellent sport to the European
settlers at Sarawak: its flesh is coarse, insipid, and quite devoid of fat, not much
sought after by Europeans, but greatly relished by the natives.

Wild pigs are abundant. Though the Dyaks are constantly employed in hunting
and setting traps for them in the jungle, so that thousands and tens of thousands are
slaughtered every year, they still keep multiplying in an astonishing degree. There
are two kinds; the large, long-legged, bristly, brown pig, mostly inhabiting the sea-
shore districts, and the white, short-legged, barrel-budied pig, which lives chiefly in the
interior. Both species subsist on vegetable substances, deyouring everything of the
kind which comes in their way, especially fruits, of which they are ravenously fond,
which accounts for their always growing fat and well-flavoured in the fruit season.
Pork forms one of the principle articles of food among the Dyak tribes. Wher-
ever the traveller stops, at every farm, round every village, every town, city and

¥I ¥

2118 _ Loology of the

hamlet, pigs are seen foraging amid the offal and the vegetables which in all direc-
tions grow so luxuriantly.

The palandok is a small species of deer, the smallest indeed of the tribe. Its
height is generally about eight inches at the shoulder. The whole body of this little
creature is covered with a thick, glossy, soft, brown fur, which—with its eyes of the
most melting lustre—render it a beautiful animal. It runs in pairs in the forest, feed-
ing on grass and the blossoms of a certain delicate flower, which it eats with the
greatest avidity. The lovely and lonely valleys of Borneo abound in the palandok,
where it can obtain the sweetest and greenest grass, and be in the shade of the quiet
copse woods. Notwithstanding its beautiful and elegant appearance, the palandok is
often eaten, though it is much better fitted to afford similes for the poet than to form
the bon bouche of an epicure. ’

The kijang resembles the antelope, except that it has horns, the points of which
are bent forward. It is a very graceful animal, of a light brown colour.

Monkeys are found in immense numbers, and of the most various species. Bor-
neo, indeed, is the only true native country of the ourang-outang, which is there known
as the ‘ wild man of the woods.’ There are two species of it,—the Mias pappan,
. which is the largest, and the Mias rembi,—distinguished also from each other by the
abundant bunches of red hair and the cheek-callosities of the former, which is in every
respect an extraordinary animal.

Many extraordinary stories are related of the Mias pappan: one, told by Mr.
Hugh Low, whose excellent work on Borneo is full of such details, we may relate in
few words. A Dyak, who owned a moderate farm, planted with sugar-cane, was much
annoyed by the visits of an ourang-outang, which, coming in the night-time, commit-
ted great ravages among the sugar-canes, of which the animal is extremely fond.
The farmer not at all relishing this destruction of his property, one night—when the
moon was up and the sky unclouded—came forth armed with a spear, purposing to
attack and destroy the robber. Hiding himself in a thicket, he remained motionless
until the Mias came, and, seating himself on the trunk of a tree, commenced crushing
and masticating the canes. The Dyak now cautiously approached, and succeeded in
inflicting a wound on the ourang-outang, with the spear with which—in addition to a
sword—he was armed, as these animals when hurt fight ferociously. The Mias turned
to see by whom he had been wounded, and perceived, coming down the trunk of a tree
towards him, a bear, probably only with the intention of sharing his meal; but the
ourang-outang, who did not see the man, fancied the bear the aggressor, and began to
punish him accordingly. The Dyak, fearing lest they should see and both fall upon
the real offender, made off as fast as possible, his flight being somewhat accelerated by
the fear caused by the grunting of the one and the growling of the other-combatant.
Next morning, on returning, he found the bear dead on the spot, and not far distant
the Mias had dragged himself to expire.

The enterprising Mr. Brooke and his companions in Borneo often enjoyed the sport of
hunting the Mias pappan. On one occasion a large specimen was seen seated amid the
branches of a lofty tree springing out of a great forest lake. A pursuit was immediately
commenced, and in a short time the devoted brute fell with a heavy splash into the water.
One peculiarity of this animal is, that when pursued and wounded, instead of endea-
vouring to escape, it retreats to the summit of a lofty tree, and there deliberately weaves
itself a nest among the branches, where it sits till death eases it of its sufferings. The
whole race is indolent and sluggish in its movements, and indifferent to the presence

ee ee ee eS Ll

Indian Archipelago. _ EP

of men, which may be accounted for by the fact that few explorers have as yet tra-
versed the woods where the Mias is tv be found, and that the forest is little used to be
disturbed, and not apprehensive of danger. Some of the animals are exceedingly tall
and powerful, being more than a match for a full-grown and strong man. The me-
thod adopted by the Dyaks when they wish to catch one is as follows. Having dis-
covered the animal in a tree, they approach without noise, and as quietly as possible
cut down all the trees around the one he occupies. Being previously provided with
poles, some with nooses attached to the ends and others forked, they fell the isolated
tree, when the Mias, confused and entangled, is beset by his pursuers, noosed, forked
down, and seized without much further difficulty. Mr. Brooke, in his recent series of
journals, states, that the Mias wanders about a good deal during the full of the moon,
but remains sluggish while the moon is young. The natives attribute this to a fever
which seizes these animals at the new moon.

The ‘ wa wa,’ or long-armed ape, is the most beautiful of the monkey tribe. It is
very gentle, with soft bright eves. Its colour is gray, with the exception of the face, .
hands and feet, which are jet black. This pretty little animal is exceedingly delicate,
living on herbs and flowers. It is abundant in the jungles of Sarawak, where it may
be heard, early in the morning, uttering that strange note which has been compared
to the noise made by water being poured out of a bottle. The affection of these ani-
mals when domesticated is remarkable ; they lie back when they see any one who has
been kind to them, leap upon his breast, and throw their arms around his body, just
as a child will embrace its mother. If suffered they will remain in this position for
hours, and they utter a plaintive cry when removed.

The moniet is a pretty little monkey, with a long tail and grayish fur: it is easily
tamed, and when domesticated its antics are exceedingly amusing.

The long-nosed or proboscis monkey has seldom or never been brought alive to
Europe. It may be considered almost as the most curious of its species. In size it
approaches the ourang-outang, though far less repulsive in appearance: it is furnished
with a long tail and remarkably fine and soft fur, of a fawn colour: its eyes are small
and bright ; its teeth sharp and long ; but the most curious feature in its face is the
nose, which is long and fleshy, and not unlike a very large specimen of the -human
nose: indeed the whole face bears a great resemblance to the face of a man.

There are innumerable other specimens of the monkey tribe to be met with in
Borneo, including a disgusting short-tailed baboon. All kinds of these animals are
destructive to agriculture, as they pillage and destroy the rice crops, throw the fruits,
and commit all manner of devastation in the Dyak farms. The consequence of this
is an unremitting war between monkeys and men. As evening approaches, the banks
of every river absolutely swarm with monkeys, leaping from bough to bough with in-
cessant noise, while underneath, the natives—armed with every conceivable weapon
of destruction—assault their enemies, both for the purpose of getting rid of them, and
also to procure their flesh, which is highly esteemed as an article of food.

Alligators abound in every river and creek of Borneo: some of them are of an
enormous size, and extremely destructive. Every one is too well acquainted with the
outward appearance of these animals to need a deseription here. We shall, therefore,
content ourselves with describing a few of its peculiarities as observed on thisisland. It
is a most destructive animal. Men, dogs, monkeys and cats are alike its prey, for which
reason the natives of Borneo use every possible means to destroy it. The usual method
is to attach a cat or monkey to a stick floating on the surface of the water, and above the

2120 Zoology of the

alligator’s reach is generally placed a bamboo cage, containing a dog, whose loud and

continued howling attracts the animal to the spot. Fastened to the stick by a short

piece of cord is a long rattan, which—when the alligator has swallowed the bait and is
annoyed by the piece of wood in his throat—discovers the place to which he retreats,
which is generally some woody creek. The natives now assemble in great numbers,
beating drums and waving flags, and address the alligator with all sorts of dignified
and conciliatory expressions,—“ Will the rajah come on shore? Will the rajah please
to be quiet?” The monster is then seized, bound hand and foot, if we may so speak,
with ropes, and lashed between two canoes, which are then floated to a convenient
spot, where he is despatched. On one occasion, when Mr. Brooke’s followers succeeded
in capturing an alligator, a grand consultation was held as to the mode of disposing
of the king, as he is termed. One party maintained that rajah met rajah, and that,
therefore, it would be highly improper to sacrifice His Highness; that if he were
praised and flattered he would behave genteelly and as became the dignity of his si-
tuation. On the other hand it was argued, that, though true enough it was that on
this occasion rajah met rajah, yet if this alligator were soothed and caressed, and
treated with such marked honour, the consequence would,be that the whole crocodile
community would become vain, unmanageable, puffed up with pride. Long and ear-
nest was the council. Mr. Brooke at length, taking into deep consideration the in-
convenience of harbouring so voracious and unwieldy a monster in his grounds, decided
he should instantly be killed. He was accordingly despatched, his head severed from
the trunk, and the body left exposed as a warning to all other crocodiles inhabiting
that river. In the stomach of this animal was found part of the body of an unfortu-

nate Malay fisherman, who had been seized while occupied with his nets and lines.

The alligators often fight ferociously with one another: they have been found with
several inches of their bony noses broken off in consequence of one of these encoun-
ters. As the ‘ Phlegethon’ steamer proceeded up the Rejang river, Captain Mundy
observed numerous alligators basking in the sun, with their bodies half immersed by
their own weight in the mud. The six-pounders of the steamer opened fire on them
as she passed. For the sake of security for the Dyaks we trust these animals will
speedily be exterminated.

The marshy jungles of Borneo, and Sarawak especially, are about sunset alive with
these animals, and with their inferior brethren, the lizards, of which there exist in the
island so abundant a variety that to to attempt an enumeration of them here would be
out of the question. In every pool, by every spring, beneath every stone, on the trunk
of every tree, on the face of every rock, in the waters of every river, creek and stream,
the alligator and the lizard are to be met, filling the air with harsh and dissonant
noises. Some of these latter are exceedingly beautiful, especially those resembling the
chameleon.

Otters, civet and polecats are numerous in Borneo. The great ant-eater is also to
be met with: it is provided with strong scales, uf a horny texture, and when attacked
will roll itself up into a ball, as the hedgehog, being in this position better defended
by its scaly armour.

The flying fox is another Bornean animal. In the gloomy forests it is continually
soaring far in the air with steady flight, flapping its wings, and uttering at intervals
a shrill ery. Then a rustling sound may be heard among the bushes, and porcupines
in great numbers will rush vut with hideous noise, and trot along with the greatest
agility. The slow-paced lemur now attracts attention as it creeps along, by its beautiful,

Indian Archipelago. 2121

soft, woolly fur, and enormous jet black eyes. Often will this little creature be seen
proceeding, with a low wailing cry, over the ground, with its young clinging tena-
ciously to its fur. These animals are generally torpid during the day, but active
after nightfall.

The mustang is a sportive little animal, with a long tail and moderately soft fur :
it is extremely good-natured, but a great thief. When domesticated on board ship, it
will climb the rigging, and poke into every corner it can find access to, purloining su-
gar and eggs. Often is it thrown overboard as a punishment, but for this it cares
little, swimming like a fish. One which Captain Belcher had on board the ‘ Samar-
rang’ used to accumulate the bananas it stole for a long time, and then luxuriate at
its ease on the delicious fruit, until the whole was exhausted, when it would commence
its depredations anew.

The land tortoises are of two species, one of which attains considerable size ; some
have been seen two feet in length. They dwell in the deep, damp woods, living on
vegetables. |

Every marsh and swamp abounds with frogs, which croak in dismal concert through
the night. Their greatest enemies are the snakes, which are found in great numbers.
Some of the varieties are unknown to European naturalists. ‘The crested cobra of In-
dia is found in Borneo, with the superb but deadly sun-snake, and the golden-ringed
viper,—so called from the beautiful golden rings which encircle its black body. This
species is very common in the mangrove swamps, where it sleeps among the tree tops
till the water of the rain floods has subsided sufficiently for it to seek its food, when it
descends in search of prey. Another kind is called the hammer-headed viper, from its
enormous head: it is very venomous, but sluggish in its movements. The size of
some of the Bornean snakes may be imagined, when we state that one of the Python
species was caught and killed, which contained in its stomach an undigested deer,
horns and all. None of these large snakes are venomous, as their great strength se-
cures the destruction of their prey. There is one of this tribe, the flower-snake, which
is exceedingly beautiful : it is small and graceful, with skin resembling rich velvet, of
a superb green colour above and yellow under. ‘This little creature is not in the least
degree venomous or otherwise hurtful : the Malays entertain a strong partiality for it,
using itasatoy. Another snake very much resembles the harmless one, which has
been the cause of many accidents. An European gentleman was once very near
losing his life through mistaking the one for the other, and attempting to play with
it. Water-snakes abound in the rivers; some of them are poisonous.

Among the birds of Borneo, of which we can here speak at no length, there is one
of which the Dyaks entertain a very great awe. When, on a journey, they hear its
note, nothing can induce them to advance in the direction from which it proceeds:
they will stop and tremble violently, and immediately take another road. Mr. Dalton
in his excursions often tried to induce his followers to show him this bird: this, how-
ever, he could never prevail on them to do. As soon as the note of ill omen was heard,
they would seize the English traveller by the arm, and, pointing with gestures of ap-
prehension to the sky, force him a contrary way. The voice of this bird is like that of
the blackbird, equally sweet, but much louder and stronger.

The woods, jungles and gardens of Borneo teem with insect life. Butterflies, of
gaudy colours and graceful shapes, are everywhere seen flitting. Spiders, in almost
all other countries of so repulsive an aspect, here appear under the most graceful
forms and brilliant hues ; indeed some species uf them may well be termed beautiful :

2122 Zoology of the

their well-shaped bodies and slender legs present every variety of colour, bright erim-
son and speckled blue predominating. The walking-leaf insect is very common: it
generally hangs on a leaf of the guava tree during the day-time, but as night ap-
proaches it flutters swiftly about, its wings in motion resembling leaves.. The various
species of grubs are exceedingly curious: they are tinted with many colours,—red,
yellow, yellowish pink, marbled crimson, black, carmine, light brown and sienna:
they generally infest plantations and gardens. Grasshoppers larger than sparrows
abound in the forests of Borneo: they are of a light green colour and yery inactive,
jumping about lazily in the underwood. Beetles are common: one species is of
remarkable utility: it employs itself constantly in removing any filth which may
happen to accumulate on the ground, and, spreading it abroad, materially assists
the ripening of the soil. The manner in which they conduct this operation is
curious in the extreme: the insect first rolls up a conveniently sized ball of dirt, in
which it deposits its eggs, and then buries it inthe ground. Sometimes scores of these
black-coated gardeners are to be seen in the groves frequented by deer and pigs, bu-
sily at work. ;

The glow-worm of Borneo is indeed a magnificent insect. Each segment of its
body is illuminated with three lines of tiny lamps, which present a most brilliant ap-
pearance to the eye of the traveller who may be proceeding through the woods after
nightfall. It may be seen among the dead damp wood and rotten leaves, glowing
with a bright light, and when placed around the finger it has been compared for beauty
to a magnificent diamond ring.

Mosquitoes, the plague of the sojourner in the tropics, are of course to be met with
in Borneo. They swarm in the forests, in the jungles, plains, and on the hills, and
prove a constant source of annoyance. After a night bivouac, whether under the
shelter of a house or in the open air, the face of the traveller presents an appearance
similar to that presented by one suffering from the small-pox.

Fire-flies illuminate the banks of the rivers. Soon after sunset the foliage of the
podada tree, whose elegant and graceful form well becomes the ornament, is covered
with a perfect blaze of these beautiful little insects. Mr. Brooke particularly mentions
the scenery on both banks of the Samaharan, which he says he has seen lit up by a
trembling glow of brilliancy night after night, presenting a scene of fairy loveliness.

But, though we have yet only galloped through the Zoology of Borneo, and se-
Jected an occasional specimen here and there, if we delay any longer we shall leave
ourselves no space wherein to touch on the animals living on any of the other islands of
the Indian Archipelago : indeed we have already so far passed our limits, that we must
only glance at a few of the living creatures which yet remain to be mentioned.

Tigers abound in many of the islands, among which Sumatra is most infested. In
that country the inhabitants are so pestered and held in continual fear by these fero-
cious animals, that no man ventures abroad at night without a torch, of which the
tiger is much afraid. These torches are made after a peculiar fashion. A piece of
bamboo is hollowed and filled with dammar, an extremely inflammable substance
which there abounds. The villages in this island appear after nightfall under an ex-
traordinary aspect. Huge fires are burned at regular intervals around them, so great is
the dread entertained of the tigers, who have sometimes been known to depoptlate a
whole village; yet a prejudice exists against destroying them, which not even the
offer of reward can remove: indeed a Sumatran will rarely undertake a tiger hunt,
unless he has been deprived of some dear friend by the jaws of that creature. Then,

Indian Archipelago. 2123

when his full anger is roused, he will go forth on the errand of revenge, with as large
a body of companions as he can collect together. Sometimes a large wooden cage is
prepared, in which a dog or goat is secured as abait. The tiger enters cautiously, and,
touching an ingeniously-arranged spring, brings down upon himself the weight of an
enormous piece of timber, which generally effectually maims him.

Another way of catching the tiger is practised. Some daring individual tempts
the animal to pursue him, and maneuvring adroitly manages to cross a broad deep
ditch or chasm, by means of a swinging rope: balanced half-way across the fissure in
the earth is placed a platform of planks, which the tiger, imagining to be the means of
traversing the obstacle, rushes upon, and is thus precipitated into the ditch, at the
bottom of which are arranged numerous sharp stakes. Instances have occurred of a
tiger being caught in a trap, upon whose body have appeared evident marks of the
partial success of the last experiment. Another means adopted is that of noosing the
animal’s body with a lashing of rattans securely woven. :

The tigers of Sumatra have been remarked to be the strongest in the world. They
are said to break without difficulty the leg of a horse or a buffalo, and the largest prey
they kill is without difficulty dragged hy them into the woods. This they usually
do in the second night, gratifying themselves on the first by sucking the blood only.
Of this circumstance the natives sometimes take advantage to prepare for the destruc-
tion of their ferocious enemy, by placing a tub of water, strongly impregnated with ar-
senic, near the carcase. The tiger, gorged with flesh, is tempted by thirst to drink, and
thus poisoned soon perishes inthe indulgence. Their chief sustenance, however, is the
unfortunate monkeys, with which the woods abound. ‘The Sumatrans say the tiger al-
lures the animals to their destruction by a certain fascination : the fact that the animal is
fascinated, though not strictly true, is still true in the abstract. When a tiger or an
alligator approaches a tree filled with monkeys, the latter, stupified with terror, crowd
near the point of the branch under which the greedy brute is waiting to devour them as
they drop, which terror and hasty movements render unavoidable. One superstition
connected with this animal is curious to the last degree, and accounts for the reluc-
tance of the natives to destroy them. The Sumatrans believe that the tigers are en-
dowed with the spirits of the departed dead. Indeed, so strong is this belief, that the
very mention of a tiger inspires the natives with awe. They say, that in some remote
unvisited parts of the island there is a beautiful spot where the king of the tigers holds
his court, and where a large community of the animals exists, their dwellings being
huts thatched with women’s hair. Thither every tiger on the island is said, at inter-
vals, to repair, in order to give an account of himself and his proceedings.

Another custom which obtains in Sumatra, is to place fruit and vegetables at the
entrance of any village the tigers may be seen approaching, in order that the royal
brute may be propitiated. Whether or not his tiger highness is ever satisfied with
these marks of respect deponent sayeth not.

The forests of Sumatra abound with elephants. These animals are gregarious, and,
traversing the country in prodigious troops, cause incredible devastation, devouring the
produce of the whole plantation, and leaving behind them wherever they go a broad
track of desolation and destruction. But their greedy habits often prove fatal to them,
for the native, apprised of the near approach of the elephant army, as it is called, and
despairing of being able to direct its course, goes out into his plantation, and, splitting
an immense number of the sugar-canes, inserts a venomous substance called barran-
gan into the clefts. Next day the elephants are found lying dead in great numbers in

2124 Zoology of the

all directions. Their ivory compensates well for the injury they have inflicted on the
crops and cultivated ground. This animal is not fierce, and will seldom attack a man
unless fired at, when it proves, as well may be imagined, a formidable antagonist.

The rhinoceros is also a native of Sumatra, where his horn is esteemed a powerful
antidote against poison. A small and hardy horse, the obstinate, dull, capricious, but
patient buffalo, the cow, the sheep, the common goat, the goat of the wood (resembling
a gazelle), the Chinese hog, the hippopotamos, the bear, the dog, the cat, the otter, the
sloth, the porcupine, the armadillo (very rare), a prodigious variety of monkeys, deer
(some of them of an enormous size), squirrels and bats, constitute the other members
of the animal kingdom of this great island, if we add an infinite multitude of birds and
creeping things. Among the former is the famous Sumatran or Argos pheasant,
called by the natives the ‘ coo-ow.’ It is a bird of the most rich plumage, though not
distinguished by gaudy hues, It has never been brought alive to Europe, as no one
has ever succeeded in domesticating it: one month’s deprivation of liberty will kill
it. It loves the shady recesses of its native forests, having a great antipathy to light ;
and when sitting in its own quiet retreats, the Argos pheasant will make the wood
echo with the plaintive ‘ coo-ow’ from which it takes its Sumatran name.

Game-cocks are so universal in Sumatra, that no persons possessing any pretension
to respectability, and even those who possess none, keep them. Fathers have been com-
monly known to stake their children, husbands their wives, sons their mothers and
sisters, and all their property besides, on the issue of a battle. Dreadful quarrels,
ending in assassinations, are often the pernicious consequences. Quails, and a small
bird resembling the magpie, are often trained up in the same manner as fighting-cocks.
The latter endeavour to seize each other by the tongue.

The Malayan tapir, found also in Sumatra, resembles in appearance partly a hog
and partly a small elephant. It is a quiet creature, very docile, and easily domesti-
cated. It was first discovered to exist in Sumatra by Sir Stamford Raffles, who says,
in one of his letters, that searching inquiries convinced him that there lived in the
woods of that island an animal of the tapir species, with a narrow riband of white
around the belly and back.

The catalogue of zoological specimens, each distinct and of a different species or
class of animals, which Sir Stamford Raffles collected in Java and Sumatra, would
occupy many pages, and would not perhaps be interesting to the general reader.
We therefore pass it by, and, taking a flying leap to the little islands of Talang Ta-
lang, observe the peculiarities of the turtle, so abundant in all parts of the Indian
Archipelago. A broad sandy beach, admirably adapted for the purpose, attracts the
turtles, and there they deposit their eggs. From the middle of June to the middle of
July, it has been computed that forty thousand eggs are laid there nightly ; that is,
two hundred turtles each deposit two hundred eggs.

On a little hill near the shore of the larger island is erected a large dwelling-house,
surrounded by a stockade, and furthermore guarded by two formidable pieces of artil-
lery. Here reside forty men, whose sole business it is to collect the eggs, which they
sell at the surrounding markets with good profit.

The turtle comes about sunset out of the water, and, after wandering for some
time on the beach, buries its nose in the ground, and commences scooping the sand
with its hinder feet in a most deliberate and easy manner, often pausing to rest.
When a hole of the depth of three or mpre feet has been made, the turtle takes its sta-
tion over it, and lays the eggs at intervals for a long time. It then fills up the empty

Indian Archipelago. 2125

space with sand, which it beats down firmly with its hinder fins, and then retires in a
tortuous direction, winding and twisting up and down, backward and forward, and
_ finally enters the sea at a distance from its nest. The reason of this precaution is,
fear lest its track should serve as a guide to the egg-seekers, who, however, ensconced in
a little watch-house at a considerable distance, observe and mark the spots well. The
turtle never returns to look for its offspring, a great many of which emerge from the
sand and make directly for the water, when they are devoured in vast numbers by the
sharks and other fish.

In Java the custom prevails of eating the flesh of those oxen, horses, deer and goats
which have been employed in labour, when maimed or otherwise rendered unfit for
service. Among the beasts of prey found in this island are several species of tiger, the
wild cat, the leopard, the jackall, and a large species of wild dog; also the rhinoceros,
and alligators as big as crocodiles, to which reverence is paid by the superstitious na-
tives. Monkeys, squirrels, stags, deer, wild oxen, buffaloes, and musk animals also
abound. 2

There exist in Java twenty species of serpents, among which that species of boa
constrictor. called the Anaconda is the largest. It sometimes grows to the length of
thirty feet, and, hanging from the branches of trees, devours monkeys and other ani-
mals in great numbers.

Of birds, two hundred different species have already been discovered in Java.
Many of them are of superb plumage and exquisite song.

Reptiles of all kinds are abundant.

In the various islands of the Oriental Archipelago are to be found many species of
bats, one kind of which it has been said is so large that its wings extended are as much
as a man can stretch with both his arms. They are very numerous in the interior
woods, and may easily be killed. They are never tamed, as they cannot exist unless
in their wild state.

Almost every island in the Indian Archipelago abounds with buffaloes, oxen and
cows, whose flesh is admirable. Were it not for the vast distance intervening between
the mother country and the regions of Insular Asia, immense numbers of these ani-
mals might be imported, and, even as it is, steam may render this not an-impossible
result. Pork, too, is one of the most common articles of food. Hogs, as we before
observed, multiply so rapidly, that—despite the vast numbers slaughtered in all the
islands, where all classes and all castes and sects, not even always excepting the Mus-
slemen, eat of their flesh—the woods and jungles are absolutely alive with them.

Gillolo abounds with buffaloes, goats and deer, also wild hogs; there are but few
sheep, and no wild beasts. The wild hogs frequent the place where sago palms have
lately been cut down, and the flour or pith has been taken out. There they feast and
fatten upon the remains. Seen at a distance in large numbers on these spots, with
their young black pigs, they have been compared to flies crowding on a table.

Among the most gorgeous of the feathered creation of the Indian islands is the
bird of paradise, of which there have been already written so many descriptions, that
we need not here enter into any details concerning its outward appearance. These
birds generally fly in flocks of forty or fifty together, and seldom alight on the ground,
as from the singular disposition of their feathers it is difficult for them to rise again.
Trees, therefore, form their usual resting-place. They are likewise unable to fly with
the wind, which would ruin their plumage, but take their flight constantly against it,

ba Z

2126 _ Microscopical Society.

cautious not to venture out in hard blowing weather, a strong gale frequently obliging
them to come to the ground.

There is a large snake, the bukkoron, often found on Timolson hill, in Magnidan-
do. This hill, during great floods, resembles an island. There is a story told of a
man seized by one of these enormous snakes, which, having thrown him, swallowed
his leg and thigh. The snake not being able to get higher, the man pulled out his
knife and cut the monster in the mouth, which then disgorged him ; the man, with
leg and thigh much torn, survived.

The reader must by no means imagine we have presented him with anything ap-
proaching to a complete sketch of the zovlogy of the Indian islands ; to accomplish that
in the pages of the ‘ Zoologist’ would be impossible. We have, as we before observed,
merely galloped through the animal kingdom of the Eastern Archipelago, and selected a
few specimens here and there. The birds we have scarcely glanced at ; the fishes we have
left unnoticed. Perhaps on a future occasion we may touch on these interesting sub-
jects ; subjects with which, considering the rapid multiplication and strengthening of
the relations which have so lately sprung up between these kingdoms and the little-
known regions of Insular Asia, the public cannot be too well acquainted. Mean-
while, from what we have already said, it will have been seen, that—abounding as
they do in metal of all descriptions, in timber, in the productions of agriculture, in the
treasures of the floral kingdom, indeed in all those numerous and varied materials
which go to the making up of the wealth and prosperity, the beauty and attractiveness
of a country—the islands of the Indian Archipelago afford most of the varieties of
- known living creatures, and will doubtless, in future years, offer to the naturalist new
fields for speculation and discovery. Birds, beasts, fishes, reptiles and insects, abound
in the islands and the seas of the Eastern Archipelago.

Report of the Microscopical Society’s Meetings.

[I have to regret that the interesting Reports printed below were not furnished me
at an earlier date. I have reason to hope they will in future be transmitted with
greater regularity.— EF. N.]

October 27, 1847.—J. S. BowErBank, Esgq., F.R.S., President, in the chair.

The minutes of the preceding meeting were read and confirmed.

A. Rosling and Wm. Delferrier, Esqrs., were balloted for, and duly admitted mem-
bers of the Society.

Certificates in favour of Charles Sterry, Esq., of 38, Trinity Square, Tower Hill,
and W.S. Gillett, Esq., of 17, Upper Gower Street, were read, and ordered to be sus-
pended in the meeting-room.

Two books were presented, and the thanks of the Society voted to their respective
donors.

The President announced that the late E. Quekett, Esq., had bequeathed his mi-
eroscope to the Society, and the instrument was placed on the table.

Microscopical Society. 2127

A paper by George Busk, Esq., being ‘ Observations on the Shepherd’s Purse Co-
ralline of Ellis—the Notamia Bursaria of Fleming,’ was read. The author com-
menced by stating, that nearly all the modern descriptions of this zoophyte were taken
from that given in a work published in 1755, by Mr. Ellis, who appears to have been
the first who noticed it. This description is, however, incorrect; and consequently
those founded upon it must be considered equally, if not more so. This he stated to
be the more remarkable, as the zoophyte is by no means uncommon on the south coast
of England, particularly in the neighbourhood of Swanage, in the Isle of Purbeck,
where it appears to live and flourish in from five to ten fathoms water, throughout se-
veral miles of the coast, extending from that place to Bournemouth. This zouphyte,
according to Mr. Busk, consists of a creeping, tubular, radical portion, from which
the celliferous or polypiferous branches arise. This radical part is composed of a cen-
tral discoid portion, not unlike the body of an Ophiura, with branches radiating from
its periphery, and creeping, in a nearly straight course, over the surface of the object
upon which the zoophyte is growing. Besides these radical tubes, celliferous branches
occasionally arise from the disc itself. The disc and its branches are both formed of
a thick, firm, horny envelope, containing a coarse granular matter, of a yellowish
white colour. These radical tubes give off, at irregular distances, secondary branches,
which svon terminate in the celliferous portion. Each of these secondary branches,
however, arises from a distinct compartment, formed by a thick septum, which shuts
off the opening of the lateral branch from the main cavity of the parent tube. The
celliferous branches are dichotomously divided at pretty regular intervals. At each
bifurcation, one of the branches has usually three pairs of cells superiorly and one
single cell below, while the other has but two pairs of cells above and one below; but
this arrangement is not constant in all specimens. The cells are of two kinds,—a
smaller sort, like short tobacco-pipes, and a larger, which are the polypiferous cells.
The walls of the smaller cells or cups are tolerably thick, but brittle and opaque, from
the quantity of calcareous matter they contain. The mouth has a sinuated margin,
which rises anteriorly into a sharp curved beak, like that of the cuttle-fish, which is of
a horny nature. In each cup there is also a moveable beak, which opens or closes the
aperture, as may be required: these two beaks constitute an admirable instrument for
prehension, and that such is their office is rendered probable by the existence of mus-
cles, by which they are moved. This beak or mandible during life opens suddenly
with a sort of snap, and is closed slowly. The muscles exhibit transverse strie, and
thus approximate to those in the higher classes of animals. The polype cells are
many times larger than the cups: they are closed at the top, and, contrary to what is
stated in all previous descriptions of this zoophyte, there is no connexion whatever he-
tween these cells and the cup-like cells placed immediately above and behind them.
The orifice of the cell is on the anterior face, is of a crescentic form, and its lips ap-
pear to be strengthened by a thin band of horny material : it contains an ascidioid
polype, having ten tentacula and no gizzard. The mode of interconnexion of the
various parts of the polypidom was shown, and the margin which the polypiferous
branches originate explained by reference to figures and diagrams. The author ob-
served, that in the course of his examination of other species of Bryozoa, he had also
observed the striation of the muscular fibre in several, and thence concluded that it
would be found to be generally the case in that class of animals.

2128 Microscopical Society.

November 24, 1847.—J. S. BowErsank, Esq., F.R.S., President, in the chair.

The minutes of the preceding meeting were read and confirmed.

A Report of three papers ‘On the Structure of the Teeth, by A. Nasmyth, Esq.,
was presented by Mr. Legg, and the thanks of the Society voted to him for this
present.

A certificate in favour of George Arthur Knighley Howman, Esq., 34, Brompton
Square, was read, and ordered to be suspended in the meeting-rvom.

Charles Sterry and W.S. Gillett, Esqrs., were balloted for, and duly admitted
members of the Society.

A paper by George Jackson, Esq., ‘On Micrometers, was read. After some re-
marks on the necessity of having some mode of accurately ascertaining the size of
minute objects subjected to microscopical examination, and also on the means gene-
rally employed, together with an explanation of the method of ascertaining the value
of the divisions of an eye-piece micrometer with a particular object-glass, and also a
comparison of the relative advantages of the positive or negative eye-piece in observing
ruled glass micrometers. The author proceeded to describe the micrometer which he
had constructed, and which was laid before the meeting. Short bold lines are ruled
on a piece of glass, and, to facilitate counting, every fifth line is drawn longer, and
every tenth still longer, as in the common rule. Very finely levigated plumbago is
rubbed into the lines, to render them visible, and they are covered by a piece of thin
glass, cemented by Canada balsam, to prevent the plumbago from being rubbed out:
The slip of glass thus prepared is placed in a thin brass frame, so that it may slide
freely, and is acted upon at one end by a pushing-screw and at the other by a slight
spring. Slits are cut in the negative eye-piece on each side, so that the brass frame
may be passed along the field in the focus of the eye-glass, which should also allow
of adjustment for different eyes. The brass frame is retained in its place by a spring
within the tube of the eye-piece, the object is brought to the centre of the field by the
stage movements, and the coincidence between one side of it and one of the long lines
is made with great accuracy by means of the small pushing-screw. The divisions are
then read off as easily as the inches and tenths in a common rule. The author con-
cluded by pointing out the best methods of ascertaining the value of the divisions of ©
the micrometer, and with some plain directions for its use.

Another paper, being ‘ A Description of certain Arrangements for effecting the
Measurement of Microscopic Objects, with some Observations relative to the Ex-
pression of Minute Dimensions, by George Shadbolt, Jun., Esq., was also read. The
principle adopted by Mr. Shadbolt was stated by him to be that of viewing the object
and the micrometer with the same power, using a contrivance for keeping the size of
the former in view while inspecting the latter. This is effected by means of moveable
calliper points, placed in the focus of the eye-glass of the eye-piece, which points are
adjusted by a couple of screws with milled heads, projecting on each side of the eye-
piece. He gave his reason for preferring points to parallel lines,— considering the
measurement from point to point to be capable of much greater accuracy than that
from one parallel line to another, in consequence of the difficulty of getting the object
exactly at right angles to both lines. He then described the mode of constructing his
micrometer. A disc of metal is to be made quite flat on one side, and is to be of the
same diameter as the diaphragm plate, with a similar central aperture, a trifle smaller.
This dise is also to have two slots cut in it, parallel one to the other, one on each side
of the central opening, rather longer than its diameter. The disc is to be attached by

Microscopical Society. 2129

pins to the diaphragm, so as to be parallel to it and about one-eighth of an inch dis-
tant from, it, with the flat side towards the eye-glass. Two pieces of metal, about
a quarter of an inch wide, must also be fixed to the disc, vertical to it and at right an-
gles to the slots, for the screws to work in. The calliper points are to be placed across
the slots, so that they may project half-way over the central aperture, and are to be
attached to small metal springs under the disc, by means of screws or rivets, so as to
allow of lateral motion from one end of the slots to the other: these springs keep the
points always in focus. ‘Two screws with milled heads work through holes in the ver-
tical pieces attached to the disc, and give motion to the points, and a helix of wire is
placed round the screws to steady the motion. Mr. Shadbolt described two other mo-
difications of this construction, the principle remaining the same. He concluded with
some remarks on the mode of expressing the value of the measure of an object, recom-
mending the uniform adoption of the decimal notation in preference to the fractional,
as being not only more simple, but also more definite, and therefore more easily un--
derstood by all.

December 22, 1847.—J. S. BowErsank, Esq., F.R.S., President, in the chair.

The minutes of the preceding meeting were read and confirmed.

George A. K. Howman, Esq., was balloted for, and duly elected a member of the
Society.

The list of gentlemen proposed as the officers and council for the year ensuing was
read, and ordered to be suspended in the meeting-room.

A short notice by Mr. M.S. Legg was read, being the correction of an error in the
description of the construction of the Nicol’s prism, given by him in his paper ‘ On the
Application of Polarized Light in Microscopical Investigations,’ published in the last
number of the Transactions of the Society.

A paper entitled ‘ Observations on the Anguinaria spatulata,’ by Geo. Busk, Esq.,
was read. This paper was stated by Mr. Busk to be a continuation of his former
communication on the Notamia Bursaria, read at the October meeting of this Society.
This zoophyte—the Anguinaria spatulata or snake coralline of Ellis—is stated by Dr.
Johnson to be “ not common,” but was found by Mr. Busk in great abundance in the
same locality as the Notamia. It is parasitical upon Fuci, and is not unfrequently
associated with other polypes on the same plant. Its character, as given by Dr. John-
son, appears to be incorrect in several particulars, which it was partly the object of
this paper to point out and rectify. It consists, like all its congeners, of two distinct
portions, the radical part and the polype cells. Its origin or base is a more or less
rounded disc, of small size, probably divided into compartments, from each of which
arises a primary branch or tube, which is directly continued into a polype cell, but
without any internal communication. The polype cell is at first continued in a line
‘ with the radical branch, but soon turns up at.a right angle and assumes an erect po-
sition ; after ascending in a nearly straight line for a certain distance it curves with a
gentle sweep, and terminates in an expanded extremity, at the point of which—and
not at the side, as stated by Dr. Johnson—is the opening through which the polype
protrudes. The continuation of the radical portion is effected by the formation of a
bud at the angle where the polype cell turns up, which bud becomes a narrow tube, in
all respects similar to the primary one, and after running a short distance turns up in
a similar manner and terminates in a polype.cell, and so on continuously. The radical

2130 Quadrupeds.

tubes and polype cells are formed of a horny material, not soluble in weak acid,
strengthened in most parts by a deposit of calcareous matter. The cell contains an
ascidian polype, which has perhaps twelve tentacula and no gizzard. The muscular
fibres are of great proportional length, and are distinctly marked with transverse striz.
The striking resemblance of the terminal expanded part of the polype cell to the head
of a snake has led to its very appropriate generic name. The aperture is terminal, of
a crescentic form, the lower lip being composed of or strengthened by a horny half
ring, resembling a horse-shoe in shape, to which two pairs of muscles are attached,—
the one for the closure, the other for the opening, of the aperture. The paper con-
cluded with further remarks on the anatomical structure of this polype, and on the
consequent necessity of either removing it, together with Gemellaria loriculata and
Notamia Bursaria, from the family Eucratiade of Dr. Johnson, or of modifying the
character of that family as far as respects the situation and construction of the aper-
ture of the cell. ;
J.S. BowerBANk.

Child Suckled by a Periah Bitch When my father was with his regiment—the
8th Light Dragoons—in India, he witnessed a very remarkable fact relative to the
history of a dog, which, from its novelty, may prove interesting to you. A Periah
bitch, belonging to Lieut. Heyman, of the 8th Light Dragoons, at Cawnpore, brought
forth a litter of pups, which were destroyed a day or two afterwards. It was observed
that the bitch had induced a child, blind of the ophthalmia (the son of a matin or
sweeper) to swek her: how this was managed in the first instance there is no evidence
to prove ; but when it was discovered, a circumstance so unusual attracted many wit-

nesses, and was not immediately put a stop to. In a little time after this discovery,

Lieut. Heyman noticed that all the food given to the bitch was taken by her to the
boy, and that she would not touch it until the child had given it up. My father up-
on one occasion gave the leg of a fowl to the bitch, with which she made off to the
blind boy, and pushed it into his mouth: the boy ate part of the flesh and gave back
the bone, which the bitch greedily demolished. Lieut. Heyman frequently kept the bitch
two or three days without food,—an experiment made at the request of friends, who
contemplated seeing the bitch devour the food,—but, true to her general practice, she
made directly to the blind child and offered him the food, which she would not taste
until he had done with it. This extraordinary attachment and feeding the blind boy
continued until the regiment embarked for England, the lad being then ten years old.
The bitch had become very old, and was destroyed.—H. G. Harrington ; 1, William
Terrace, Turnham G'reen, March 11, 1848.

Anecdote of a Terrier.—A fine terrier, in the possession of a surgeon at Whitehaven,
about three weeks ago, exhibited its sagacity in a rather amusing manner. It came
into the kitchen and began plucking the servant by the gown, and in spite of repeated
rebuffs it perseveringly continued in its purpose. The mistress of the house, hearing
a noise, came down to inquire the cause, when the animal treated her in a similar
manner. Being struck with the concern evinced by the creature, she quietly followed
it up stairs into a bed-room, whither it led her ; there it commenced barking, looking
under the bed and then up in her face. Upon examination, a cat was discovered

Quadrupeds. 2131

there, quietly demolishing a beef-steak which it had feloniously obtained. The most
curious feature in the whole case is, that the cat had been introduced into the house

_ only a short time before, and that bitter enmity prevailed between her and her canine

companion. No doubt anecdotes of a similar nature are common enough ; still I ven-
ture to send you this, knowing you think such worthy a place in the amusing pages
of the ‘ Zoologist, where facts, however common, however simple, are accumulated as
in a great store-house, from whence the philosophical naturalist may derive materials
wherewith to construct a new theory or to support an old one.—E. J. R. Hughes ;
St. Begh’s, March 31, 1848. |

Anecdote of a Terrier.—On the 19th of May, 1834, a party who had been living
at Quedgeley, within two miles of Gloucester, sailed from Bristol to New York, in-
tending to settle in one of the western states of America : they took with them a wire-
haired terrier bitch, which whelped during the passage. The distance from Quedge-
ley to Bristol is 27 miles. From New York they proceeded in a steam-boat up the
Hudson to Albany, 190 miles; thence to Schenectady, 15 miles, by railroad ; to Sy-
racuse, 140 miles, by tow boat. In the hurry of disembarking at Syracuse the bitch ~
was missed, and all trace of her lost. Some time after arriving at their destination,
one of the party wrote to his father, and amongst other things mentioned the loss of
the bitch, which animal, at the moment the letter arrived at Quedgeley, was lying
down in front of the kitchen fire of the house she had been originally taken from,
having been absent from her original home ten months. It is conjectured (for nothing
is known) that she found her way back to New York, and thence to Bristol, but how
or in what ship is a matter of doubt: that she did make this extraordinary tour is be-
yond the slightest question. She ended her days in a drain at Quedgeley, being
smothered while rat-hunting there in 1841. She was the property of Mr. Richard
Guilding, formerly of Quedgeley, who went to St. Louis, in the State of Mississipi,
and returned from thence to Hanley Castle, Worcestershire, at which place he is now
residing.

Extraordinary Friendship of a Cat and Turtle Dove.—Well do I recollect return-
ing home from school for my Christmas holidays, and finding that our family of cats
(housed in our outbuildings, for keeping vermin in minimum) was numerously in-
creased ; and my ‘first request was, ‘‘ Oh, do come and see the kittens.” One of the
tribe, ‘a little tabby,” was the general favorite ; and he seemed to be somewhat con-
scious of this pre-eminence, for he pushed his companions aside, and battled stoutly
for a full share of the contents of the milk-pan: the very necessary result was, that
“ Dick ” (for so we named him) grew a fine young-cat, and his sleek coat and purring
habits, as he came and rubbed his head against your foot, or fondly sprung upon your
shoulder and smoothed your cheek, won’t easily be forgotten by many who think of
early days as lovingly as do I. A friend of ours wanted a cat; and as the well-known
tenderness of this family was almost proverbial, we decided upon sending them Dick
as a present. Oh! what a sensation it caused when we put him in the basket for his
new destination! and what thoughts we entertained upon the probability of seeing
him in his old haunts one morning, he having found

‘“* There was no place like home ;”
but we were not acquainted with cat nature so well as we opined ; for Dick had sense,

like many men, to keep a “ good berth” when they have found one. He was put ona
little soft stool before the fire, fondled, petted and spoiled ; for there he sat all day long

2132 Quadrupeds, &c.

in the parlour at his mistress’ feet, purring and sleeping, and indulging in his golden

~day-dreams. It chanced that, a few months after Dick’s location in his new home,
his fond mistress received a present of a dove from a distant relative, whose cognomen
was “ Tom,’—“ pretty Tom.” Anda pretty dove he was! Oh, how proud to take
his morning ablutions, and plume his soft feathers! how sly in turning round his ex-~
pressive eye! and how affectionate as he pushed his bill against your closed lips to
kiss you! how joyous his coo-coo! and how gladsome a companion for Dick! See—
see them both in the parlour, eating of the same crumbs; all the animosity that
should naturally exist is lost,—the best of friends from the very first trial. Bright
are the eyes with joy, as all the family look at the interview, when Tom is put on the
carpet. He goes strutting towards Dick, cooing in his most glorious manner,—and
Dick listens, charmed by the: Orphean notes, and makes no stir, no spring, no move-
ment. Oh! happy animal and bird! your friendship has begun ; and, so happily
formed, how long will it continue? Sure, too good to last ;. but no, for sixteen years
were they daily companions, never once disagreeing or betraying any hostility. Often
was Tom perched on Dick’s soft hack, enjoying the warm fire ; and often, by instinct
led, they travelled abroad into the garden, and walked proudly round the little paths.
Oh! happy friends! but their happiness, being earthly, was limited ; for poor Dick,
in December, 1846, pined and died. The loving attentions he experienced are often
needed by poor starving outcasts ; but yet they availed not, for his hours were num-
bered : he died, and was buried in the garden. His companion survives, for this last
Christmas I saw him; but in his eye we all fancied that brightness was not found
which in earlier days we certainly saw there sparkling.—F#. R. Twinn ; Bowburgh,
near Norwich, March, 1848.

Extraordinary Instance of Parental Care in a Rat.—Some traps had been set about
our premises for the purpose of taking vermin, when, a few mornings ago, a large fe-
male rat was discovered in one of them, caught by one of its fore legs, but squatting
over a nest containing six young ones. The animal, during the previous night, had
actually—with the fore paw, which was free, and probably with the assistance of her
hind feet—contrived to scrape together a quantity. of the neighbouring grass, and
formed the nest, thus providing for the warmth and comfort of her young, though tor-
tured with pain, and one might have supposed almost disabled for such a preparation
by her position in the trap.—A. B. Hemsworth ; Shropham Hall, Larlingford, Nor-
folk, March 16th, 1848.

Catalogue for Eggs.*

[A friend of mine—the head of a large manufacturing establishment—obligingly
sent me a ticket of admission to what might be called the opening of a new Steam Ap-
paratus, for feeding with regularity a fire that was constantly to be kept in. On my
arrival I found quite a little company assembled, and the proprietor pointed out the

* *A Systematic Catalogue of the Eggs of British Birds, arranged with the view
to supersede the use of Labels for Eggs.’ By the Rev. 8. C. Matan, M.A., Vicar of
Broadwindsor, Dorset. London: Van Voorst. 1848.

Birds. 2133

advantages of the plan, the beauty of the apparatus, its connexion with a vast steam-
engine at work in a distant apartment, and many other particulars highly interesting

_ tothe audience, but which would here be out of place: we all admired—all applauded ;

and, retiring to my friend’s private dwelling, ate a hearty lunch to the success of his
machinery. A month elapsed, and I had occasion to call a second time: the appara-
tus was still bright and beautiful as ever, but at rest, and the varlet of a stoker—such
is the caprice or obstinacy of boykind—was feeding the fire with an old iron shovel
that was not worth a shilling. Now to the application!. Mr. Malan’s volume of
170 pages is well arranged, printed on good paper, well hotpressed, neatly bound,
handsomely lettered on the back and side: it is a luxury to possess such a book,
and then, moreover, it may be made serviceable; there is space for inserting all
the particulars that the most pains-taking naturalist in the world could wish to make ;
but I think for all this he would soon return to his customary pennyworth of labels,—
in fact, to the shovel that had already grown old in the same service. However, it is
but just to so ingenious a mechanician (the term is more appropriate than ‘ author ’)
that he should explain his own machine.—£. N.]

“ The object of this Catalogue is, to offer a substitute for the prevalent use of
printed labels for eggs.

“ An Oologist who feels how important it is that every egg in his collection should
bear a distinctive mark, to prevent its being mistaken for some other species like it in
colour or in shape, will have experienced also the great inconvenience which arises
from the common practice of labelling eggs, for the purpose of distinguishing them.
Not only do labels disfigure the larger specimens, to which alone they are applicable,
but they become altogether useless as regards the smaller eggs ; since, in that case,
they prove considerably larger than the eggs for which they were intended. Nor is
the other method preferable, of writing in ink upon the smaller eggs, either the name,
or a number corresponding with a catalogue of the collection. For writing spoils the
appearance of an egg as much as a label does ; and in the event of an error, the name
or the number cannot be rubbed ont without risk of injuring the egg.

“ The following plan, however, may seem to possess fewer disadvantages. To gum*
over the hole through which the egg was blown, a round piece of thin white paper,
larger or smaller according to the size of the egg; and on that ticket to write the
number of the species in this Catalogue, with its distinguishing letter a,b, or c. This
ticket (which may be tinted to match the colour of the egg), thus fixed over the hole,
presents the two-fold advantage of adding to the solidity of the egg, by keeping the
edges of the hole from chipping; while, in the event of a mistake in the number in-
scribed upon it, the ticket may easily be removed with a little warm water, without
risk of injury to the egg. And, when by accident an egg thus ticketed has been
mixed with other species of similar shape or colour (as may frequently happen in se-
veral of the genera), a simple reference to its number in the Catalogue will at once
enable the collector to restore it to its proper place in the collection.

“Tn the present advanced state of Oology, few collectors wish to limit themselves
to only one specimen of each species; but all those who collect for a scientific purpose
endeavour to obtain, not only all the eggs of one nest, but also varieties of the species ;

“‘* Gum arabic dissolved in water is preferable for this purpose to either glue ox
paste ; from its not being liable to be attacked by insects.”

VI ya

2134 Birds.

which, in the case of the commoner birds, sometimes amount to a great many. Most
of those duplicates are kept separately, the systematic collection embracing, besides
the eggs of one nest, or the number luid by each bird, only one or two of the most
striking varieties.

“ This Catalogue is intended to apply only to such a collection ; according to which
arrangement all the eggs of one nest will, of course, bear the same mark. IEfe. g.a
collector possess several eggs of the common buzzard, viz. three fuund in one nest in
Westmoreland, one bought of a dealer, and the other obtained in exchange ; every one
of the three eggs found in the same nest will bear on the ticket, 17 a ; the egg pur-
chased, 175; and the egg procured by exchange, 17 c; and the particulars relating
to those several specimens will be entered in the Catalogue under the 17th species,
thus :—

“17 sp. Fatco Buteo, Lin. The common Buzzard.

“17a. Three eggs found in one nest, in the wood at in Westmore-
land. April 18 ‘
“17 b.? Purchased of J.

“17c. Exchanged with N

dealer, at
for the eggs of N. ———.

>?

Ornithological Observations in Norfolk for March, 1848.—Another example of the
hooper (Cygnus ferus) was killed about the 25th of February. A very fine adult male
gyr falcon was shot about the 24th of February, at Beeston, near Cromer : this bird
was very fat, and showed no marks of having been in confinement ; it measured, when
stuffed, 233 inches from the point of the beak to the tip of the tail: there is of course
now no further reason for excluding this beautiful species from the list of Norfolk
birds (see Zool. 1301). Early in March, three adult peregrine falcons (two males and
one female) were taken in the neighbourhood of Thetford. On the 11th of March an
Egyptian goose—apparently a wild bird—was shot upon Ormesby Broad, and a few
days afterwards another specimen was shot in the same neighbourhood. On the 25th,
a tufted drake, in company with which were two ducks, was shot on the river Wensum
at Cossey: this seems to be rather an inland locality for a member of the oceanic fa-
mily of ducks at such an advanced period of the spring ; but it is possible that the
birds were resting on their northerly migration, upon which occasion they more fre-
quently cross the land than in their southerly autumnal movements (Zool. 1390).—J.
H. Gurney, W. R. Fisher ; April, 1848.

On the Nomenclature of Birds—Some months since my attention was attracted by
certain remarks from your correspondent, the Rev. James Smith (Zool. 1909), upon the
subject of nomenclature, in which the name Fuligula ferinoides—given to a species
of duck lately separated from the common pochard (F. ferina)—was somewhat severely
criticized. The subject has again been referred to (Zool. 2063) by your correspondent
Mr. Newton. It appears, as might have been expected, to have occurred to both these
gentlemen, that in criticizing the old name it was necessary to propose a new one ;
and, anticipating that they would do so, and confidently looking for some valuable
suggestion upon the subject, I commenced the perusal of their remarks with great in-
terest and attention. Assuming that the names ‘ Paget’s pochard’ and ‘ Fuligula

Birds. 2135

ferinoides’ are objectionable, we turn to those proposed to be substituted by your
correspondents ; both are of opinion that the white bar on the wing is a character
which should form a foundation for the name, and Mr. Newton suggests the names
*F. leucoptera’ and ‘ white-winged pochard.’ It is unnecessary for me to enlarge
upon the difficulty of fixing upon a suitable name for this bird, when your two cor-
respondents, whose suggestion is of course the result of a careful consideration of the
subject, and of a close examination of the bird itself, have thus proposed a name at
once incorrect and useless ; incorrect, because—as you observe upon the wrapper of
your last number—the bird is not white-winged ; useless, because, amongst nine other
British representatives of the genus Fuligula, the common pochard and the long-tailed
duck are the only two which have not a white mark on that part of the wing. With
respect to Mr. Smith’s observation, that the bird is ‘‘ degraded into a sort of inferior
species or satellite,” &c., the idea is certainly original, but I think unnecessary ; and
observing that in your Catalogue lately published you have printed the name in the
same sized type as that of F. ferina, I conclude that you are of the same opinion.
The name of Regulus reguloides is inapplicable to the argument, inasmuch as it con-
tains a repetition in the same name of the generic appellation ; in the case before us it
is the adoption of the specific name of another bird which is objected to; moreover, as
nobody uses it (I never even heard of it before), it should not have been mentioned.
The principles upon which your correspondents propose to proceed, in reforming our
ornithological nomenclature, are undoubtedly good ; and when they have constructed
a catalogue of names to which no objections can be made (and they must remember that
all naturalists will not take their dicta, more than those of their predecessors, for law),
I have no doubt that it will be gladly adopted. But the difficulty of carrying out
these principles is very great. The habits of birds can only be accurately ascertained
by repeated observations, and may even differ in the same species, according to the
conditions under which it exists. There are several instances, in our present nomen-
clature, in which erroneous names have been applied to birds by eminent naturalists,
in consequence of only a partial knowledge of their habits. But in many cases, in-
cluding that of this new duck, the history of the species as regards its habits is a mere
blank, and even if they were ascertained it is probable that they would not materially
differ from those of F.ferina. In this case then, when we know nothing of the habits,
and no external character presents itself from which a name may be taken, I main-
tain that, as some name must of necessity be given, it is better to give one which—
whatever may be its defects—is at least sufficient to distinguish the bird from every
other species, and does not impress upon the mind any erroneous idea of its habits or
appearance. But it appears, from an observation of one of your correspondents, that
this much-abused name of F. ferinoides not only possesses the advantages which I
have mentioned, but actually conveys a most accurate idea of the bird in question.
“ The meaning,” says Mr. Smith, “if it has any, of Fuligula ferinoides, is the Fuli-
gula resembling the ferina.” This is in fact precisely the meaning intended to be
conveyed, and I must express my gratification at the testimony thus unexpectedly
afforded to the excellence of the name. The English name, ‘ Paget’s pochard, was
selected in accordance with a practice very common at the present day, and may or
may not be a good one. The scientific name was clearly not translateable for the pur-
pose, which, it will perhaps be said, is an argument against its goodness; but I can
only repeat, that if your correspondents will find us a name not open to any objection,
I have no doubt it will gladly be adopted. Lastly, I may observe that distinction is

2136 Birds.

the great object of all names ; if a name can be further made to convey any correct
idea of appearance or habits, so much the better ; but where it answers the first pur-
pose, and is otherwise unobjectionable, let your correspondents take warning by the
tremendous catalogues of synonyms which impede the studies of our entomological
brethren, and beware of what Mr. Smith calls “ the rage for reckless changes in no-
menclature.”— William R. Fisher ; Great Yarmouth, April 14, 1848.

Nomenclature of Species.—With regard to Mr. Newton’s suggestions on the sll
ject of nomenclature of species (Zool. 2062), I beg to claim the editorial privilege of
expressing an opinion. Mr. Newton has mixed up two very distinct questions ; first,
the propriety of imposing good names in the first instance ; secondly, the propriety of
changing imposed names for others supposed to be better. The first proposition
needs no discussion: as an abstract (I will not say practicable) proposition it is per-
fectly sound. The second proposition, that of revising imposed names with a view to
amending them, is unsound, on the ground that if we admit that a name may be
changed once, why not change it twice? why not thrice ? why not a hundred times ?
Let us take Mr. Newton’s example. He objects to the name of Fuligula ferinoides ;
I admit that it is bad: he proposes Fuligula leucoptera instead ; this is much worse :
the bird is not white-winged, and not more nearly approaching white-winged than many
other ducks. Now, admitting Mr. Newton’s proposition of giving the right of chang-
ing a name, every ornithologist would wish to change this changed name, for I may
say, in the most friendly spirit, that I cannot call to mind a name more incorrect or
objectionable. But as Mr. Newton’s is only a suggested example, and was perhaps
suggested hastily and without due consideration, I will cite an example of an attempted
change of name boldly put forth under the authority of our greatest ornithologist.
Mr. Swainson, with great ingenuity, demonstrated that the common hedge-sparrow
was improperly named, and pleaded, with his usual eloquence of pen, that shufflewing
was a better, nay a perfect and unobjectionable name: nobody controverted his opinion,
but nobody adopted his suggestion or even gave it a consideration ; and the hedge-
sparrow remains and will remain a ‘ hedge-sparrow ’ and a ‘ dunnock’ while the Eng-
lish language endures. I cannot pronounce too emphatically that priority is the only
law I can ever consent to acknowledge in the nomenclature of species— Edward Newman.

Leicestershire Names of Birds.—It has frequently occurred to me, that a complete
dictionary of the provincial and local names of our British birds would not only be on
many accounts of great interest to the ornithologist, but is an absolute desideratum
in the ornithology of these islands. Recent authors, it is true, have done much to-
wards this desirable end ; but there is still, I am convinced, an immense number of
local epithets of our more common species, that have never yet found their way into
any list of synonyms. It may perhaps, at any rate, amuse some of the readers of the
‘ Zoologist’ to become acquainted with the following list of the prevailing appellatives
of certain of the more familiar of the fowls of Heaven, bestowed upon them by the
natives of certain parts of Leicestershire (and probably also of the adjoining counties),
whose dialect yet retains much of the “ good old Saxon,” and is as broad as the tire of
a ten-inch waggon-wheel. It may be as well here to observe, that these rustics, though
not very discriminative of species, are more so than in most equally rural districts,
and many of their names are exceedingly appropriate, if not always euphonious. In
this county, then, where the barn owl is very common, that bird is known to the na-
tives as a ‘ padye,’ or ‘ padge owl,’ while the tawny owl is the ‘ owl, and the long-
eared and short-eared species are both ‘ horn owls. The green woodpecker is a bird

1
d
:
}

Birds. 2137

also well known in most parts of the county, and is here aptly characterized as the
* rind-tabberer,’ ¢. e. rind or bark-tapper. The verse-immortalized sound, however, of

“ The woodpecker tapping the hollow beech tree,”

is, I regret to say, yearly becoming less frequently heard. The great spotted wood-
pecker is in these parts generally a very rare bird, but, when it does occur, the keeper
who has shot it will—if he does not throw it to his ferrets—dispose of it to his friend
the skin-cobbler (I beg his pardon, the taxidermist) as a ‘ French magpie,’ whereupon
this latter will probably plant it with infinite pains, and very much to his own satis-
faction, somewhat in the attitude of a cassowary, only embracing a lichened stick,
among a squad of variously-distorted victims of his net,—denizens of flood, forest and
field,—now all peacefully grouped in incongruous fellowship under one glass case, to-
gether with half a score of showy Lepidoptera and as many green beetles. The heron,
common on the pools and secluded streams of these districts, is, however, but partially
known under that name to the inhabitants; though on a warm spring day, when the
hedger or ploughman happens, looking up from his work, to discern on high that leggy
grallator.—wending with laggard flappings to his fishy solitudes,—he will, as likely as
_ not, lazily call the attention of his fellow to the circumstance, by the remark that
“ there’s one of them there long-necked cranes o’erhead,”—a ‘ long-necked. crane ’ be-
ing the formula commonly in use to express the bird called by our fathers (if we may
believe Bewick and other authors) by the unparalleled name of ‘ heronsewgh.’. The
willow warbler and the chiff-chaff are here indifferently called ‘ bank-juggs,’ from their
habit of nidificating in banks, while the long-tailed tit is distinguished by the name of
the ‘ hedge-jugg.’ Near Coventry this latter is known as the ‘ millithrum,’ evidently
a corruption of ‘ Miller’s thumb.’ The whinchat has the nickname of ‘ utick, or, more
simply, is sometimes merely a ‘ tick,’ from its well-known note. The starling in this
dialect is a ‘starenil’ or ‘ staynil, the jackdaw becomes a ‘jack-a-daw,’ and the lap-
wing a ‘ flopwing. An indigenous Leicestershirian would be all abroad if you told
him of such a bird as a missel thrush: he calls it a ‘ thrice-cock,’ or, in his own pro-
nunciation, a ‘ throice-cuk.’ As to a landrail, you might as well talk to him about an
Apteryx; mention a ‘ corn-drake’ (I think they take this bird for a kind of terrestrial
duck) and he'll recognize the fowl at once. The swift is with him a ‘ deviling,’. the
whitetbroat a ‘peggy, which term includes also the garden warbler. The lesser
whitethroat comes in for the title of the ‘ little peggy,’ and the blackcap for that of the
‘black-headed peggy,’ while the reed bunting usurps the latter warbler’s legitimate
appellation. All the sand-pipers shot in these inland parts (and the species are but
few) are indiscriminately known as ‘ sand-snipes, while only two species of duck ap-
pear to be at all recognized, all and every of the few species, besides the common mal-
lard, met with here, being (if not too big) unhesitatingly considered ‘ wigeon.? Even
the teal is‘ wigeon. I was once plagued a long time to make out. what bird on earth
could he indicated by the unheard-of name of ‘ gorse-hatch,’ or ‘ gorse-hatcher,’ and it
was only after much research that I discovered that the female and young of the
wheatear were branded with that uncouth appellative, the male alone being honoured
with his proper title, and considered distinct. | But one more instance for the present.
A stranger to these districts might have felt some rather justifiable alarm if he had
heard, as I did one day, an Herculean keeper, with a beard like Sampson’s (only bright
yellow), gun in hand, and a “puppy” about the size of the black bear at his heels,
blandly announcing to his “ pal,” the village bird-crucifier, the evidently gratifying

2138 Birds.

fact of his having killed that morning six ‘ tailors’ at a shot!! And then the stout
Jager hauled forth from the fustian depths of his capacious lappet a demi-dozen of
gold finches as the Schneiders in question! That bird is in fact here known solely as
a ‘ proud tailor,’ though for brevity’s sake, in common parlance, they frequently drop
the adjective, and speak of it simply as a ‘teelor. The yellow hammer is here, as
elsewhere, the only goldfinch. Such are a few of the prevailing and peculiar terms
in the ornithological vocabulary of one portion at least of this county. No doubt al-
most every rural district presents similar interesting varieties of nomenclature, which
those to whom benevolent Fortune has assigned their “ otium cum dignitate,” in the
pleasant places and peaceful seclusion of a country life, might add much to their own
instruction and amusement by studying and collating, and at the same time would
help to advance a good and useful cause.—Arthur Evans ; Coventry, April 25, 1848.

Egg of the Egyptian Vulture (Vultur percnopterus).—An error appears to have
crept in at page 4 of Mr. Yarrell’s excellent ‘ History of British Birds.’ It says that
the eggs of the Egyptian vulture are white. I can, however, corroborate Mr. Hewit-
son’s description of the egg from personal observation. I have examined six speci-
mens (one of which is in my collection), taken two at a time, from the same nest, three
successive years, by a friend of mine, in a locality with which I am well acquainted,
in the lower Alps. The eggs are, either spotted (probably from young birds), or
blotched all over with reddish-brown. They are more regularly oval in shape than
eggs of the Rapaces generally are; and in their markings they vary exactly in the
same degree as the eggs of the kestrel, peregrine falcon, hobby and honey buzzard.—
S. C. Malan ; Vicarage, Broadwindsor, April 18, 1848.

Occurrence of the Merlin (Falco esalon) in Oxfordshire.—Two individuals of this
species were shot in the early part of this year, by Mr. Hollis, of Coggs, near Witney,
Oxon. It is a rare winter visitant to this county—T7. Goatley ; Chipping Norton,
April 10, 1848.

Caprice of a Kestrel (Falco tinnunculus).—There’s a green grassy knoll in Bos-
worth Park* that any naturalist would love. It slopes towards the S.W. with gentle
undulations, down to a quiet glassy pool of dark water, the haunt of the coot and the
heron,— and is skirted along its southern side by a wood of giant oaks, whose sombre
image is inverted in the watery mirror, and whose deep seclusion is undisturbed all
the summer long, save by the rustling tread of the deer as they cross half-seen its
quiet vistas, and whose echoes at that season are awoke only by the voice of forest
birds,—the jarring cry of the woodpecker or the moaning plaint of the cushat,—or,
later on, by the sleepy braying of the hinds at evening. There the peregrine falcon
has been met with, and the great and lesser spotted woodpeckers may, though unfre-
quently be seen. Jackdaws and starlings innumerable tenant its depths and people
the cavities of every bole. But my present business is not with the wood,—pleasant
spot though it be,—but with the knoll I have spoken of. This is studded with five or
six vast venerable oaks, and near its highest portion is graced with a magnificent
clump of huge beech and horse-chesnut trees, mingled with towering larches,—for
years the haunt of a pair of kestrels that had their nest at the tip-top of one of the
highest. ’Tis but a little spot; yet, seen from whatever point, or at whatever time or
season, this particular nook of the old park is strikingly picturesque. A calmer, more

* Co. Leicester, seat of Sir W. W. Dinie, Bart.

a

Birds. 2139

peaceful and lovelier scene the golden sunlight of summer eves hath never slept upon ;
a meeter spot for fairy revels the moon of a dewy June miduight never bathed with
her silver radiance. And here, upon the slope, about a stone’s throw from the clump
aforesaid, and between it and the pool, surrounded at about the same distance by seve-
ral of the larger of the forest monarchs that grace the acclivity, stands a huge old
Spanish chesnut, of ample girth and wide-spread limbs, scarce inferior in size to the
largest of those of its mighty neighbours, with whom it has grown up, flourished and
decayed, through the long centuries of their silent companionship. The breeze of
five hundred autumns has scattered its leaves, the lightnings have riven its largest
limbs, the decay of antiquity has set its seal upon his knobbed and gnarled sides, and
“ruin greenly dwells” about the vast white truncated arms that tower forth from
among the belt of fair foliage which the lower boughs continue yearly to put forth.
There it stands, still “holding dark communion with the cloud,”—a mighty wreck—
a fallen majesty. The storms of a few more winters will pass over it, and then its
place shall know it no more; no monument shall mark the spot where for ages stood
the mighty tree ; no epitaph shall chronicle the lustre of its leafy pride! It is pleasant
on summer evenings to watch the stealthily sportive rabbits—white ones many of them
—playing round the old fantastic roots that buttress up his broad old trunk, and pop-
ping in and out of their lurking-places beneath them ; or to sit at early morning or
broad noon in the shade of the neighbouring clump, and mark the various denizens
of the old tree’s boughs engaged in their nidifying avocations. We shall see there, at
the proper season, the jackdaw, the starling, the barn owl, or his cousin the wood owl,
the cushat,* and perhaps the mountain sparrow, all busy in providing for the ‘‘ gaping
wide-mouthed ” families that await, in all the expectancy of their callow helplessness,
each return of their parent, in some one or other of its numerous holes and crannies.
The green woodpeckers, too, have bored their circular cavities in different parts of its
bare sapless limbs, but they do not breed there now; and this summer (1847), strange
to tell, a pair of kestrels built and hatched their young in the hollow of one of the
larger decayed boughs! I know not whether the same pair that were wont to build at
the top of the lofty larch hard by, but this year there was no nest in the larch tree.
The clear ringing of the pretty falcon’s musical spring note, from the old wood, had
often made me pause to listen,—for I love the kestrel and her woodland cry; but I
little suspected the whereabout of her nest (for I knew not then that this bird was ever
foraminous in its nesting), until I had twice seen her fly off from the same dead bough
that I have mentioned. This induced a scrutiny, and I presently discovered the hole
in which, as it afterwards proved, the nest was placed, and which was of roomy dimen-
sions, and about a foot or so deep. _ Day by day after this I noted from a distance the
movements of my pretty little spotted friend, who had there hatched, and who was not
much in the habit of quitting her woolly chicks, unless disturbed : when she did so,
her extreme caution on her return was amusing. She would fly round and round the
tree, hovering at intervals with wide-spread tail, to make quite sure that no enemy was
at hand, and then—with a parting survey at the entrance—pop into her domicile.
None of her fellow denizens of the boughs showed any sort of fear or anxiety at the

* This species, as well as the stockdove, breeds in holes of trees. I have taken
the eggs and young frequently from such situations, and its laying in holes of the tree
in question is literally a fact.

2140 Birds.

close vicinity of their dwellings to that of Madame Cressuelle, nor did they ever at-
tempt to follow or mob her on her goings or comings. | She, in her turn, never mo-
lested them, but always sailed straight off in the same direction, over the wood, in her
foraging expeditions. After the first day or two I never saw her mate ; and by-and-
bye murderous thoughts came into my head respecting the lady herself. The kestrel
that had started the original idea of merely furnishing an apartment, instead of build-
ing a house, acquired a wonderful interest in my eyes. I longed to handle and to
possess her. Her two pin-feathered representatives of the family would soon be in a
condition to represent it elsewhere,— and then good-bye to mamma! Besides, the
keepers (the pests!) would have her if I didn’t: so my gun accompanied my next
watching. Need I tell the sanguinary sequel? How ’twas a May evening, at sun-
down, that she dashed forth from her home for the last time ? and how a snap-shot
through the boughs was swifter than even her swift pinions, and stretched her lifeless
at my feet? My cabinet is now her tomb.—Arthur Evans.

Apparent Instance of Gratitude in an Indian Species of Owl.—About the middle of
February, 1839, one of my servants brought me a nest of five owlets, apparently two
or three days old, which had been found by men at work in the house I then occupied
in the neighbourhood of Calcutta. The native, to whom I had given strict orders to
bring me every bird, reptile or insect, he found, while bringing me the owlets, begged
my leave to keep them. His request surprised me the more, as I was aware of the
superstitious dread with which owls are looked upon by natives in India; and I asked
him, what he could do with them? “TI shall pound then, sir,’ was his answer.
* Pound them! what for?” ‘Why, sir, to make a plaister of them ; it is good against
sickness.” ‘You must do without the plaister ; they shall not be pounded,” was my
reply ; and I placed them inside a wire cage in the front hall. About dusk, that same
day, I heard a fluttering in the hall, and found that it proceeded from the mother owl,
which had brought a large blue rat to its nestlings. I caught her, and put her inside
the cage with her brood; but although I gave her mice, she refused to eat, and died
the third day. I then put the five owlets in an aviary made of bamboo, which I had
constructed under the shade of a large mango-tree, in front of my house. From that
time the trouble of feeding those young owls was entirely taken off my hand by the
male bird, which, regularly every night, brought at least a couple of mice or rats,
which it first killed, and then passed between the rails of the cage to its young. This
went on for at least a month; when, requiring the aviary for kingfishers (Alcedo
Smyrniensis, radis and Bengalensis), I thought of restoring to liberty my five owls, by
this time full-fledged and able to provide for themselves. 1 therefore opened the cage-
door one evening, and they all flew out: but the next morning they were all come
back; so that I was obliged to take them out that evening, and, having shut the door
of the aviary after them, I turned them literally out of doors, and bid them roam at
large. Still they would not go altogether ; for no sooner was the sun down, than, fly-
ing to the mango-tree, they began to coo for food, which was thrown at the bottom of
the tree fur them: this took place regularly every day, until I was obliged to leave
India for the Cape. Before leaving, I gave injunctions to one of my servants, left
behind, to continue to feed those owls as before. And I was not a little surprised, as
well as pleased, when, the day of my return home, after an absence of eight months,
I heard, after sunset, the well-known note of my owls, perched as before on the old
mango-tree, and craving as always their evening meal. I learned from my servant
that they had never failed to resort to the same tree every evening during my absence.

Birds. 2141

The next day, at sunset, I watched them flying to their wonted roost ; but I could
number only three. What had become of the two others? And day after day they
came, until my departure for England, two months later,—nearly ten months after I
had adopted them. Does it not look like gratitude for my having rescued them from
their untimely fate, from death by pestle and mortar ?—S. C. Malan ; Broadwindsor,
Dorset, April 4, 1848.

Parental Affection in the Owl (Strix flammea).—During the last spring an old ivy-
clad tree was blown down by the wind at Chesterton, Oxfordshire. Its fall dislodged
a family of white or barn owls. The parent bird placed the young ones under the
shelter of the tree, and continued her maternal duties, undisturbed by the frequent vi-
sits of the keeper on his rounds. One morning, however, after looking at the young
birds, he was turning to go away, when the old bird flew at him, knocked his hat off,
and inflicted a wound on his face, narrowly missing his eye—Thomas Prater ; Bices-
ter, April 18, 1848.

Occurrence of the Tawny Owl (Strix stridula) in Ireland.—I have received a fine
specimen of the tawny owl from Queen’s County, and have seen a second. Mr. Yar-
rell observes of this bird, that it has not been recognized by practical ornithologists as
existing in Ireland.—Robert J. Montgomery ; Manor House, Raheny, near Dublin,
May 18, 1848. |

Long Captivity of a Specimen of the Little Owl (Strix passerina).—It may be worth
recording, that the Strix passerina which was stated to have been captured near
Derby, in an early number of the ‘ Zoologist’ has lived in confinement ever since,
till it was killed by a cat a few days ago. This is a longer period of captivity
than it is said in Yarrell to be able to endure. Shortly after I obtained it, it re-
fused its food, and I was afraid it would die; but it was suggested that it wanted
water, and so it proved, for it drank greedily what was given it, and with a constant
supply of water has ever since remained in good health. It has been fed with raw
meat, and only occasionally a mouse or bird has been given it. Though placed ina
cage, in a passage where people are constantly passing, it never got over its natural
wildness ; but it knew the persons who were in the habit of feeding it, and made a
plaintive noise when they were present. Now and then, at night, it raised its sharp
cries. Its winking, courtesying and snapping made it appear singularly grotesque, as
mentioned by Mr. Yarrell. The edges of the eyelids being everted gave a remarkable
appearance to its large white eyes. I do not myself know the circumstances of its
capture, but it seems not improbable that it was one of those turned out by Mr. Wa-
terton at Walton Hall, if it is of the same species, as I suppose it is—J. Wolley ; 3,
Roxburgh Terrace, Edinburgh, March, 1848.

Egg of the Redwing (Turdus iliacus).—It is somewhat singular that there should
exist any difference of opinion as regards the colour of the eggs of the redwing, which
is by no means a rare bird in many parts of Europe. Temminck, who ranks among
the first ornithologists, seems to rest satisfied with the testimony of the Swedish natu-
ralist, Nilsson, and says, after him, that the eggs of the redwing are “ blue spotted
with black.” I have not Dr. Thienemann’s figure by me; but several specimens of
the eggs of the redwing, in the possession of a friend of mine, who received them from
Dr. Thienemann himself, entirely agree with Temminck’s description of them. I have
also examined a great number of eggs, said to be those of the redwing, in oological
collections abroad, which correspond exactly with Nilsson’s “ blue spotted with black.”
They resemble small rounded eggs of the song thrush, so as not to be distinguished

VI 2B

2142 Birds.

if once mixed with them. On the other hand, Mr. Hewitson, who deservedly ranks
high as an oologist, gives a very different figure of this egg: his is in appearance
more like the egg of the blackbird or fieldfare: still he does not give it apparently
without some slight hesitation, consequent upon his not having succeeded in finding
the egg himself during his tour in Norway ; but his figure is taken from specimens to
be found in standard collections in this country, one of which is Mr. Yarrell’s. But
Mr. Yarrell, in his article on the redwing, does not describe the eggs from his own
specimens ; he rests satisfied with giving Nilsson’s opinion that they are “ blue
spotted with black.” Some one of your correspondents, who may have been fortunate
enough to take the eggs himself, and can therefore have no doubt as to their identity,
would perhaps be kind enough to remove all doubt on the subject, and in so doing
render a service to more than one naturalist—S. C. Malan; Broadwindsor, Dorset,
April 18, 1848.

White Variety of the Blackbird (Turdus merula).—A white variety of the black-
bird was shot here last year, and is now in Mr. Robert Watt’s possession.—J. B.
Ellman ; Battel, March, 1848.

Nesting of the Ring Ouzel (Turdus torquatus) in Warwickshire—The nest and
egg of this bird were brought me from Pinley, close by this city (Coventry), on the 25th
of last month, together with the male bird, which was shot on the spot. The female
was also shot, from the nest. Mr. Bree informs me that he never met with the bird in
this county, and it is not I believe recorded ever to have nested here. The nest was
placed among the ivy growing round an elm tree, the smallest of four or five similarly
ivied ones standing on the brink of a small pond, and in the midst of a highly culti-
vated and thickly wooded district. Its altitude from the root of the tree was about
eight feet, and from the top of the bank—whence it could be readily reached—five or
six feet. The nest is composed internally of dried grasses and stalks, thickly matted
together, with here and there a dry oak leaf; while the interior wall, composed of
mud, appears to be more solid than is usual in the blackbird’s nest, and this again is
thickly lined with grasses and stalks, precisely similar to those of the exterior, and one
or two dried leaves of hawthorn. On the whole it resembles very closely the nest of
the blackbird. Its dimensions are—

DAMIER LET WAR AG a7 ehess
DG OT Antero He Rl era ta BHP IZ
Depth iI OREO kee ns Sel. RRO
Do. of interior .......... Seer rr 2

shtee 5
The measurements of an ordinary blackbird’s nest now before me differ slightly from

these, this being an inch less in external diameter, half an inch deeper, and rather
narrower in the cup. There is also usually moss about the blackbird’s nest, not a par-
ticle of which is used in the ring ouzel’s nest I am speaking of. The egg is of the
size of that of the song thrush, of a pale greenish blue, very sparingly freckled with
pale purplish and reddish markings, except at the larger end, where the mottlings run
together so closely as entirely to conceal the ground colour. Ata short distance, the
effect is that of an uniform purplish chestnut at the larger end, gradually changing to
pale blue towards the middle of the egg, of which colour only the smaller end appears
to be, as indeed it is, with the exception of a few very minute specks of pale reddish,
which hardly show. Six other eggs of the same bird, in my possession, obtained in
the neighbouring county of Leicester, exhibit similar characters, though some are
redder, some paler in the markings than this: one in particular is of a very deep and

Birds. 2143

uniform chestnut at the large end, while the rest is nearly pure blue. In different
years I have had several similar ones to the last from the same neighbourhood, and
these, and the others now in my possession, vary from this intense colouring, in infe-
rior gradation, down to a near approach to the most nearly approximating variety of
blackbird’s egg, from which, however, a practised eye readily detects that of the bird
in question. The nest, from which one specimen I possess was taken, was situate in
a low yew tree growing among a quantity of laurels, in the Rookery at Bosworth Park,
Leicestershire, near which place five others have been obtained this year. I need make
no comment on the discrepancy between this description of undoubtedly genuine ring
ouzel’s eggs and the situation of the nest, and those given by Yarrell, Macgillivray,
Hewitson, and other writers. The situation of the nest at Pinley might have been
singular and an exception to the general rule, but the character and markings of the
egg of the ring ouzel will, I think, turn out to be most usually those that I have
described.—A. Evans ; Coventry, May 19, 1848.

Occurrence of the Redstart (Sylvia Pheenicurus) in Queen’s County.—In February,
1847, I obtained, through the kindness of Mr. R. Glennon, Jun., bird-preserver, of
Dublin, a male redstart in winter plumage: it had been shot two days previously in
Queen’s County. Mr. Yarrell says that it has been once obtained in Ireland.—Robt.
J. Montgomery ; Manor House, Raheny, near Dublin, May 18, 1848.

Occurrence of the Reed Warbler (Sylvia arundinacea) near Dublin.—On the 21st
of December I shot a male specimen of the reed warbler at this place: it is said by
Yarrell to have been included in the late Mr. Templeton’s ‘ Catalogue of the Birds of
Ireland,’ on the faith of a specimen once seen in the vicinity of Belfast.—Id.

Occurrence of the Blackcap (Sylvia atricapilla) near Dublin.—Mr. Yarrell records
that the blackcap has been once taken in the north of Ireland. I have shot two at
this place in my father’s grounds, both of tena in the depth of winter; one, a female,
on the 21st of December.—Id.

White Variety of the Hedge Sparrow (Sylvia modularis)—A female specimen of
the common hedge sparrow, perfectly white, was captured here about three weeks
since. The bird was first noticed in September last, and was finally taken whilst sit-
ting on the nest, by a poor boy out of the village. The bird is now in the possession
of a relative of mine, and is in perfect health ; it seems quite reconciled to confine-
ment. The eggs on which the bird was sitting were of the same colour as those of the
ordinary hedge sparrow.—H. H. Crewe ; Drayton Lodge, near Tring, Bucks, May ly
1848.

Occurrence of the White Wagtail (Motacilla alba) near Penzance.—I yesterday had
an opportunity of examining a male and female of this species, which were observed
amongst a large number of the common species, and which attracted notice from their
light blue backs. They were shot by Mr. W. H. Vingoe, of this place, who civilly
submitted their bodies, after skinning them, to my inspection, and the usual tests were
satisfactorily developed.—Edward Hearle Rodd ; Penzance, April, 1848.

Frequent Occurrence of the Continental White Wagtail near Penzance,—Since my
last communication to you, relative to the occurrence of this species in this locality, I
have now to inform you that during the present month a great number have been
seen and several specimens obtained ; in fact I may say that on the wet ground be-
tween Marazion and this place several pairs may be seen at any time. I have ob-
served others scattered about in various directions in this immediate neighbourhood,

2144 Birds.

and I have no doubt that throughout the south coast of England they may be seen.—
Id., May 17, 1848. .

Occurrence of the Gray-headed Wagtail (Motacilla neglecta) near Penzance.—I have
seen a male and female of this species in full vernal plumage, which were also cap-
tured near Marazion. The plumage of the male bird exhibits the fine bright intense
yellow plumage which its congener—the yellow wagtail—possesses at this season of
the year; but the female’s plumage has a grayish faded cast of colour, without the
green olive tinge which the other species shows ; the streak over the eye is pure white,
and the breast and belly white, tinged with primrose yellow.—Id.

Singular Proof of the Reasoning Faculty in a Canary.—In the year 1839 I had a
canary, between the wires of whose cage I was in the habit of placing a piece of lump
sugar: one day it dropped out, and when picked up was found to be quite wet on one
side : this excited my curiosity, so I looked to see if there was anything to wet it where
it had fallen, and being convinced there was not I replaced it, but put the dry side in-
wards, determined to watch the bird’s proceedings, when, to my surprise, after a few
ineffectual attempts to nip some of the sugar (for it never pecked it) it went to the
water-trough several times, filled its bill, dropped the water on the sugar, and then,
after it was thus softened, began to eat it: this I have seen it do frequently. Now I
think this is more than an extension of the vital actions subservient to the physical
life of the individual; here must be thought, thought applied, something like deduc-
tion, a means used and the end answered. Now if so many of our philosophers and
divines persist in calling this instinct, what is reason? where does matter end and
mind begin? Is it not leading many into materialism? Would it not be better to
allow that the lower animals have minds suited to their station, enabling them to ac-
complish the purpose for which the Author of their being intended them ?—Joseph
Duff ; Bishop's Auckland, May 8, 1848.

Additional Note on the Chaffinch (Fringilla ccelebs).—I have reconsidered the sub-
ject of the chaffinch (Zool. 2072), and as I had quoted from memory only, I instantly
referred to White’s ‘ Natural History of Selborne,’ to the paragraph which is in
Mr. Blyth’s note to the above, page 36, and am sorry to find a discrepancy between
the quotation given by you and that given by Mr. Blyth: the quotation referred to is
as follows, that “in Northumberland and Scotland this separating takes place about
the month of November, and that from that period to the return of spring few females
are to be seen, and these few in distinct societies ; this, however, requires a little qua-
lifying, as there are many of both sexes that remain throughout the winter, and do
not flock even in the warmer parts of Scotland : in ordinary winters, in the south of
England, a very large proportion of them certainly do not congregate, and of those
that do the sexes are not invariably apart, but associate together along with yellow
buntings, green grossbeaks, and sometimes mountain spinks or bramble finches.” The
following part of this note I apprehend to be Mr. Blyth’s own observation. I am sorry
that I have not Mr. Selby’s work; but I doubt not the accuracy of your quotation,—
“the males remain and are met with in immense flocks.” Now this is at variance (I
think) with the observations of naturalists generally ; but the explanation I offered
was not suitable for this quotation, neither was it intended for it, but for flocks of
supposed hens that were seen in the south.—Id., April 27, 1848.

Note on the Mealy Redpole (Fringilla canescens), §c.—Your correspondents, in re-
marking (Zool. 2018, 2064) on the flocks of mealy redpoles which occurred last winter,

Birds. 2145

have not noticed what seemed to me to be rather a curious circumstance connected
with them, namely, the small number of female birds among them. Out of about a
_ dozen examples that I met with, either dead or alive, and at various times during the
season, I believe only three were hens. I cannot, however, tell at all what was the
proportion between the sexes when in the flocks, as at that season they differ but little
from each other. In habits they seem to resemble the lesser redpole, but are in gene-
ral, I think, wilder. In conclusion I have to remark that both mountain finches and
siskins abounded during the past winter. About the second week in January we were
visited by large trips of golden plovers: these stayed but a few days, and after that
our ordinary few only were seen. The number of wild geese over was very small, and
bore no proportion to that of the year before ; but the quantities of fieldfares and red-
wings were much the same.— Alfred Newton ; Elveden, May 1, 1848.

Singular Situation of the Nest of a Starling (Sturnus vulgaris).—A starling has
this year built its nest in a hole on the fifth story of a large flax mill, in this town
(Belfast). The nest contained five eggs when first examined, and they have been
since hatched in safety. The parent birds seem to be neither disturbed by the noise
of the machinery, nor do they regard the number of people in the locality, for I learn
that they chose nearly the same spot for building in last year.— Robert Taylor ; Clif-
ton Ville, Belfast, May 16, 1848.

Note on the Building of the Rook (Corvus frugilegus).—It has long been a popular
belief that the rook regularly lays the “ first stick” of its nest on the Ist day of March,
but I find that the bird is not generally so very punctual in this respect as people sup-
pose it to be. For a number of years past I have observed that it is generally a day
or two after the first of the month before the rooks begin in this quarter to build, al-
though indeed I believe they have on some rare occasions been observed at work in
the latter end of February. Never, however, have I been so much struck with their
delay as during the present season. I have this year had ample opportunities of ob-
servation, as I regularly pass two rookeries three or four—sometimes five or six—times
every day, on my way betwixt my home and the town; and I therefore resolved to
avail myself of the advantages thus afforded. Accordingly, when February was draw-
ing to ‘a close, I kept a good look-out after the operations of my black neighbours ;
but it was the 5th of March before any stir was observable amongst them, and of that
date the following note appears in my ‘ Journal of Observations :’—‘ Observed the
crows in Perthroad, &c., to be very noisy and busy, seemingly preparing to build.”
But even after that time, day after day was I disappointed in seeing no earnest of their
having begun to build, until at last, on the morning of the 13th, I saw several of them
stalking about on the grass at White-leys, with twigs in their bills. About a week af-
terwards several of the nests were visible on the trees, but even at the present time
some of them seem scarcely completed. On the 2nd of April current I saw several
rooks carrying twigs as I passed. They seem to work most in the mornings. It would
be interesting to know whether the rooks have been generally so late in building this
season. From the state of advancement in which I saw the nests at Baldovan, and
likewise those at Gray, about the middle of the month of March, I am inclined to
suspect that they were begun earlier at both of those places than here, but I have no
means of obtaining decided information. The intelligent gardener at Gray, Mr. W.
Chalmers, told me that the rooks had been /ater this season, but he had taken no note
of dates. I may add that, since beginning to build, our Dundee rooks have become
very bold, and alight with impunity in streets where there is considerable traffic, for

2146 Birds.

the purpose of picking up materials for their nests, as well as such stray seeds of corn
as may chance to come in their way.—George Lawson ; 212, Perth Road, Dundee,
April 8, 1848.

Anecdote of a Rook.—In the beginning of the breeding-season of the present year,
a rook unfortunately got entangled in the thick branches ofa large tree, adjacent to
Castle Warren, the seat of Robert Warren, Esq., county of Cork. The other rooks,
seeing its hapless condition, attacked it, and soon put an end to its existence, notwith-
standing the vigorous but ineffectual efforts of its mate to defend it. Since that time
the dead body is daily visited by a rook, which also roosts by it every night: this rook
is supposed to be the mate ; if so, it is indeed “ fidelity in death.’—Robert Taylor ;
Clifton Ville, Belfast, May 16, 1848.

Anecdote of a Magpie (Corvus pica).—A magpie in the possession of Mr. C. Bees-
ley, of Summertown, near Oxford, having, from the time it was taken, been allowed
to go freely about the premises, was lately—on account of its mischievous propensities
in the garden—placed in a spacious cage. Although very talkative before, it became
totally silent, and, on a greenfinch being introduced into the cage, instantly seized it
and tore it limb from limb.— Thomas Prater ; Bicester, April 18, 1848.

The Cuckoo (Cuculus canorus) singing by Niyht.—On the 2nd of June, last year,
in a wooded district about three miles from Ryde, at 11 o'clock, p. m., I was surprised
to hear the cuckoo repeating his well-known note with even more than the usual fre-
quency, and as I continued riding on I found it was continued without intermission.
From this period, during the space of an hour, I frequently returned to the open air,
and he still continued his note; and persons residing on the spot informed me after-
wards that he was still continuing his note when they ceased observing him, at 2 a. m.
The moon, four nights past the full, had not risen when I first noticed the fact, but
the air was still and warm and the twilight bright, and the light was soon increased
by the moon’s rising. These circumstances, accompanied as they were by the call of
the heron—whose return just then was determined by the rising tide—and the lowing
of a calf, made the scene anything but like one of night. During the last week I have
been reminded of the fact by hearing the cuckoo, during several evenings, give occa-
sional calls as late as nine or ten o’clock, and one night as late as eleven. The nights,
however, on these recent occasions were more decidedly moonlight.—7. Bell Salter ;
Ryde, May 16, 1848.

Further Note on the Bustard shot in Lincolnshire.—Since the publication of the
note (Zool. 2065), a diligent inquiry has been instituted into the right of this bird to
be admitted into our list as a voluntary visitor of this kingdom : the result shows that
not one of Mr. Frasev’s birds has escaped ; and, therefore, that that mode of account-
ing for its occurrence is fallacious: no evidence exists against the supposition that its
passage hither was voluntary. I have just received a note from its owner, Mr. Hig-
gins, who states, that on examination by Mr. Gould, the bird turns out to be Otis
Macqueenii, a native of Persia and Western India. A doubt exists whether these
two closely allied birds are really distinct ; but the subject is now under the notice of
competent ornithologists, and will be again resumed in these pages.—E. Newman.

Note on the Great Plover (GAdicnemus crepitans)—Mr. Rodd mentions (Zool.
2023) the great plover as occurring in the Land’s End district of Cornwall only in the
winter months. More to the eastward, in the county of Dorset, I have many times
endeavoured unsuccessfully to shoot this bird during the summer months ; and I ne-
ver remember seeing it in the winter. It breeds every year, though I was never fortu-

Birds. 5 2147

nate enough to obtain the eggs, on several of the hills round Charmouth ; that on which
I made its acquaintance was to the west of Charmouth, behind Langmoor. There it
frequented chiefly a large rough field, much covered with stones ; it always kept near
the middle of this field, and so sure as any one entered the field at any point, so sure
did it take wing almost immediately. I never succeeded in seeing it on the ground.
Five or six years ago one was shot by a farmer on another hill about a mile from this
one. It dropped, and he picked it up and handled it, apparently dead: he then
threw it on the ground, and proceeded to reload his gun, but before he had accom-
plished this, my friend was off, seemingly as well as ever, and he saw him no more.—
Beverley R. Morris; York, March 8th, 1848.

Note on the Great Plover (GEdicnemus crepitans). This species, until within these
few years, used to frequent the high situations and lighter soils of this part of
the country, coming in spring to breed, when their loud calls might be heard a long
distance on the approach of night, and leaving in the autumn ; but now it is a rare
bird — scarcely one being seen, or known to stay, in the localities formerly occupied
by them ; owing, most likely, to the extension of agriculture, and the improvement of
the land.— 7. Goatley ; Chipping Norton, April 10th, 1848.

Migration of the Golden Plover (Charadrius pluvialis).— These birds come in con-
siderable flocks, in November or December, and spend some time during the winter
months upon the higher grounds in the neighbourhood, particularly the fields of
Chadlington and Dean, between this town and. Charlbury, and leave again early in
spring.—TId.

Occurrence of the Night Heron (Nycticorax Gardeni) in the county Louth.—On the
lst of May I received a fine male specimen of the night heron, in nearly mature plu-
mage, but without the crest of white feathers: it was shot on the reedy border of a
small lake, at Beaulieu, the seat of the Rev. A. J. Montgomery, in the county Louth :
in Yarrell’s ‘ British Birds,’ it is stated to have been killed twice in Ireland; no par-
ticulars are given as to where or when. — Robert J. Montgomery ; Manor House, Ra-
heny, near Dublin, May 18th, 1848.

Occurrence of the Little Bittern (Ardea minuta) at Ewhurst and Ledlescomb, Sus-
sex.—I have seen a male and female of Ardea minuta which were shot at the
above places. The female about three months ago; the male, at the latter place, I
believe, about fifteen months since.—J. B. Ellman; Battel, April 20th, 1848.

Occurrence of the White Stork (Ciconia alba) at the Land’s End.— On Saturday
last the servant of James Trembath, Esq., of Mayon, killed an adult specimen of this
bird, which has been set up by Mr. Vingoe, of this place, at whose house I examined
it this morning. It is a fine, well grown bird, and the plumage appears to be unin-
jured. Iam not aware of the occurrence of this species before in the county,
although I have an example in my collection of its rarer congener the black stork,
killed in 1831 on the river Tamar.— Edward Hearle Rodd; Penzance, May
17th, 1848.

Occurrence of the Spotted Sandpiper (Totanus macularius) in Yorkshire-——On the
2nd of last March I saw a specimen of the spotted sandpiper on the beach at
Bridlington Quay. It was excessively tame, and allowed me to approach within
about fifteen yards of it. I am not aware of its having been noticed in Yorkshire
before.—Edmund Thomas Higgins ; Spurrier Gate, York, May 17th, 1848.

Egg of the Greenshank (Totanus Glottis). —I have examined the drawing of the
egg of the greenshank which Mr. Milner was so good as to send you ; and have muck

>

2148 Birds. :

pleasure in reporting that it strongly resembles three eggs in the collection of Mr. J.
Smith, of this place, which have been long believed by him and me to be the eggs of
this bird. These eggs were taken some years since in the Norfolk marshes. The fer-
ruginous spots are less bright in them than in the egg of Mr. Milner as represented in
the drawing, and the ground colour is almost precisely similar. Mr. Smith’s eggs are,
however, somewhat different in form from Mr. Milner’s ; being much less elongated.
I was at first inclined to believe that the very elongated form of Mr. Milner’s egg
might be the consequence of its removal from the bird before it was perfectly formed ;
it has, however, been suggested to me that this is the shape of the egg of a very
nearly allied species, —the black-tailed godwit. It seems hardly probable that the
eges should vary so much in form; but I am not aware of any other species to which
Mr. Smith’s eggs can be referred.— William R. Fisher ; Great Yarmouth, April
14th, 1848. :

Nest of the Woodcock (Scolopax rusticola). —“ A few days ago a woodcock’s nest,
with four eggs in, was discovered in Waterperry Wood, near Oxford, belonging to J.
W. Henly, Esq., M.P., by a gentleman residing at Wheatley; the nest was built in a
bank, and composed chiefly of dry moss. The old bird was sitting on the eggs when
the nest was found.” Two other instances of the woodcock’s nesting in Oxfordshire
have come to my knowledge; one occurred at Ditchley, and the other on the Ensham
Hall estate : in both of which cases the young birds were shown to me.—7.. Goatley ;
Chipping Norton, April 10th, 1848.

Woodcock’s (Scolopax rusticola) breeding in Norfolk.— About the middle of last
month (April) a woodcock’s nest, with four eggs, was found at Riddlesworth, near
Harling, by a man cutting reeds. The old bird being put off, did not return, and the
eggs, after having been left a few days on trial, were taken. They are much darker
in colour than the one figured in ‘ Hewitson’s Illustrations,’ and consequently ap-
proach more nearly those of the common snipe. I was told that on blowing them
they seemed to have been set upon abouta week. I half think that something more
was done than merely “flushing ” the bird, as this account of the woodcock’s forsak-
ing her nest does not at all agree with the common story of this bird’s attachment to
her eggs.— Alfred Newton ; Elveden, May 1st, 1848.

Occurrence of the Little Crake (Crex pusilla) at Seaford.—A specimen of this very
rare bird was picked up in an exhausted state at the above place a few days ago.—
James B. Ellman; Battel, March 11th, 1848.

Occurrence of the Hooper or Wild Swan (Cygnus ferus) on the Tay. — It may be
interesting to the readers of the ‘ Zoologist’ to know that a flock of wild swans was
observed over the river Tay, opposite to Dundee, during the past winter. I did not
myself have the pleasure of seeing the flock ; but have my information from a source
on which every reliance can be placed.—George Lawson ; 212, Perthroad, Dundee,
April 8th, 1848.

Occurrence of the Great Crested Grebe (Podiceps cristatus) at Battel.—A fine spe-
cimen of this bird was shot at the Powder Mills last week. It is in the possession of
Mr. Laurence. Two other specimens have been shot in this immediate neighbour-
hood, and are in the possession of Mr. James Watt.—J. B. Elliman ; Battel, March
16th, 1848.

Egg of the Ringed Guillemot (Uria lacrymans). — May I be permitted to make a
short remark upon a passage in Mr. Milner’s amusing account of the birds of the
Outer Hebrides (Zool. 2054). In mentioning the capture of an egg of the ringed

©

Birds— Reptiles. 2149

guillemot (Uria lachrymans) of a bright green colour, “ covered with irregular lines of
brownish black,” he remarks that it proves “ the absurdity of the idea that the ringed

- guillemot lays a white egg.” I shall be excused for observing that this is what

lawyers call a non sequitur ; the only fact established is that this species sometimes
lays variegated eggs! Itis said, upon good authority, that it also lays eggs of a white
colour, and it is so nearly allied to Uria troile, fhat there is no difficulty in believing
that its eggs vary as much as those of the latter species.— William R. Fisher ; Great
Yarmouth, April 14th, 1848.

Occurrence of the Common Cormorant (Phalacrocorax carbo) in the Thames. — On
Sunday last an immature specimen of the common cormorant was shot in the river
Thames, at Swanscombe, by a bargeman, after being chased by several people for the
space of an hour, during which time he kept diving.—Henry Fuller ; Swanscombe,
May 2nd, 1848.

Habits of Sea Gulls (Larus ?).— The flight of the sea gulls to the moors,
west of my residence, has for some days past been curious. During the lambing
season they regularly attend the moors to feed upon that which falls from the ewes
after lambing, and return to the sea-side after the season is over. In this county
there are some one or two places where the gulls congregate in many thousands

_ to breed upon the ground at Palinsbum and Paurton. It is very remarkable

that they all arrive nearly on the same day, and remain until their young are
old and strong enough to swim back to the sea-side, and take their departure
nearly all together. The period of their coming and going is regular to a day or two.
The proprietors of the land are careful to keep off trespassers during the breeding
time, for although the birds occupy some acres, it would be impossible to walk without
destroying many nests.—Isaac Cookson ; Meldon Park, April 24, 1848.

Occurrence of Buffon’s Skua (Lestris parasiticus) near Thetford.—An immature
specimen of the Buffon’s skua was found dead at Hockham, in September last. I saw
the bird when stuffed, but unfortunately I am unable to give you any further particu-
lars about it— Alfred Newton ; Elveden, May 1, 1848.

Dates of Arrival of Migratory Birds near Elveden.

Fieldfare, September 27 Redwing, October 14

Dotterel, September 29 Mountain Finch, November 19
Hooded Crow, October 5 Mealy Redpole, December 5
Woodcock, October 6 Wild (Bean ?) Goose, December 5

Golden Plover, October 12.—Id.

Description of a Species of Newt.—A kind of newt occurs in ponds and ditches
about Edinburgh which I have not observed elsewhere. The males are remarkable for
a ridge on each side of their back, which gives it great breadth and squareness, for
their wholly-webbed feet, and for the mode in which their tail terminates : it appears
as if the tip had been nipped off, the central filament of it only remaining, and pro-
jecting for a quarter of an inch. In colour and style of marking it differs consider-
ably from Lissotriton punctatus of Bell. The females are less easy to recognise.
There appear to be characteristic differences in the bones of the two species, at least in

VI 2C

2150 Fishes, &c.

the vertebre and the skull, also in the general proportions of the head, body, and tail.
The males do not vary much from one another: I have examined upwards of
one hundred of them, but as yet only in their spring appearance. The webs of the
feet, the caudal filament, the crests, and the dorsal ridges are probably absorbed later
in the year, as I judge from the degrees of development I have already seen, and es-
pecially from a newt of this kind I fotind in the bed of a pool which had been dried
up some days before. It occurs in company with L. punctatus, but in one ditch I
found it alone and in plenty, from which I have been able satisfactorily to ascertain
the females. A more full account will I hope before long be furnished by Mr. Bell,
who had specimens of the same, or a similar newt, sent to him from Devonshire seve-
ral years ago. It seems to occur generally round Edinburgh, as far as my walks ex-
tend. Yesterday (May Ist) I saw this, and no other species, during a ramble in the
Pentland Hills.—J. Wolley ; 3, Roxburgh Terrace, Edinburgh, May 3, 1848.

[I trust Mr. Bell will furnish the ‘ Zoologist’ with a name as well as description,
bearing in mind the admirable dictum “ Nomina si nescis, perit et cognitio rerum.” —
Edward Newman).

Remarkable Instance of Voracity in a Trout. — I send you a singular instance of
the voracity of the trout, which you may think worth inserting in the next number of
the * Zoologist.’ <A friend of mine, while fishing in a brook at Yoxall, in this county,
on the 18th of this month, caught with a spinning minnow a trout of about one pound
weight, in the throat of which he found a toad, that had been swallowed head first,
that part being already digested, while the legs still remained within its mouth.
Trout, in our brooks, vary much in the time of their coming into season: those in the
brook above-mentioned were in season when he caught the above, but in the brook
which runs past this place they are seldom in season until the middle of May. Can
this proceed from any difference in the temperature of the water, which in the latter is
remarkable for its coldness? — Oswald Mosley ; Rolleston Hall, Staffordshire, April
26, 1848.

Occurrence of Amphipeplia glutinosa near Norwich. —“ Locally and periodically
abundant.”—(Gray’s Manual). I have lately taken off the Siums and other aquatic
plants in the river near this city, many dozen specimens, some of them exceedingly
fine ones, of this beautiful and interesting mollusk—W. K. Bridgman; 69, St. Giles
Street, Norwich.

Occurrence of Vanessa Antiopa at Penge, Surrey. — On Sunday, April 2nd, I saw
a fine Vanessa Antiopa settle in the middle of the road at Penge, about a mile from
Sydenham. Unfortunately I had no net with me and could not capture it. I had
only the pleasure of seeing it fly away and return to the same spot within a few feet of

Insects. 2151

me. Finally it disappeared among the trees at the road-side.—J. W. Douglas ;
Peckham, April 6, 1848.

-Cerura vinula killed with Chloroform. — A puss-moth, which I had possessed as a
caterpillar last summer, emerged from the chrysalis yesterday. I at once placed him
in a large stoppered bottle, dropped a few drops of chloroform on the stopper and
closed it. The insect instantly became affected, and death ensued in a few seconds.
The greater convenience of a fluid when compared with the inconvenience of using
laurel leaves on the one hand, and on the other the safety of using chloroform as com-
pared with the risk attending prussic acid, would, I should suppose, make the plan
now proposed the one most available for general use. A small portion of sponge
glued or gummed to the bottom of the bottle to receive occasionally a few fresh drops
of chloroform would make the apparatus complete; or a little piece of blotting-paper
dipped in chloroform and dropped into the bottle answers as well. A little chloro-
form also dropped into the collecting box or cabinet, receiving fresh specimens, would
have the double advantage of preventing revivals and driving away all depredators.—
T. Bell Salter ; Ryde, May 16, 1848.

Capture of Achatia spreta on Willow Blossoms.—I take the liberty of sending the
notice of a capture made upon the Ist of April last upon willow blossoms, which
seems to me rather unusual, viz., a very fine specimen of Achatia spreta. This moth
has hitherto been known, I think, as a summer species. Also upon the same night
Pterophorus galactodactylus. I should not trouble you with these remarks, did I not
think that some of your readers might profit by the news, and keep a “sharp look
out” in those neighbourhoods where the willow blossoms late-—W. E. Hambrough ;
Nulton, Suffolk, April 6, 1848.

Capture of Glea rubricosa on Sallow Blossoms.—During the early part of April I
took, in tolerable abundance, Glewa rubricosa, whilst regaling itself on the catkins of
our early sallow (S. caprea). Westwood says it is a rare species, and figured the
larva on Rumex acutus. This plant, however, does not grow here. It must, there-
fore, be a less exclnsive feeder than is generally supposed. I shall be glad if any
gentleman who has given attention to the breeding of the caterpillar of rubricosa,
would kindly state whether he has found it to feed on any other plant besides R. acu-
tus. R. obtusifolius is unusually abundant with us, as is R. acetosa. — Peter Inch~
bald ; Storthes Hall, April, 1848.

Further Remarks on Apterous Female Geometre.—Since I sent you my remarks on
the females of our British Geometre, I have had an opportunity afforded of describ-
ing from a living specimen the characteristic markings of the female of Hibernia leu-
cophzaria. The insect before me was found on the bole of a birch on the 25th of
March. Like its mate, it is the smallest of the Hibernias except rupicapraria. The
scales on the thorax and upper part of the abdomen are variously tinted with gray,
black, and ochre ; while those of the under side are of a pale dun colour, with the ad-
mixture of a few black and white scales, particularly visible on the legs. It is nearly,
though not entirely, apterous, the rudimentary wings being distinctly visible with
a good magnifier.—Id.

2152 Insects.

A Monograph on the British Argyromiges. By H. T. Stainton, Esq.
(Concluded from page 2097).
Sp. 21. TENELLA, Zeller (fig. 21).

Lithocolletis tenella, Zeller, Linn. Entom. i. 236, f. 30.
Argyromiges hortella, Bent. Mus.

Expansion of the wings 33 lines. Head white. Forehead white. Palpi white.
Antenne white. Thorax white. Abdomen fuscous, with the extremity fulvous.
Legs white. Tarsi white, spotted with pale fuscous. Anterior wings white, with two
fuscous streaks arising near the middle of the wing, one on each margin, which meet
(or very nearly so) at an acute angle ; beyond there is another pair of streaks, meeting
at an obtuse angle,—that on the inner margin is less oblique than in Cramerella; a
small white marginal triangle follows these streaks, the remainder of the wing being
fulvous, with the exception of two white comma-shaped marks on the costa, margined
internally with fuscous ; and towards the inner margin is a faint dark streak, in con-
tinuation, as it were, of the dark margin of the first costal spot: at the apex is an oval
black spot, round which, on the cilia, is a series of black dots, as in Cramerella : cilia
white, with three dark patches on the costa, one on each side of the pale spots; the
last is rather curved downwards. Posterior wings pale gray ; cilia whitish. Some
specimens have a fuscous streak from the base of the anterior wings to beyond the
middle (as that figured).

I took one in Torwood, Stirlingshire, June 11th last, beating it in a thicket, in
which were birch, oak and hazel underwood, and some fir trees. Mr. Weir has also
taken this insect in May, near Keymer, Sussex, beating it out of a hedge, in which
grew oak, bramble, whitethorn, &c.

Zeller says of it, “‘ This scarce species flies near Reichstadt and Vienna, on oaks,
in May and June.”

It may be distinguished from Cramerella by the four fuscous streaks on the costa,
instead of three, and by the less oblique direction of the second inner marginal streak,
and the faint indications of a third inner marginal streak. I do not mention the basal
streak here, as Zeller has made another species with a basal streak, that being its
greatest character to distinguish it from tenella : this species he calls Heegeriella : like
tenella, it has four costal streaks. Whether tenella varies, and this be only a variety,
I do not feel positive. My own specimen, which is the one figured and described,
approximates to Zeller’s Heegeriella. Mr. Weir’s specimens, without a basal streak,
and with the apical spot more prolonged (more of a line than a spot), appear to approx-
imate to the tenella of Zeller; but I certainly should not feel justified in making two
species of them without seeing a longer series of each. Mr. Allis has also a specimen
which resembles my own: the specimen in Mr. Bentley’s collection resembles Mr.
Weir’s specimens.

Note.—Of Heegeriella, Zeller had only two males when he described it in the
Linnea: surely where the species are so very closely allied, that is hardly enough to
form a species on.

Insects. 2153

Sp. 22. roporEe ua, Zeller (fig. 22).

Lithocolletis roboris, Zeller, Isis, 1839. Linn. Entom. i. 174, fig. 4.
Elachista roborifoliella, Duponchel, Sup. iv. 342, Pl. 78, f. 11.

Expansion of the wings 33 lines. Head snow white. Forehead snow white.
Palpi snow white. Antenne white, annulated with fuscous. Thorax white, with two
golden bands, one on each side of the middle. Abdomen fuscous. Legs and tarsi
silvery white. Anterior wings silvery white ; at the base is a golden oblique fascia,
‘commencing on the costa, where it is broadest, and terminating in a point about the
middle of the inner margin ; on the costa near the apex are three short golden streaks,
the first pointing outwards, the other two inwards; on the inner margin is a golden
streak, meeting the first costal streak, and forming with it a right angle: at the apex
is a somewhat triangular black spot; the space between this spot and the anal angle
is suffused with golden: cilia silvery white, but with two dark patches opposite the
last two costal streaks, and with a strong black line opposite the black spot. Posterior
wings pale fuscous ; cilia long silvery white.

I have only seen one British specimen, which was taken by Mr. Bedell (he be-
lieves off an oak) on Leatherhead Common, September 28th, 1845.

Zeller says of it, “‘ It occurs at Berlin, near Frankfort-on-the-Oder ; and Glogau,
in young oak woods, sometimes plentiful, in two broods, of which that from the mid-
dle of April and in May produces the finest specimens. The second brood appears at
the end of June and in July, sometimes also still later. Tischer found the species at
Dresden ; Mann near Reichstadt, in Bohemia, very scarce; oftener near Vienna, and
certainly here on oaks and maples. The caterpillars, which I have not yet observed
very closely, live in the under leaves of the oak (Quercus pedunculata). The part of
the leaf frequented by it is shown by the dappled upper side, because the caterpillar
consumes the leaf the least in the middle, only marking’ the leaf here and there. On
chrysalizing it makes itself a fine silky cocoon in its habitation. The little black pu-
pa, on the creeping forth of the moth, presses through the under half of the epidermis.
Sometimes several caterpillars live in the same leaf, each in a separate rib. Of two
living together in one leaf, one moth came out on the evening of the 30th of June,
the other on the morning of the 1st of July. Of the autumnal brood, there appeared
in my room specimens in January, along with Tischeria complanella.* That the ma-
ple (Acer campestre) also serves as food to L. roboris, appears to follow from Mann’s
communication.”

Sp. 23. HorTELLA, Fabricius (fig. 23).

Elachista Saportella, Duponchel, xi. 539, Pl. 308, f. 10.
Lithocolletis Kuhlweinella, Zeller, Isis, 1839.
Lithocolletis Saportella, Zeller, Linn. Ent. i. 177, f. 6.

Expansion of the wings 3} lines. Head white. Forehead white. Palpi white.
Antenne white, annulated with fuscous. Thorax white. Abdomen fuscous, with the

a

* Aphelosetia rufipennella, Haworth.

2154 Insects.

extremity paler. Legs white. Tarsi white, spotted with fuscous. Anterior wings
white ; near the base is a pale golden fascia, nearly straight ; in the middle is a second
pale gold fascia, angulated and generally interrupted ; the extremity of the costal half
of it is sometimes continued towards the apex of the wing till it meets the next fascia ;
the third fascia is more angulated than the second, and most frequently interrupted ;
all the fascie are margined on both sides with brown ; the extremity of the costal half
of the third fascia is continued to the apex of the wing, and in it, close to the apex,
is a darker patch ; between this and the costa are two short, pale golden streaks, edged
externally with brown: cilia whitish, with a black arch round the apex of the wing,
and some black marks at the extreme apex, somewhat resembling a hook. Posterior
wings whitish gray, with paler cilia.

This very much resembles the following; but the colour of the fascie is much
more delicate, and the first fascia, which is only margined in sylvella, is filled up in
this insect : perhaps the easiest character by which to recognize this species at once is
the anal angle of the anterior wings being pure white, whereas in sylvella the first
costal spot is continued across the wing, forming, as it were, a fourth fascia.

Apparently a scarce species in this country. Mr. Ingall has two, one of them be-
ing Haworth’s original specimen ; Mr. Bedell has two and Mr. Douglas one. Nothing
is known of their locality.

Zeller says of it, “ At Berlin and Glogau, very scarce, in May, in company with
roboris, quercifoliella, Cramerella, &c. At Vienna it is more plentiful, and Mann
took it in April and May: according to his observation the caterpillar mines in oak
leaves. Duponchel found the insect near Paris, on elms, at the end of June, conse-
quently the second brood.”

Fabricius says of this insect, “ With three yellow fascie, the third interrupted.
Habitat, Paris.” Zeller complains of the brevity of the Fabrician description, and
says that there is the probability of some species still more closely allied occurring with
Fabricius. If it did occur, it has ceased to occur: moreover this insect is found near
Paris, according to Duponchel, the very locality assigned by Fabricius. That Ha-
worth intended this species is proved, independently of his original specimen, by his
saying, at the end of his description of sylvella, “ perhaps a variety of the preceding.”
_ This appears to have escaped the notice of Mr. Stephens, who had specimens of Cra-
merella in his cabinet as hortella, which is perhaps also the cause of the imperfect
description in the ‘ Illustrations,’ which has excited Zeller’s indignation— What in-
deed does Stephens merit for this, that he at the present day should serve up such a
description ! ”

Sp. 24. syLtvELLa, Haworth (fig. 24).

Tinea sylvella, Haworth, Lepid. Brit. 579, 66.

Argyromiges sylvella, Stephens, Ilust. iv. 258.

Elachista acernella, Duponchel, Sup. iv. 316, Pl. 76, f. 11.
Lithocolletis acernella, Zeller, Linn. Entom. i. 239, f. 33.
Lithocolletis acerifoliella, Zeller, Linn. Entom. i. 239, f. 32.

Expansion of the wings 3}—3{ lines. Head white. Forehead white. Palpi
white. Antenne white, annulated with fuscous. Thorax white. Abdomen fuscous,
with the extremity paler. Legs white. Tarsi white, spotted with black. Anterior

2 =

eS = eel eee

Insects. 2155

wings white ; near the base are three or four black dots placed transversely, and a
little beyond is a black transverse line, interrupted in the middle; these form, as it
were the margins of an extinct fascia : a little before the middle is an angulated pale
tawny fascia, sometimes interrupted, but oftener entire ; beyond this is another more
angulated pale tawny fascia; both these are margined on both sides with black ; be-
yond the third, and connected with it, forming by their union the letter K, is a straight
tawny fascia, faintly margined with a darker colour; from the middle of this to the
apex of the wing is a black line, between which and the costa are two small patches
of pale tawny, and on the inner margin the whole remaining space is pale tawny: cilia
pale. Posterior wings clear gray, with paler cilia.

A maple feeder, and probably common wherever that plant grows. I took it in
great plenty, last May and June, off hedges close to my house, and again sparingly in
August. It has been taken by others in the Green Man Lane.

Zeller mentions two varieties, viz.—

Var. b. “ The second fascia with a projection towards the first.”
Var.c. ‘‘ With the fascie connected by a yellowish longitudinal line.” This
last is his acernella. }

Zeller says of its localities, “ This species was found in Bohemia, near Nixdorf,
by Fischer-v-R., and near Reichstadt by Mann; at the latter place it was very scarce
in May. Latterly Mann took it at the same time also near Vienna. I took it myself
neat Glogau, July 8th, 1835, among a cluster of maple bushes,—above a dozen spe-
cimens of this species, varieties a and 6, in company with Tort. Forskaleana. Mann
informed me that it occurs in Hanover, in September. Fischer-v-R. discovered the
caterpillar, from which he often bred the perfect insect; it lives as a miner, in May
and June, in a maple leaf, of which, according to Mann, it turns in a corner. He
found it in May and June, and bred the perfect insect in June and July.”

Sp. 25. comMpaRELta, Fischer-v-R. (fig. 25).

Lithocolletis comparella, Fischer von Roslerstamm, MSS. Zeller, Linn. Entom.
i. 257, fig. 42.
Elachisia comparella, Duponchel, Sup. iv. 318, Pl. 76, f. 13.

Expansion of the wings 33 lines. Head white, with some fulvous hairs. Fore-
head white. Palpi white. Antenne white, annulated with fuscous. Thorax white,
with a few grayish atoms. Abdomen fuscous, with the extremity paler. Legs
whitish. Tarsi white, spotted with brown. Anterior wings white, irrorated with fus-
cous, with four costal spots and three inner marginal spots, all fuscous: the first
costal spot arises before the middle of the wing, and is continued in a slanting direc-
tion half across the wing; the second costal spot is placed a little beyond the middle
of the wing, and is continued more than half across the wing, its extremity being an-
gulated (resembling an angulated fascia with the lower part cut away); the third
costal spot resembles half an angulated fascia, and is margined externally with black ;
the fourth costal spot is very small, and lies just above the inner extremity of the api-
cal black streak : the first inner marginal spot is very near the base, and is very short ;
the second is nearly opposite the first costal spot, which it sometimes meets, thus form-

2156 Insects.

ing an angulated fascia ; the third meets (or very nearly so) the third costal spot ; its
outer margin is rather dark: cilia grayish white. Posterior wings clear gray, with
paler cilia.

I had two specimens of this insect mixed with sylvella: they are I know my own
captures, but I know nothing positive as to when and where I took them ; probably at
Lewisham, on the trunks of poplars, at the end of April. Mr. Thomson has also a
specimen, which he had placed with Boyerella.

Zeller says, “ Near Vienna, on poplars, in pees July, August and September ; on
the Prado, in the crevices in the bark of poplars.”

Sp. 26. cory.iroLietta, Hubner (fig. 31).

Tinea corylifoliella, Hubner, Ti. 194. Haworth, Lepid. Brit. 580, 68.
Aryyromiges corylifoliella, Stephens, Ilust. iv. 258. Wood’s fig. 1321.
Lithocolletis betula, Zeller, Isis, 1839. Linn. Entom. i. 222, f. 24.

Expansion of the wings 44 lines. Head tawny. Forehead white. Palpi white.
Antenne white, annulated with fuscous. Thorax rufous tawny. Abdomen fuscous,
with the extremity fulvous. Legs fuscous. Tarsi whitish, annulated with dark fus-
cous. Anterior wings rufous tawny, with a very slender pale basal streak, which, ra-
ther beyond the middle of its length, is slightly angulated towards the costa ; about
the middle of the wing are two pale thin streaks, one on each margin, which very
nearly meet ; they are both edged with fuscous internally, and the costal one exter-
nally, and very broad; a little beyond the inner marginal streak is a narrow fuscous
band, meeting the fuscous outer margin of the costal streak, and beyond this is a faint
spot on the inner margin ; towards the apex is an obscure black streak, and above this
on the costa is a pale spot, with a black dot on its inner edge: cilia pale tawny, with
a black arch round the apex of the wing and to the anal angle. Posterior wings clear
gray, with paler cilia.

Not a scarce species. I found it in plenty May 24th last, beating it out of the
hedge near the Godstone Road station. This hedge is principally hawthorn, but con-
tains a mixture of bramble, hazel and oak.

Zeller says of it, “I took this scarce species in several places near Glogau, but
rarely, in birch woods, in company with ulmifoliella, where I beat them out of the
young leaves of the bushes and low plants, particularly towards evening: the period
of flight is May. Mann took it also near Vienna in May, but on willows and Prunus
padus.”

Hubnevr’s figure is quite distinct enough, I think, to identify this species ; but Zel-
ler does not even give Hubner as a doubtful synonyme, though he says afterwards, in
a note, that he has done very wrong not to give Hubner as a synonyme with a note
of interrogation. It appears, from another remark of Zeller’s, that Guenée has
sent this species to Fischer-v-R. as the Demaryella of Duponchel, which, however,
Zeller is inclined to doubt, in which doubt I quite coincide with him, considering
the next species (which is not figured by Zeller) to be the true Demaryella of Du-
ponchel.

EE ——

a

Insects. 9157

Sp. 27. DemaryELta, Duponchel (fig. 32).
Elachista Demaryella, Duponchel, xi. 547, P]. 309, f. 5.

Expansion of the wings 4—4 lines. Head grayish brown. Forehead whitish.
Palpi whitish. Antenne white, annulated with fuscous. Thorax grayish tawny.
Abdomen fuscous, with the extremity paler. Legs whitish. Tarsi whitish, annulated
with fuscous. Anterior wings grayish tawny, with two pale angulated fascie; one
about the middle, the other somewhat interrupted towards the apex ; both these are
broadest on the inner margin ; the space between them is of a deeper colour than the
rest of the wing, and from the extremity of the second a pale streak proceeds to the
apex of the wing: there is a black spot at the inner apex of the second fascia, and
the inner marginal half of the first fascia has a black mark externally. There are
some faint indications of a pale basal line, and the inner margin at the base is rather
pale : cilia pale fuscous, interspersed with grayish atoms. Posterior wings clear gray,
with paler cilia.

I took a specimen of this insect in Torwood, Stirlingshire, June 11th last, at the
same time that I took my tenella. Mr. Logan has also a specimen, which he beat out
of a hazel bush, near Luss, Dumbartonshire, on the evening of the 5th July last.

Duponchel’s figure is very badly coloured, if this be really his species, as he repre-
sents the apical portion of the wings bright red ; at any rate his figure agrees much
better with this species than with corylifoliella, with which Guenée appears to have
confounded it.

Sp. 28. sciTELLA, Metzner (fig. 26).

Opostega scitella, Metzner, MSS. Zeller, Isis, 1839.
Argyromiges Clerckella, Stephens, Illust. iv. 261. Wood’s fig. 1337.

Expansion of the wings 23—4 lines. Head bluish gray. Forehead metallic
black. Palpi metallic black. Antenne black. Thorax bluish gray. Abdomen fus-
cous, with the extremity paler. Legs and tarsi shining, pale fuscous. Anterior wings
bluish gray to beyond the middle ; then follows on the cvstal half of the wing a pale

-tawny blotch, interrupted by a clear white triangular mark: on the inner margin, at
the anal angle, is an oval deep black spot, with a purple spot right across the middle
of it: cilia white, except on the costa when opposite the tawny spot, with four very
distinct black radiating lines from the apex. Posterior wings leaden gray, with paler
cilia.

I have taken several of this insect myself, beating them out of whitethorn hedges,
in May and June. Mr. Bedell took it in plenty, July 6th, 1845, out of whitethorn
hedges, between Camberwell and Dulwich.

This insect is not the Clerckella of Linneus, who says, ‘ Fauna Suecica,’ 1411,
“ Anterior wings silvery to the apex, substriated with brownish golden, and caudate,
with a round black ocellus ;” and in his next description (Harrisella) he says, “ with
the apex obtuse, not pointed as in the preceding.” In the first place, the wings of
scitella are not silvery, but grayish; in the second place, they are not caudate or
tailed ; and in the third place, the black spot is far from being “ a round black ocel-
lus,” but at a first glance appears like two black round spots, with an oval violet one
between them ; and lastly, the idea of alluding to this insect as one with “ pointed ”
wings is manifestly absurd, as it is notoriously the bluntest in the genus.

VI 2D

2158 Insects.

Sp. 29. sparTIFOLIELLA, Hubner (fig. 27).

Tinea spartifoliella, Hubner, Ti. 335.

Argyromiges spartifoliella, Stephens, Illust. iv. 260. Wood’s fig. 1336.
Elachista spartifoliella, Duponchel, xi. 514, Pl. 307, f. 8.

Lithocolletis spartifoliella, Zeller, Isis, 1839.

Tinea punctaurella, Haworth, Lepid. Brit. 578, 63.

Linnea Entomologica, vol. ii. Pl. 2, f. 37.

Expansion of the wings 33 lines. Head white. Forehead white. Palpi white.
Antenne white, annulated with fuscous. Thorax white. Abdomen fuscous, with the
extremity paler. Legs and tarsi white. Anterior wings, to beyond the middle, pure
white ; beyond the middle is a yellowish spot on the costa, edged on both sides with
fuscous, and nearer the apex is a similar spot continued into the fringe; at the anal
angle is a lozenge-shaped silvery gray spot, edged on both sides with black: cilia
white, except the yellowish patch before mentioned, and with three black radiating
lines from the apex. Posterior wings whitish ; cilia white.

Not a scarce species. It is often taken at Charlton. Last summer Mr. Jobson
secured above fifty one morning, off broom, in the neighbourhood of Falkirk, Stirling-
shire.

Sp. 30. CERASIFOLIELLA, Hubner (fig. 28).

Tinea cerasifoliella, Hubner, Ti. 190.

Elachista cerasifoliella, Duponchel, Sup. iv. 518, Pl. 89, f. 14.
Argyromiges unipunctella, Stephens, Ilust. iv. 260. Wood's fig. 1335.
Opostega saligna, Zeller ? Isis, 1839, 214.

Linnea Entomologica, vol. ii. Pl. 2, f. 32.

Expansion of the wings 33 lines. Head white. Forehead white. Palpi white.
Antenne white, annulated with fuscous. Thorax white. Abdomen pale fuscous.
Legs white. Tarsi white. Anterior wings white, with two fuscous lines, more or less
distinct, extending from the base to beyond the middle ; they are both slightly curved,
and meet nearly in a point; the space enclosed between them is generally fuscous to-
wards the apex; a small angulated line extends from the costa to the extremity of
these lines ; beyond this an angulated fuscous line extends right across the wing, and
between this and the apex there are on the costa two short fuscous lines, and towards
the anal angle itis shaded with fuscous: these fuscous marks have often more or less of
a golden tint: at the extreme apex is a conspicuous black spot: cilia whitish, with
the two short costal lines continued through it, three radiating dark lines at the apex,
and a dark arch from the apex to the anal angle. Posterior wings shining, pale gray,
with whitish cilia.

I have formerly taken a considerable number of this insect, beating it out of ivy,
from the middle to the end of April. It generally appears before the Pontia, The
last two years I have not met with it. If this be the saligna of Zeller, it frequents
“ willows and poplars in spring and autumn.”

Insects. 2159

Sp. 31. Crercke ra, Linneus (fig. 29).
Tinea Clerckella, Linneus, Fauna Suecica, 1411 (non Linn. Mus). Fabricius,

Elachista Clerchella, Treitschke, ix. ii. 191. Duponchel, xi. 510, Pl. 307,
f. 6.

Lyonetia Clerckella, Zeller, Isis, 1839, 216.

Argyromiges autumnella, Curtis, Brit. Ent., Genus 1025, p. 185.

Argyromiges nivella, Stephens, Illust. iv. 260. Wood's figs. 1332 and 1333.

Linnea Entomologica, vol. ii. Pl. 2, f. 30.

Var. B. Argyromiges semiaurella, Stephens, Illust. iv. 260. Wood's fig. 1334.
Elachista ereella, Treitschke, ix. ii. 192.
Elachista Fonscolombella, Duponchel, xi. 549, Pl. 309, f. 7.

Expansion of the wings 33 lines. Head white. Forehead white. Palpi white.
Antenne deep fuscous. Thorax white. Abdomen fuscous. Legs white. ‘Tarsi
white, annulated with black. Anterior wings pure white to beyond the middle; then
follows a little fuscous patch, nearer the costa than the inner margin, beyond which is
a fuscous fascia, followed by a pale line ; the remainder of the wing is fuscous, termi-
nating in a very conspicuous black dot: the shape of the apex of the wing is very pe-
culiar, though much disguised by the long cilia, being a decided hook : cilia pale, with
three little fuscous patches from the costa, a strong black line from the apex, aud two
curved fuscous lines opposite the hinder margin. Posterior wings clear gray ; cilia
grayish tawny.

Var. B semiaurella has the head, thorax and anterior wings of a bronze hue.

Taken by Mr. Weir near Tunbridge Wells, in July and August, off whitethorn,
and once from birch; also taken by others near West Wickham, I believe out of
whitethorn hedges.

This is not the Clerckella of the Linnean cabinet, which appears identical with the
prunifoliella of Hubner (Tinea, 191); it wants the brown patch so conspicuous in au-
tumnella ; moreover, it has an extremely angulated fascia, before
the apical dark part of which the inner marginal half extends
much further towards the base of the wing than the costal half of
it does.

The Linnean description is sufficiently vague to suit both species, “ substriated with
brownish golden.” It neither mentions the brown patch of autumnella, nor the ex-
tremely angulated fascia of prunifoliella: this latter has not hitherto been detected in
this country.

Zeller says of it, “ At Berlin and Glogau, in gardens, in July and August.” As
the Clerckella of the Linnean cabinet answers his description quite as well as autum-
nella does, I should not have adopted its name for the latter species, were it not
that it has been so generally adopted on the Continent, that without a more efficient
reason I should not have considered myself justified in altering the continental
name.

2160 Insects.

Sp. 32. PADIFOLIELLA, Hubner (fig. 30).

Tinea padifoliella, Hubner, Ti. 316.
Lyonetia padifoliella, Zeller, Isis, 1839, 216.

Expansion of the wings 5 lines. Head white. Forehead white. Palpi white.
Antenne deep fuscous. Thorax white. Abdomen pale fuscous. Legs pale fuscous.
Tarsi dark fuscous, spotted with white. Anterior wings white, with a broad brownish
band extending from the base to beyond the middle; it is straight on the side towards
the costa (which it approaches very closely), till near its extremity, when it curves down-
wards ; on its side next the inner margin, where its colour is always deepest, it is much
sinuated ; at its extremity it meets a very oblique and curved fascia, the lower half of
which is much deeper in colour than the upper half; this is followed by a white patch
on each margin: the apex of the wing is dark fuscous, terminating in a hook, as in
the preceding, and with a black dot at the extreme apex: cilia whitish, with three
fuscous patches proceeding from the costa, a strong black line from the apex, a dark
curved line round the apex, and two wavy lines opposite the hinder margin. Posterior
wings clear gray; cilia grayish, with a violet tinge.

A local species, taken by Mr. Desvignes, in September, in Whittlebury Forest, off
maple and whitethorn.

Sp. 33. RHAMNIFOLIELLA, Tischer (fig. 33).

Elachista rhamnifoliella, Tischer, MSS. Fischer von Roslerstamm, Abbildungen,
ii. Heft. S. 10, lib. 7, fig. a—m. Duponchel, xi. 522, Pl. 307, f. 11.
Lyonetia rhamnifoliella, Zeller, Isis, 1839, 216.

Expansion of the wings 33—4 lines. Head white, with a few fuscous hairs. Fore-
head white. Palpi white. Antenne white, annulated with fuscous. Thorax white.
Abdomen fuscous, with the extremity paler. Legs white. Tarsi white, annulated with
black. Anterior wings white, with fuscous irrorations, and two fuscous patches on the
costa ; one before, the other beyond the middle, both slanting towards the anal angle ;
on the inner margin near the base is a small dark patch, and about the middle a larger
dark patch, sometimes joining the opposite one from the costa; there is a conspicuous
black dot on the inner margin of this patch ; the apex of the wing is occupied by
another fuscous patch, with a black dot immediately before it, and another at the ex-
treme apex: cilia pale fuscous, with a dark arch round the apex of the wing. Poste-
rior wings gray; cilia grayish brown.

This occurs in plenty at Sanderstead, in July, on the buckthorn.

It appears, from the most interesting account of the transformations and habits of
this insect, given by Fischer, “ that the caterpillar is very abundant on all species of
Rhamnus, sometimes as many as a dozen on a single leaf.” They however keep “ on
the underside of the leaf, the surface of which they eat, producing many holes.”
“ When they are full grown they are scarcely a quarter of an inch in length. Their
colour is greenish yellow, and in most specimens the three first segments are tinged
with reddish brown.” At the end of September it spins a cocoon, “ which it fastens
to the twigs, stem, leaves, or to moss; in this cocoon it passes the winter, and in
February or March is transformed into a chrysalis. The perfect insect appears at the
end of May or in the course of June.”

Insects. 2161

Sp. 34. Boverextta, Duponchel (fig. 34).

Elachista Boyerella, Duponchel, xi. 545, Pl. 309, f. 3.

Lyonetia albedinelia, Zeller, Isis, 1839, 216.

Elachista albedinella, Duponchel, Sup. iv. 341, Pl. 78, f. 10.

Tinea cuculipennella, Haworth, Lepid. Brit. 579, 67 (non Hubner).
Argyromiges cuculipennella, Stephens, [llust. iv. 258. Wood’s fig. 1326.
Linnea Entomologica, vol. ii. Pl. 2, f. 44.

Expansion of the wings 3;—4 lines. Head white. Forehead white. Palpi
white. Antenne white, annulated with fuscous. Thorax white. Abdomen fuscous,
with the extremity fulvous. Legs white. Tarsi white, annulated with black. Ante-
rior wings white, interspersed with fuscous atoms, with three fuscous patches on the
costa and two on the inner margin: the first costal patch is about the middle of the
wing, is slanting, and with the extremity somewhat continued towards the apex of the
wing ; the second is similar to it, but of a deeper colour, and with a black line at its
extremity ; the third is at the apex of the wing, also terminating in a black line: the
first inner marginal patch is in the middle of the wing, and forms very nearly a semi-
circle ; it has a dark line on its inner margin; the second is situated at the anal an-
gle ; the irrorations are sometimes so thick on the inner margin near the base as to
present the appearance of a third patch: cilia fuscous, with a dark arch round the
apex. Posterior wings clear gray; cilia paler and fulvescent.

Distinguished from the preceding by the anterior wings being much narrower, and
by the two black lines towards the apex, instead of the black dots as in rhamnifoliella.

Some years ago I beat several specimens of this insect out of a hawthorn hedge
near Lewisham, at the end of May; and last year, in May, I took two very fine spe-
cimens off a low fence near Beckenham.

Sp. 35. cRATEGIFOLIELLA, Zeller (fig. 35).

Lyonetia crategifoliella, Zeller, MSS.

Lyonetia crategi, Zeller, Isis, 1839, 216.

Elachista crategifoliella, Duponchel, Sup. iv. 339, Pl. 78, f. 8.
Tinea cuculipennella, var. y. Haworth, Lepid. Brit., 579, 67.
Argyromiges rufipunctella, Bent. Mus.

Argyromiges ulmella, Stainton, in litt.

Expansion of the wings 33 lines. Head grayish fulvous. Forehead white. Palpi
white. Antenne pale, annulated with fuscous. Thorax grayish fulvous. Abdomen °
fuscous, with the extremity fulvous. Legs whitish. Tarsi whitish, with two dark fus-
cous spots. Anterior wings griseous fulvous, with two darker patches on the costa,
one before, the other beyond the middle, the second terminating in a black line ; about
the middle of the inner margin is a dark patch, edged with brown on its upper mar-
gin ; the space between this and the apex of the wing is dark, with the exception of a
pale mark just beyond this patch ; the costal half of the apex is also dark, and there is
a fuscous indistinct streak at the base of the wing: cilia pale fuscous, with a dark arch
round the apex of the wing. Posterior wings clear gray; cilia paler and slightly
fulvous.

I took a little swarm of this insect at Riddlesdown last May 31st : they were flying .

2162 Insects.

in the evening round the twigs of different bushes of hawthorn, sloe, &c., in company
with Microsetia cinereo-punctella.

According to Zeller this species feeds on the hawthorn, in the same way that rham-
nifoliella feeds on the buckthorn.

I cannot at all make out what insect Haworth’s rufipunctella is: he says (Lepid.
Brit., 580, 71),—* Anterior wings cinereous, with three equidistant short fasciz ; the
first before the middle, near obsolete ; the second, in the middle, composed of a white
spot, a less one black, and a red one more or less united; the third fascia is beyond
the middle and very like the second. Posterior wings leaden fuscous. Expansion of
the wings 3$ lines. I have only seen one specimen, which I took by beating haw-
thorn.”

Sp. 36. Srrcome ta, Stainton (fig. 36).

Lyonetia ulmella, Mann ? in Cat.

Argyromiges ulmella, Bent. Mus.

Tinea cuculipennella, var. 5. Haworth, Lepid. Brit. 579, 67.
Argyromiges ulmifoliella, Sircom. in litt.

Wood’s fig. 1331.

Expansion of the wings 32 lines. Head tawny. Forehead whitish. Palpi whitish.
Antenne pale, annulated with fuscous.- Thorax tawny. Abdomen fuscous, with the
extremity paler. Legs pale fuscous. Tarsi pale fuscous, spotted with black. Ante-
rior wings grayish tawny, with four deep fuscous patches on the costa; the first, at the
base of the wing, extends half across the wing, and its outer margin slants towards
the anal angle ; the second is very small, and is a little before the middle of the wing ;
the third is beyond the middle of the wing, is very dark, and extends half across the
wing, and in some specimens there is a black dot at its apical extremity ; the fourth is
at the apex of the wing, and has also occasionally a black dot at its extreme apex: on
the inner margin is one large semicircular dark patch, nearly in the middle, which
nearly joins the third costal patch : cilia pale grayish tawny. Posterior wings clear
gray; cilia grayish tawny.

I met with two specimens on a low fence near Beckenham, in May last, and after-
wards took a specimen at Lewisham. Mr. Sircom also takes it in some plenty.

The dark mark on the costa, at the base of the anterior wings, easily distinguishes
this from the preceding species, and the colour of the head is much darker. In Mr.
Stephens’ cabinet a specimen of each of these two species is placed as rutipunctella.

Sp. 37. Locane ia, Stainton (fig. 37).

Expansion of the wings 4 lines. Head grayish fuscous. Forehead black. Palpi
white. Antenne gray, annulated with black. Thorax blackish. Abdomen deep fus-
cous. Legs dark fuscous. Tarsi pale fuscous, with darker annulations. Anterior
wings very dark, almost black, with two white spots on the inner margin, one about
the middle rather curved outwardly, and one smaller near the anal angle; the costa
has six white spots beyond the middle, all very small, the second of which is continued
pale fuscous right across the wing, but shows a conspicuous white spot just before it
reaches the middle of the wing; at the extreme apex is a black spot: cilia fuscous,

Insects. 2163

except when opposite the spots, where it is white. Posterior wings fuscous, with paler
cilia.

T have only seen a single specimen of this insect, which was taken by Mr. Logan,
near Luss, Dumbartonshire. on the evening of July 5th last, off a hazel bush.

It does not appear to be known on the Continent; at any rate I have neither been
able to find it figured, or to recognize it in any of the descriptions.

Sp. 38. omissELLaA, Douglas (fig. 38).
Argyromiges omissella, Douglas, MSS.

Expansion of the wings 33 lines. Head white. Forehead white. Palpi white.
Antenne white, annulated with fuscous. Thorax white. Abdomen fuscous, with the
extremity fulvous. Legs white. Tarsi white, annulated with fuscous. Anterior wings
pale fuscous, deepest towards the apex, with four white transverse fascie ; one, rather
obscure and interrupted, near the base; a second near the middle, placed obliquely,
and broadest on the inner margin ; a third beyond the middle, broadest’on the costa ;
and a fourth near the apex, nearly straight, and continued through the cilia: there is
a pale mark on the inner margin, between the second and third fasciz : cilia fuscous,
palest at the apex of the wing, with two darker curved lines going round the apex
and to the anal angle; one of these is nearly in the middle of the cilia, the other at
their extreme edge. Posterior wings clear gray, with paler cilia.

Three specimens of this were taken by Mr. Douglas, July 29th last year, at the
Charlton sand-pit, flying among the herbage at dusk.

I cannot find it figured in any continental work, nor can I recognize it in any of
the descriptions.

Sp. 39. ARGENTIPUNCTELLA, Weir (fig. 39).
Argyromiges argentipunctella, Weir, MSS.

Expansion of the wings 3 lines. Head fuscous. Forehead silvery. Palpi white.
Antenne pale, annulated with fuscous. Thorax fuscous. Abdomen fuscous. Legs
fuscous. Tarsi black, spotted with white. Anterior wings brownish, with four silvery
spots on the costa and four on the inner margin ; the first costal spot is near the base,
and is prolonged obliquely, often meeting the second inner marginal spot across the
wing ; the second costal spot is in the middle of the wing and reaches half across it ;
the third is beyond the middle, and is not so long as the second ; the fourth is near
the apex, and appears to turn round and come out again just before the apex, making
an Q-like mark: the first inner marginal spot is very close to the base ; the second
forms (as before said) a continuation of the first costal spot ; the third is rather beyond
the termination of the second costal spot ; and the fourth just beyond the termination
of the third costal spot: the first, third and fourth are all small and nearly circular :
at the apex of the wing is a dark spot: cilia fuscous, with a dark arch at its extremity
round the apex of the wing. Posterior wings gray; cilia paler.

This has considerable affinity with the preceding species.

Taken by Mr. Weir last year, in July and August, near Tunbridge Wells, off Ge-
nista tinctoria.

L have not been able to find this figured or described in any continental work.

2164 Insects.

Sp. 40. QUERCETELLA, Zeller (fig. 40).

Coriscium quercetellum, Zeller, Isis, 1839. Linn. Entom. ii. 366, Pl. 2, f. 20
(non Dup.)
Elachista Curtisella, Duponchel, xi. 546, Pl. 309, f. 4.

Expansion of the wings 43 lines. Head tawny. Forehead whitish. Palpi whit-
ish. Antenne pale, annulated with dark fuscous. Thorax tawny. Abdomen gray,
with the extremity paler. Legs pale fuscous. Tarsi pale fuscous, with darker annu-
lations. Anterior wings tawny fuscous, with four pale luteous fascie ; the first before
the middle, slightly angulated near the inner margin, and bordered internally with
blackish, which is continued along the inner margin to the base; the second in the
middle, sometimes interrupted, the outer margin nearly straight, but the inner margin
much angulated and bordered with black ; the third beyond the middle, curved and
very narrow on the inner margin ; the fourth is similar to the third, but smaller ; the
third and fourth are margined internally with blackish on the costa; on the hinder
margin are some deep black spots, with a bluish tinge in certain lights : cilia pale lu-
teous, with a strong black line proceeding from the apex of the wing; above this are
two dark small patches, and two others curved opposite the hinder margin of the wing.
Posterior wings clear gray, with paler cilia.

Taken by Mr. Bedell, September 27th, 1846, in Hainhault Forest, flying among
oak, hornbeam and whitethorn. Mr. Sircom also takes this among oaks, and its cap-
ture by Mr. Curtis is recorded in the ‘ Zovlogist’ (Zool. 1985).

This seems a connecting link between the Argyromiges and Gracillaria: in the
shape of the anterior wings it much resembles Clerckella, but the structure of the palpi,
which are recurved, evidently places it apart from that species.

H. T. Stainton.
March, 1848.

Descriptions of Three undescribed British Species of the Genus Aphelosetia.
By H. T. Stainton, Esq.

TueEseE three species are obscurepunctella, biatomella and rhynchosporella.
Sp. 1. OBSCUREPUNCTELLA, Stainton.
Tinea oleella, Haw. (non Fab.) Aphelosetia oleella, St.

Expansion of the wings 4—65 lines. Head, thorax and anterior wing glossy gray-
ish brown, the latter with a very faint appearance of two darker spots near the inner
margin, one about the middle, the other rather beyond. Posterior wings gray, with
paler cilia.

This insect is not described by Haworth or Stephens; they merely quote Fabricius’s
description of an insect which feeds on the olive.

Not a common species: it appears very early in spring, and frequents hedges in
the south of England: I have taken it here and at Dartford Heath. Mr. Sircom
takes it at Brislington.

i el
al Nin

4 Insects. 2165

Sp. 2. BIATOMELLA, Stainton.

he.

Aphelosetia floslactis, Sircom in litt.

Expausion of the wings 3—4 lines. Head, thorax and anterior wings powdery
gray, the latter with two dark spots ; one near the inner margin, about the middle of
the wing ; the other, which is larger, a little above the anal angle: at the apex of the
wing, on the costa, a darker patch is visible in certain lights. Posterior wings gray,
with paler and slightly yellowish cilia.

Taken last summer by Mr. Sircom, on Durdham Downs.

Sp. 3. RHYNCHOSPORELLA, Stainton.

This has a certain resemblance to the preceding species, but the dark fascia beyond
the middle of the anterior wings will readily serve to distinguish it. It is found in the
North of England and Scotland. In the summer of 1846 I took several at Kilmun,
on the top of a hill, in boggy ground: they were hovering over and settling on the
beak rush (Rhynchospora), whence the name.

y Expansion of the wings 4—5 lines. Head, thorax and anterior wings dirty white,

_ the latter rather darker on the costa, and with a dark spot about the middle of the
wing ; near the inner margin, and beyond the middle is an angulated dark (rather
tawny) fascia; at the apex of the wing on the costa is a dark blotch. Posterior wings
gray, with paler cilia.

H. T. Stainton.
Mountsfield, Lewisham,
April 10, 1848.

Occurrence of Criorhina asilica near Penmanshiel._—I took two specimens of this
fine fly, in a marshy wood near Penmanshiel, on the 3rd of April: they were both
males : one was frequenting a swampy spot, like an Eristalis. Next day I took ano-
ther, a female, on the flowers of the sallow, and saw a fourth basking on a stone. I
am not aware that it has hitherto been found in Scotland. I took a female two years
since in May, near South Shields, on the flowers of dandelion—James Hardy ; Pen-
manshiel, by Cockburnspath, Berwickshire, April 5, 1848.

Occurrence of Dilophus tenuis at Redheugh.—I met with this species abundantly
on the sea-banks near Redheugh, Berwickshire, in July, on the flowers of the cow-
parsnep. I find no description of the female. In my specimen it is not so bulky as
the male; the coxe are black, and the remainder of the legs shining brunneo-ferrugi-
nous ; the wings are whitish, iridescent, with a black stigmatic spot.—Id.

Occurrence of Medeterus conspersus.—I1 find this pretty species very common on
heaths, around small pools of water. It is accompanied by M. curvipes and M. scam-
bus, but is not so disposed as either of them to promenade upon the surface, and is
much more readily taken. All three may feed upon gnats, which issue forth in great
swarms on the milder days.—Id.

Galls of the Meadow-sweet.—The leaves of the meadow-sweet (Spirea Ulmaria)
in autumn are often clustered with a number of small yellowish or rust-coloured

VI 2E

2166 Insects.

excrescences. Suspecting these to be galls I enclosed them in a box; and upon
examining them, at the close of the next spring, I found they had produced two dipterous
insects—a species of Phytomyza—anda large number of a chalciditous insect, which
had been parasitical on the rightful inmate. Mr. Walker states it to be Callimome
posticus. This was in the vicinity of Newcastle. On the L5th September, 1847, I
found an abundance of a large, reddish, irregular shaped, fleshy gall, nearly as con-
spicuous as the bedeguar on the briar produced by Rhodites Rose, at the roots of the
same plant, in marshy places on the sea-banks, near Redheugh, Berwickshire. Like
that of the briar it was a social production, and was peopled by a community of small
grubs. I have not succeeded in rearing the perfect insect.—Id.

Gall of the Tansy, with a Description of the Fly by which it is occasioned—On the
29th of August, 1846, I found the flowers of the tansy (Tanacetum vulgare), near Der-
wenthaugh, county of Durham, disfigured by a large dark green protuberant gall,
rising from the middle of the flower ; at the base of this I found a white larva, with a
slight pink tinge, from which I bred, shortly after, a considerable number of a species
of Cecidomyia, which comes nearest to the C. bicolor of Meigen. The following are
the characters of the insect.

Female (alive). Antenne rather long, fuscous, the joints with pale bases and tips:
head and thorax black, sides of the latter purplish : abdomen purplish, dusky at the
tip, a duskier band across each segment, bearing rows of whitish bristly hairs, most
distinctly seen at the sides; beneath, with a row of dusky bristle-bearing points along
the centre ; ovipositor long, about a third of the body, approaching to bulbous at the
root and narrowed to a point, very flexible, flesh-coloured, slightly fuscous on the top,
the point pale: legs long, slender, and with the halteres pale testaceous : wings with
a dark tinge, slightly yellowish at the base,—the red pulp of the body running up and
colouring the nervures, of which only two are distinctly marked,—finely fringed.
Length $—1 line. i

Female (dead). Antenne dusky: head and thorax black: abdomen dull flesh co-
lour: legs and halteres dirty white: wings darkened.

Male (alive). Antenne black: eyes black: front, and the breast before the ante-
rior legs, pale pink coloured: abdomen narrower, dusky, pale at the tip, a row of im-
pressions on each side above, somewhat hairy, the apex furnished with two hooks.
Smaller than the female.—Jd.

Parasite of Aleyrodes Chelidonit.—In the autumn of 1846, I found, in the woods -

near Gibside, the underside of the leaves of the common honeysuckle (Lonicera Peri-
clymenum) abounding with the scale-like larve and pupe of Aleyrodes Chelidonii, at-
tached close to the cuticle. Having brought some home, for the purpose of breeding
perfect specimens, I found that, besides producing Aleyrodes, considerable numbers of
a minute hymenopterous insect had issued from within. Some of them were still ad-
hering to the scales, of which those that had been infested with it were distinguishable
by a black speck on their surface. The parasite, Mr. Walker informs me, is Myina
Chaonia.—Id.

|
;

—"

By ee

Insects. 2167

Descriptions of the British Species of Bees belonging to the Genus
Halictus of Latreille. By Freprerick Smitu, Esq., Curator to the |
Entomological Society.

(Concluded from page 2108).

Sp. 16. Hazicrus inrERRupPTUs, St. Fargeau.
Hyleus interruptus, Panzer.

Male.—(Length 2% lines). Black; the face clothed with short sil-
very pubescence; the apex of the clypeus, the labrum and mandibles
yellow, the latter black at their extreme base and ferruginous at their
apex ; the antennz fulvous beneath, the scape black. Thorax rather
deeply and closely punctured, sometimes a lateral white spot on the
collar; the tegule piceous ; the nervures rufo-piceous ; the wings hy-
aline and iridescent; the metathorax rugose, rotundate ; all the tibiz
at their base and apex, and the tarsi, pale luteous ; the claws ferrugi-
nous. Abdomen cylindrical, closely and not very finely punctured ;
the basal, and sometimes a portion of the second segment, red; the
second, third and fourth segments have a narrow white marginal fas-
cia, interrupted in the centre; beneath, the margins of the segments
depressed and narrowly piceous.

Of this beautiful little species I only know two cabinets which pos-
sess a specimen,—that of the British Museum and of Mr. Desvignes ;
they were both captured by Dr. Leach, at Kingsbridge, Devonshire:
there is a very good figure of it in Panzer. H. interruptus more
closely resembles H. albipes than any other British species, but the
antenne are of a different colour beneath, the thorax is more coarsely
punctured, and the metathorax has not the sub-defined, half-circular,
rugose space, always present in that species; its abdomen also is
shorter and more strongly punctured. The species is undoubtedly
very local, only two specimens having been met with.

Sp. 17. Haxictus atpipes, St. Fargeau.
Prosopis albipes, Fab. Syst. Piez. Hyleus albipes, Fab. Ent. Syst.
Em. Apis albipes, Panzer. Melitta albipes, Kirby. Melitta 9bo-
vata, Kirby, female.

Female.—(Length 4 lines). Black; the face thinly clothed with
pale fulvous pubescence ; tips of the mandibles ferruginous ; the an-

2168 Insects.

tennz piceous beneath. Thorax closely and finely punctured, thinly
clothed on the disk with pale fulvous pubescence, rather more dense
on the sides ; the tegule piceous ; the wings subhyaline ; the nervures
testaceous ; the metathorax truncate; the legs have a similar pu-
bescence to the thorax, but brighter on the posterior tibie. Abdomen
oblong-ovate, rather widest towards the apex, smooth and shining ;
the basal margin of the second, third and fourth segments, has a fas-
cia of white or pale yellow pubescence ; the apical segments have a
thin, short, griseous pubescence, pale fulvous at the apical incision.

Male.—(Length 33—4 lines). Black; the face clothed with short
white pubescence, the nose much produced ; the apex of the clypeus,
the labrum and mandibles yellow, the latter black at the base and
ferruginous at the apex; the antenne as long as the head and thorax,
dark rufo-piceous beneath; the scape black. ‘Thorax closely punc-
tured; at the base of the metathorax is a rugulose half-circular space,
having a defined raised margin; the tubercles have generally a pale
yellow spot, as well as the tegule in front, posteriorly testaceous ; the
wings hyaline, splendidly iridescent ; the nervures nigro-piceous ; the
femora at their apex, the tibize at their base and apex, and the tarsi
entirely, pale yellow; the claws pale ferruginous. Abdomen linear,
rather broadest towards the apex ; the base of the first segment black ;
its apical margin and the second and third segments red ; a minute
black dot at the basal margin of the second and third segments late-
rally, sometimes a trarisverse black dash in their centre, differing much
in size, at times nearly as wide as the entire segment on the third,
leaving only the margins red; the margins of the remaining segments
rufo-piceous,— sometimes black, only rufo-piceous on the margins.

This species is not so abundant as H. abdominalis, but the sexes
resemble those of that insect ; both are, however, quite distinct : inde-
pendent of size, the female has the clypeus much more produced, and
the abdomen is of a different form. The male is very distinct; the
colour of the mandibles, tibiz, &c., are characteristic differences, and
also the sculpture of the metathorax. I once found a small colony of
obovata in Hampshire, where I found the males entering and issuing
from the same burrows with the females. Mr. Walcott also agrees
with me in the propriety of uniting these insects. St. Fargeau doubts
H. albipes being distinct from H. abdominalis, but I suspect he had
not had an opportunity of observing the habits of the species. Panzer
has a tolerable figure of this species.

;

—_——

Insects. 2169

Sp. 18. HaLicrus prasinus, Smith.

Female.— (Length 43 lines). Black; the face thinly clothed with
pale yellow pubescence ; the clypeus produced, shining, and having a
few large punctures ; the mandibles ferruginous at their apex. Thorax
nigro-zneous, finely and very closely punctured ; the metathorax ro-
tundate posteriorly ; the tegule nigro-piceous ; the wings subhyaline ;
nervures rufo-piceous ; the pubescence on the legs is very pale ful-
vous, that on the tarsi beneath is fulvous; the claws ferruginous.
Abdomen ovate, shining, finely and closely punctured; a very pale
fulvous fascia on the basal margin of the second and third segments ;
the apical segments clothed with short pale fulvous pubescence,
bright fulvous at the apex ; the margins of the segments beneath have
a thin pale fringe.

This species somewhat resembles H. levigata, but the dark green
colour of the thorax, so finely and closely punctured, easily distin-
guishes it. The male I do not know. I possess three specimens ;
the description is drawn from one in the finest condition: the pu-
bescence is entirely hoary in one which had been longer disclosed. I
received one specimen from Mr. Dale, captured at Barmouth ; one
from the Rev. Mr. Little, from Scotland; the third was taken at
Hawley, Hants. I never met with it or knew it to be taken in the
vicinity of London.

Sp. 19. HaLicrus LUGUBRIS.
Melitta lugubris, Kirby, male. Melitta levigata, Kirby, female.
Halictus levigatus, St. Fargeau.

Female.—(Length 4 lines). Black; the face has a very thin pale
fulyous pubescence. Thorax shining, punctate, the punctures large
and not very close, thinly clothed with ferruginous pubescence on the
sides and metathorax, the latter truncate ; the margin of the truncation
is produced laterally, forming a short tooth ; the tegule nigro-piceous ;
the wings subhyaline, slightly clouded at their margins ; the pubescence
on the legs is rufo-fulvous ; the scopa is bright golden yellow; the
tarsi bright fulvous beneath ; the claws ferruginous. Abdomen smooth,
bright and shining, and having a few scattered punctures; a little
rufo-fulvous pubescence at the base; the basal margin of the second,
third and fourth segments has a fascia of pale rufo-fulvous pubescence,
the first usually and the second also frequently interrupted ; the apex

‘

2170 Insects.

pale fulvous, as well as the marginal fringe on the apical margins be-
neath.

Male.—(Length 3 lines). Black; the head as wide as the thorax,
the face thinly clothed with short white pubescence ; antennz as long
as the head and thorax; the nose black. Thorax punctured, the
punctures not very close, the pubescence hoary; the metathorax ro-
tundate ; the tegule pale rufo-piceous ; the wings hyaline, iridescent ;
the nervures rufo-piceous ; the anterior and intermediate tibiz at their
extreme base, the posterior at their base and extreme apex, and all
the tarsi, luteous; claws rufescent. Abdomen linear, smooth and
shining, with a few scattered punctures; the second, third and fourth
segments, laterally, have at their basal margins a small patch of white
pubescence.

The female of this species is the Melitta levigata of Kirby. I be-
lieve Mr. Thwaites was the first to discover the affinity of the sexes.
I have since taken them on several occasions in company. This bee
is rather local, and not one of the most abundant species. I have
seen specimens captured in Scotland, also in the Isle of Wight, so
that it is doubtless scattered over the country.

Sp. 20. HA LicTus FULVICORNIS.
Melitta fulvicornis, Kirby.

Male.—(Length 34 lines). Black; the lower portion of the face
clothed with short white pubescence ; above the base of the antennz
the pubescence is thin, and stained with yellow; antenne rather
longer than the thorax, rufo-piceous above, rufo-fulvous beneath ;
scape black. Thorax closely punctured ; metathorax truncate ; tegu-
le piceous; the wings hyaline, iridescent ; the nervures nigro-piceous ;
all the tibiz at their extreme base and apex yellow; all the tarsi yel-
low; the claws ferruginous. Abdomen linear, very smooth and
shining; the intermediate segments slightly depressed, and having at
their lateral basal margin a little patch of white pile. :

This species is not frequently met with ; it occurs, however, about
London, but I do not know the other sex: it .resembles the male of
the preceding species, but it has a white nose, which is also more
produced, and the thorax much more minutely and closely punctured.
It may possibly be the male of H. malachurus.

Insects. 2171

Sp. 21. Haictus Leucozontius, St. Fargeau.
Melitta leucozonia, Kirby. Apis leucozonia, Schrank ?

Female.—(Length 4—43 lines). Deep black; the face has a thin,
scattered, pale fulvous pubescence; the mandibles ferruginous at
their apex; the tongue at the apex acuminate. Thorax rather
coarsely punctured ; the metathorax rugose, truncate posteriorly ; the
tegule nigro-piceous ; the wings hyaline, slightly iridescent; the
nervures ferruginous ; the tarsi and posterior tibiz have a fulvous pu-
bescence ; the apical joints of the tarsi ferruginous. Abdomen sub-
ovate, shining, entirely closely and finely punctured; the second,
third and fourth segments have on their basal margins, laterally, a
patch of white pubescence, the third frequently obliterated ; the apical
incision pale fulvous; beneath coarsely punctate, and the margins
fringed thinly with pale yellow pubescence. |

Male.—(Length 3—3 lines). Black; the face clothed with short
white pubescence, slightly stained with ochraceous towards the ver-
tex ; the nose white at the apex, and the mandibles ferruginous at
their tips. Thorax shining, rather coarsely punctured; the wings
clear hyaline, splendidly iridescent ; the basal joint of the interme-
diate and posterior tarsi white ; the apical joint ferruginous. Abdo-
men oblong-ovate, shining, entirely closely and not very finely punc-
tured ; the second and third segments have at their basal margins,
laterally, a slight patch of white pubescence, frequently obliterated.

This species is very distinct from all the preceding. The male has
the wings quite colourless and splendidly iridescent. The species is
not uncommon in the neighbourhood of London, and is, I believe,
generally, but not very abundantly, distributed. I have captured it
in Yorkshire, Kent, Middlesex. Hants, Berks, &c.

Sp. 22. Hatictus zonutus, Smith.

Female.—(Length 43—5 lines). Deep black; a thin ochraceous
pubescence on the face. Thorax closely punctured ; the metathorax
truncate posteriorly ; the tegule nigro-piceous; wings subhyaline ;
nervures ferruginous; the thorax and legs have a pale fulvous pu-
bescence, bright on the tarsi and posterior tibiew ; the claws ferrugi-
nous. Abdomen ovate, shining, regularly, finely and closely punc-
tured, more sparingly so on the basal segment ; the three intermediate

2172 Insects.

segments have a little white pubescence at their basal margins late-
rally ; beneath rather coarsely punctured.

Male.—(Length 34—4 lines). Black; the face clothed with short
white pubescence, stained with yellow towards the vertex; the nose
generally black, but sometimes with a small yellow spot. Thorax
clothed thinly with ochraceous pubescence, closely and rather deeply
punctured ; wings subhyaline ; the legs have a little pale ochraceous
pubescence ; the claws ferruginous. Abdomen oblong-ovate, shining, —
finely punctured ; a little white pubescence at the basal margins, late-
rally, of the three intermediate segments.

This species very closely resembles the leucozonia, but is very dis-
tinct. The female is much more closely punctured on the thorax,
which is not so glossy ; the metathorax is not so coarsely rugose ; the
abdomen is more finely punctured, and more sparingly so on the
basal segment, and the insect is generally rather larger than leucozo-
nia: the male may at once be known by its having entirely black
legs. The species does not appear to be so abundant as leucozonia.
I took my specimens in the neighbourhood of Woolwich: the male
I received from Scotland. Mr. Walcott has taken it near Bristol.

Sp. 23. Haxricrus macuxatus, Smith.

Female.—(Length —? lines). Black; the head subquadrate ; the
face thinly clothed with pale ochraceous pubescence; the clypeus
coarsely punctured, very slightly produced ; the antennz nigro-piceous
at their apex beneath. Thorax closely and not very finely punctured ;
the metathorax rotundate; the tegule piceous; the wings slightly
fuscous ; the nervures ferruginous ; the tarsi and posterior tibiz have
a very pale fulvous pubescence ; the apical joints of the tarsi ferrugi-
nous. Abdomen oblong-ovate, shining, and very delicately punc-
tured ; on the apical margin of the segments, laterally, is a short
white fascia.

This very pretty species I captured in Hampshire: when taken I
mistook it for Osmia leucomelana, which it much resembles ; its sub-
quadrate head and the eight lateral spots give it a very strong resem-
blance to that insect. I possess but a single specimen, and do not
know the male. 1 suspect it is arare species, as I have since repeatedly
searched the locality for it, but in vain,

Insects. 2173

Sp. 24. HALICTUS QUADRINOTATUS.
Melitta quadrinotata, Kirby.

Female.—(Length 3—32 lines). Black; a few scattered ochraceous
hairs on the face. Thorax rather deeply punctured ; metathorax ro-
tundate; tegule nigro-piceous ; the wings subhyaline ; the nervures
testaceous ; the pubescence on the legs is cinereous, but fulvous on
the tarsi beneath. Abdomen ovate, shining, evenly but delicately
punctured ; at the basal margin of the second and third segments, la-
terally, is a small patch of white pubescence; the apical segments are
clothed with a short whitish down or pile; the incision at the apex
fulvous. : S|

Male.—(Length 23—3 lines). Black; the antennz not quite so
long as the head and thorax; the face has a little short hoary pu-
bescence ; the nose at the apex, and the labrum, white. Thorax
closely punctured ; the metathorax rotundate ; the wings hyaline and
iridescent ; the tibiz at their base and apex, and all the tarsi, pale
luteous ; the apical joint ferruginons.

This species, although somewhat like the preceding, is very distinct :
in the female the most striking difference is, that the four white spots
on the abdomen are placed on the basal margins of the segments;
whereas, in the former species the eight spots are on the apical mar-
gins. This little bee is not at all uncommon. I have seen specimens
captured in Scotland, Wales and the Isle of Wight.

Sp. 25. HALicTrus xXANTHOPUS.
Melitta xanthopus, Kirby. Not Andrena fodiens, Latr. Lasio-
glossum tricingulum, Curtis.

Female.—(Length 5—6 lines). Black ; a little pale pubescence at
the base of the antenne ; the clypeus produced, coarsely punctured ;
the mandibles ferruginous at their tips, somewhat forcipate. Thorax
clothed with ferruginous pubescence, most sparing on the disk, which
is strongly and closely punctured ; metathorax rotundate posteriorly ;
the tegule piceous ; the wings subhyaline, slightly clouded at their
apical margins; nervures testaceous ; the legs have a rufo-fulvous pu-
bescence ; the posterior tibiz and tarsi, the intermediate tarsi, and
apical joints of the anterior, rufo-testaceous. Abdomen ovate, shin-
ing, closely and delicately punctured ; a little fulvous pubescence at
the sides of the basal segment; on the basal margin of the second,

VI 2F

2174 Insects.

third and fourth segments, is a fascia of white pubescence, usually in-
terrupted on the first, sometimes on the second also, or subinterrupted ;
the pubescence on the apical segment stained with fulvous.

Male.—(Length 44—5} lines). Black ; the antenne nigro-piceous
beneath ; the face has a thin pale yellow pubescence ; the clypeus has
sometimes an obscure white spot at its apex. Thorax clothed with a
thin pale rufous pubescence ; the tegule nigro-piceous; the wings
subhyaline, iridescent; the posterior tibiz and tarsi, the intermediate
tarsi, and apical joints of the anterior pair, rufo-testaceous. Abdomen
subovate, widest towards the apex ; a white fascia on the basal mar-
gin of the second, third and fourth segments, the two first more or less
interrupted.

Walckenaer considers this species synonymous with the Andrena
fodiens of Latreille, but such cannot be the case, since Latreille dis-
tinctly says the bands are on the anterior, or basal margins of the
segments ; the fodiens of Walckenaer, on the contrary, has the bands
on the posterior, or apical margins: I therefore reject the synonymy.
The male of this species is described by Mr. Curtis, in his beautiful
work on British Genera, under the title of Lasioglossum tricingulum :
it is raised to the rank of a genus on a difference in the form of the
lobes of the maxille, but in fact several of the species of Halicti differ
in that respect more or less from each other. Mr. Curtis has also
given an admirable figure of the male. This species is very local, but
abundant in several situations, particularly in the neighbourhood of
Brighton. Mr. 8. Stevens took it at Little Hampton, Sussex: it also
occurs at Hastings. Mr. Kirby captured it at Barham, Suffolk.

Sp. 26. Hatictus sexnotatus, Walckenaer, St. Fargeau.
Melitta sexnotata, Kirby.

Female.—(Length 5 lines). Jet-black ; a few scattered white hairs
on the face. Thorax very closely and finely punctured, the pubescence
white and very thinly scattered ; the metathorax rotundate posteriorly;
the wings subhyaline, clouded at their apical margins; the nervures
nigro-piceous ; the pubescence on the legs white, intermixed with
fuscous on the posterior tibize above, on the tarsi beneath pale yellow.
Abdomen very bright and shining, closely and very delicately punc-
tured, a little thin white pubescence at the base, and a patch of the
same colour on the basal margin of the three intermediate segments,
the last frequently obliterated.

Insects. 2175

Male .—(Length 4 lines). Black ; the antenne not quite so long as
the head and thorax, nigro-piceous beneath; the nose white at the
apex; the face clothed with a short white pubescence. Thorax
closely and finely punctured ; the wings as in the female. Abdomen
oblong-ovate, spotted as in the female.

I believe Mr. Kirby was the first to discover this very beautiful
species at Barham, Suffolk. It is very local: the only spot where I
ever met with itis Weybridge. I have taken it in June and Septem-
ber. It is rare in cabinets.

FREDERICK SMITH.
5, High Street, Newington,
February 19, 1848.

Note on Boreus hyemalis.—In the end of December, 1847, I met with a specimen
of this curious insect in a tuft of Trichostomum aciculare, growing on a stone wall, in
a wood near this place. It was very active, and emitted a scent somewhat resembling
that of Panorpa. Respecting this insect, Mr. Walker observes in a note, “ Nearly
twenty years have now passed since I used to find Boreus hyemalis in moss near Lon-
don, during the winter; but it was not uncommon at Gothenburg, in Sweden, while I
was there in the autumn of 1836. The male seems to be much more scarce than the
female.’—James Hardy.

On the Functions of the Antenne of Insects. By J. W. StaTER, Esq.

Mocs as has been written upon the functions of the antenne, we are still very re-
mote from a satisfactory conclusion. Their structure has been carefully and repeatedly
examined by eminent anatomists, but the result has been in no manner decisive, ex-
cept as showing them to be organs of importance and well supplied with nerves. In
this case nothing remains but to endeavour, by observing their comparative develop-
ment in species of different habits, to come to some conclusion as to their use. We
must, in the first place, suppose them to be organs of sensation, from their position
and structure, internal and external. Of the five senses which we recognize in ani-
mals, that of sight cannot come here in review, as its organs in insects are not doubt-
ful. As little can we suppose them to he organs of taste, as this sense must be sought
for in some part more intimately connected with the mouth, and capable of touching
food during suction or mastication. The organs of the three remaining senses, touch,
smell and hearing, are not yet established, and accordingly we find each of these
functions assigned to the antennz by a considerable number of entomologists. Those
who consider them as the organs of touch have the general opinion and the idioms of
several languages in their favour. It cannot be denied, moreover, that many insects,
apparently at least, use the antenne for this purpose, tapping and touching with them

2176 Insects.

the various objects with which they come in contact. But others rather avoid touching
any object with their antenne ; and not a few, as the dragon-flies, from the minute-
ness and position of these organs, could not well apply them to such a use. Many
Coleoptera seem to take very little notice if their antenne are touched, which certainly
does not seem to indicate them to be the chief seat of feeling. Neither is the struc-
ture of the antenne amongst the nocturnal Lepidoptera, the gnats, and some of the
Cerambycide, suitable for this purpose. All these considerations would lead us to
reject the view that the antenne were universally and primarily organs of touch. It
is, however, very possible that in some species they may have this function in a
secondary manner, just as in the Pachydermata the nose, although retaining its ordi-
nary functions, becomes also the organ of touch. It remains, then, for us to decide
whether the antennz be the seat of smell or of hearing ; and the question naturally
arises,—to what extent do insects possess these senses ?

The sense of hearing is chiefly calculated to mediate intercourse amongst animals
of the same species, and is mostly accompanied by a corresponding development of
the voice. The majority of insects are mute and solitary, and we have little direct
evidence to show whether they are capable of hearing or not. Various experiments
have been undertaken to decide the question, but the results have frequently been du-
bious and even contradictory. In some species, as in Blaps mortisaga, in the Cicadas
and several Orthoptera, the sense is undoubtedly present, though we have little know-
ledge of its degree of perfection. The sense of smell is of primary importance to
most animals, especially in the pursuit and selection-of their food, where it seems pre-
eminently supplimentary to the eye: it is, besides, frequently the principal medium
by which they examine and recognize objects of whatever kind. Thus the dog, the
cat, the horse, generally smell at any new or unknown body, and seem by that means
to get a satisfactory idea of its nature. Amongst insects this sense exists in great
perfection. With what unerring certainty will the ant or the wasp make their way to
anything sweet, however carefully concealed! The Necrophaga and Geotrupide
may often be seen flying along in a right line to those substances upon which they
prey, even when totally hid from view. And to what other sense can we attribute the
dexterity with which the parasitical Hymenoptera will detect their destined victim,
however carefully covered up from view? The varied and powerful scents which many
insects emit render it very probable that they may seek out those of their own species,

pursue their prey, or be warned of the approach of an enemy by this sense. Almost -

all the carnivorous Coleoptera emit a very powerful odour, especially Calosoma syco-
phanta, many of the Staphylinide, the Necrophaga, several species of Meloé, Cantha-
ris, &c., and in other orders the same property occurs to a greater or less extent. This
certainly tends to support the view that the sense of smell must be well developed
amongst insects.

If we turn to examine the comparative development of the antenne in different
insects, we shall generally find it most complete where the greatest accuracy of smell
may be observed or inferred, and vice versd. The senses of sight and smell are, to a
certain extent, capable of replacing each other as regards the pursuit of food. Some
animals hunt by scent, others by the eye, and the development of the organs is gene-
rally proportionate, with the apparent exception that the eyes of nocturnal animals are
mostly large, to take in as much light as possible: but for all this it is manifest that
they require an acute scent, and this we find to be the case. The dragon-fly hunts by
sight alone ; its swift motions and the prodigious development of the eye render scent

Insects. ST77

almost unnecessary ; and here accordingly we find the antenne small and compara-
tively simple. The Necrophorus, on the other hand, which seeks its food, as far as we
can perceive, by scent alone, and which cannot flit up and down with the celerity and
ease of the dragon-fly, has large clavate antenne. In the nocturnal insects, where the
eyes, though large, are frequently insufficient, we find, for the most part, large and
complicated antenne, as in Saturnia and Melolontha. Omnivorous insects do not re-
quire so powerful, or rather so delicate a scent, as those which are confined to one or
two substances for food. Thus we see the antenne of the Carabici, of the Staphyli-
nide, of the common fly, comparatively simple; promiscuous in their feeding, they
are in little danger of famine. Very few, if any, of the Curculionide and Lamelli-
cornes are omnivorous: most of the former are limited to some particular plant, whilst
the latter, whether preying, like the Geotrupide,-on animal refuse, or, like the Melo-
lonthide, on leaves, or, like the Cetoniade, on flowers and the sap of trees, are equally
select in their feeding.

The antenne of male insects are usually more highly developed than those of fe-
males ; and this also affords a good argument in favour of their being olfactory organs.
The males usually go in search of the females, whilst the latter remain concealed in
trees and bushes, in some genera entirely apterous, and in all impeded in motion by
the greater bulk of the abdomen. This difference in the habits of the sexes is in many
species so marked, that the females are rarely taken whilst the males are abundant.
The next question is, what sense guides the male to his partner in the midst of her
concealment? A stratagem successfully employed in capturing several nocturnal
Lepidoptera seems to throw much light on the subject. If an unimpregnated female
Saturnia be placed in a box, and carried out to some suitable place, males of the same
species will come, often from a considerable distance, and alight upon the box. This
cannot surely be referred to sight or hearing, or to any other sense with which we are
acquainted, except smell, especially when we call to mind that an impregnated female
has no such influence. Here, then, the male requires this sense in greater perfection
than does the female, and the development of the antenne perfectly agrees with this
supposition. The antenne of the larva are small and rudimentary, but attain full
development simultaneously with the generative organs. Amongst higher animals
we find the sense of smell remaining in like manner imperfect, until the age of ma-
turity, as is especially the casein man. If the antenne were the organs of hearing,
we might naturally expect to find them most highly developed in those insects pro-
vided with a voice; but this is not the case. If we observe an insect in search of
food, we shall find that its antenne appear excited, and when a suitable substance is
found they are held near it, or sometimes made to touch it. Now we can understand
an animal smelling its food, but why should it listen to it? Offer honey to a Lucanus
cervus (the size and—if I may so speak—the docility of this insect make it very pro-
per for such experiments), and you will almost always see the leaves of his antenne
expand. Some naturalists have observed that insects move their antenne if alarmed
by a sudden noise, and have hence supposed this organ to be the seat of hearing.
Such a conclusion is gratuitous: a man under similar circumstances may move his
arms or legs in a convulsive manner, yet this does not prove them to be the organs of
hearing. These considerations, I should submit, render it probable that the antenne
are the organs of smell or of some sense closely analogous.
| J. W. SiaTer.

2178 Insects.

List of Captures of Rare Insects in the New Forest.—I have just returned from a three
weeks’ stay at Lyndhurst, in the New Forest, and have been fortunate enough to meet
with several rare species. The season appears a most favourable one ; and, from the
numbers of larve that occurred on the oaks and thorns, I think entomologists may
this year expect to reap an abundant harvest. My best captures were the following.

LEPIDOPTERA.

Stauropus fagi. One male, trunk of an oak, May 20.

Penthophora nigricans, Curtis. This insect, of which there appears some doubt as
to its true name, I found cases of, both near Ringwood and Lyndhurst, attached
to the points of the heath and gorse, the third and last week in May. It was just the
time to take them, as they were in pupe, for not many days after they made their ap-
pearance in the perfect state, the female (previously unknown) looking more like a
maggot than a complete insect, having neither wings or legs, or at least only the ru-
diments of minute legs. I obtained more than one hundred cases, but have only
as yet reared fourteen males and about two dozen females: they are very slow in
making their appearance, and always emerge from chrysalis (the males) between five
and seven in the afternoon. The attractive power of this—in my eyes—not very
beautiful lady, was singularly displayed one evening in the garden of the cottage I
was at, which was more than half a mile from the heath, and where it was not likely
any of the males could have been ; however, it appears for about a quarter of an hour
the garden was quite alive with them, from the numbers settling and flying round the
box in which I had the cases, which I always kept out of doors and in the sun.
I most unfortunately was not at home at the time, but the woman at the cottage secured
one in a pill-box ; but what is strange, they never came again, although I purposely
left several females in the cage. I have had several pair, which takes place with the
male within a quarter of an hour of emerging from chrysalis ; in fact, as soon as he
has dried his wings, he inserts his body into the case of the female till nothing is ob-
servable but his wings and head, and remains not more than half an hour in cottu :
the female comes out of her case the following day, after laying all her eggs in the
case. I shall try to establish a colony on one of our heaths near London. I don’t
think they occur near town, as I cannot suppose we could have overlooked them, they
stand out so conspicuous on the heath and furze.

Dypterygia pinastri. One, at sugar, May 29.

Mesia favillacearius. One male, on Lyndhurst Common, May 27, in the
evening.

Cleora viduaria. This beautiful species I found spread over the forest between
Lyndhurst and Brockenhurst, but it was rare. I was only able to obtain seventeen
specimens, all males, and I devoted several hours every day scraping down the trunks
of the oak trees with a stick in search of them : this is a most successful plan to obtain
some of the rarer species ; it has the effect, generally, to make them fly off ; otherwise,
being so much the colour of the bark and lichen, they would remain unobserved.

Cleora cinctaria. This is more local than viduaria, but is rather more abundant,
and obtained the same way. I took forty-two specimens, but only one male, which I
suspect was full late, for they generally frequent the small oaks, and I found most of
my specimens on the north side of Wallace’s enclosure, in open parts of the forest :
this, as far as I was able to judge, is decidedly the best part for collecting.

Insects. 2179

Alcis consortaria. Two, trunks of oaks, at sugar.

Tephrosia extersaria. Two, at sugar.

Ephyra orbicularia. One, on a fence near Lyndhurst, May 20.

Eurymene dolabraria. Five, trunks of oaks in the forest.

Harpalyce Silaceata. One, on a fence near Lyndhurst.

Lobophora viretata. One, ditto.

Lobophora sexalisata. One, ditto.

Eupithecia variegata. Seven, trunks of oaks in the forest.

Chlorissa viridata. Of this very beautiful species, which I hear has not been taken
for many years, I was fortunate enough to meet with forty specimens, about half of
which are fine, and in that condition it is a lovely thing, the pink border showing the
green off to great advantage : it frequents heathy places in the forest, near Wallace's
enclosure, and was generally obtained by beating the heath. I was not able to ascer-
tain its right time of flight. ,

Macaria notata. One, flying at dusk in an inclosure.

Margaritia angustalis. Fifteen, flying over heath and fern in the forest.

Nola strigulalis. About two dozen, on trunks of oaks and on fences.

Anacampsis alternella. Three, trunks of oaks.

Batia lutarella. Old thorns.

Phycita bistriga. Two, old thorns.

Tinea tapetzella. On an old oak.

Lampronia rupella. Two, old oaks.

The sugar was almost useless, nothing scarcely but a few of Thyatira batis and
Acronycta rumicis, and those previously mentioned, came.

Larve were most abundant, particularly from the 18th to the 22nd of the month,
and if I had had convenience for feeding them I should have taken great numbers ;
as it was I was obliged to select only a few of those that I considered the best : amongst
them were Catocala sponsa and promissa, Petasia cassinea, Hylophila prasinana, Cle-
oceris Oo, Tethea ridens, Pecilocampa populi, Dasychira fascelina, Lithosia quadra,
and others that I am unacquainted with.

COLEOPTERA, ETC.

Tarus angularis. Seven, under turfs, Lyndhurst Common.

Pecilus dimidiatus. Four, gravel-pits.

Cleonus nebulosus. Four, ditto.

Elater sanguineus. Five, under bark, stumps of oaks.

Elater ustulatus. One, beat out of whitethorn.

Serica brunnea. One, ditto.

Brachytarsus varius. One, beat out of an oak.

Leptura abdominalis. Sixteen, beat out of oaks and whitethorn, and on blossom.

Leptura preusta. Eighteen, ditto.

Clythra tridentata. Two, whitethorn blossoms.

Cicada anglica. Beat out of whitethorn.

There was scarcely any bloom on the whitethorn this year, which caused great dis-
appointment to me, as I expected to reap a rich harvest of Coleoptera from its at-
tractive powers.

My stay at Lyndhurst was from the 11th to the 3lst of May, and the weather was

2180 M icroscopical Society.

so favourable I was only confined two days to the house with rain.—Samuel Stevens ;
Vine Cottage, Blythe Lane, Hammersmith, Middlesex, June 10, 1848.

Report of ithe Microscopical Society’s Meetings.

Mar ch 29, 1848.—GeEo. Busk, Esq., President, in the chair.

A paper by Mr. Warington, ‘ On a New Fluid for mounting Minute ietesanaenl
Preparations,’ was read.

The fluid recommended by Mr. Warington is glycerine. It is the sweet principle
of oil and fat, and is prepared by separating the fatty and oily acids, by combining
them with any base for which they may have a stronger affinity, as in the making of
soaps, &c., when the glycerine, which remains dissolved in the water employed in that
process is found to possess the property of preserving animal and vegetable substances.
Mr. W. was induced to try its application to the mounting of microscopic objects.
This is effected in the same manner as that employed when spirit of wine or creosote
water is used, when the object having been covered with a piece of thin glass, the mar-
gin is to be cemented with a coating of shell-lac varnish, the usual precautions being
carefully observed. Gold size or copal dissolved in oil of lavender may also be used
to effect the same purpose, and the second and third coatings of varnish may with ad-
vantage be of either of these, as they are less liable to become brittle than the shell-lac
varnish alone. The glycerine may be used either thick or diluted with water, accord-
ing to the object, and also with the addition of a small portion of common salt, corro-
sive sublimate, creosote, or spirit of wine, if considered desirable. Mr. Warington
also described his method of mounting certain classes of objects in castor oil, such as
crystals of salts, &c. The object being in a perfectly dry state, a small quantity of
castor oil is to be carefully dropped on, and guided over the field with the point of a
needle; and care being taken that the cell is perfectly full, without any excess, it is to
be covered with a piece of thin glass, and the shell-lac varnish applied as in the former
instance.

A second paper, by Dr. A. Clark, being ‘ Observations on the Anatomy of the Skin
of a Species of Murena,’ was read.

The author commenced by stating, that the skin of this Murena and of the allied
genera consists of a primary or basement membrane and epithelial cells, the conjoint
inflexions of which constitute the follicles or glands. Upon examining a vertical sec-
tion of the skin with the naked eye, it appears to be divided into two pretty nearly
equal parts. The outer one is dark, dense, firm and semitransparent ; and the inner
is yellowish, loose, oily and opaque. The first of these consists of the epithelium, the
germinal membrane, the pigment, the glands and the fibrous tissue, which collectively
form the skin proper; the latter of a very loose filamentous tissue, the interstices of
which are filled with pale globules. The epithelial cells are situated on the surface of
the skin, and are described as constituted of a transparent homogeneous cell-wall, lined
on its internal surface by a layer of elementary molecules or granules; 2nd, of an ec-
centric nucleus; and 3rd, more or less solid or fluid cell-contents. In examining
mucus scraped from several parts of the body, various modifications of the epithelial
cells were observed, viz., ciliated, tessellated, caudate and spherical. The glands are

Microscopical Society. 2181

formed by inflexions of the primary or germinal membrane and its epithelium, and are
situated in the textures of the skin, on the free surface of which they terminate
by open mouths. ~The margins of the openings are thick, rounded, almost papilli-
form, and their cavities filled with small epithelial cells in various stages of develop-
ment. Upon removing these, the interior of the gland is seen to be lined by a layer
of small, flattened, nucleated corpuscles, resting on and attached to a very delicate
homogeneous membrane, which lines the cavity of the follicle. Some of the openings
of these glands or follicles are visible to the naked eye, as are those of the lateral line,
while those of the general surface are only visible by the aid of the microscope. The
fibrous tissue is well seen by examining a horizontal section of the skin by means of
a deep lens, when numerous bundles of that tissue will be seen crossing each other at
nearly right angles, so as to have more or less regular quadrilateral interstices. One
series of these fibres is circular, the other longitudinal : they occur in alternate layers,
which commence and end with the circular. Each layer is distinct, as are also the
individual bundles composing it. Upon examining prepared vertical sections of the
skin, with a power of about 200 linear, and by transmitted light, we find, 1st, the germi-
nal membrane and its epithelium ; 2nd, a layer of reticulated fibrous tissue, contain-
ing the granular pigment in its meshes; 3rd, from fourteen to eighteen rolls or
bundles of fibrous tissue, running nearly parallel to the surface of the skin, traversed
vertically by the wavy tubes of the follicles, and by certain arctuous bands, which pro-
ceed inwards from the areolar tissue beneath the germinal membrane, pass round the
innermost fibrous bundle, and become firmly connected with the arctuous bands of
other layers : they are composed of elastic fibrous tissue, and in their progress upwards
give off subsidiary bands, which pass between the individual bundles, and become con-
nected with other off-sets from different parts.

April 26.—GrorcE Busk, Esq., President, in the chair.

A paper was read by John Quekett, Esq., ‘On the Value of the Microscope in the
determination of Minute Animal Structures of a Doubtful Nature.’

The author, after alluding to the number of highly interesting and valuable facts
in Natural History which are daily revealed by the microscope, went on to state, that
even zoological classification, which in early times was based upon certain distinctions
and peculiarities in external form, had principally now begun to take a higher stand:
in one order of animals the nervous system, in others the digestive, in others the mi-
nute structure of the external or internal skeleton, form at the present time the best
grounds for their classification ; and often one and the same material chemically is so
moulded into an infinity of forms, and each form so perfectly characteristic of the
genus, or sometimes of the species of animals, that a mere microscopic examination
only is required to identify them. The force of this argument is exemplified by the
structures known as hair or wool. The author then stated, that early in the year 1847,
through the instrumentality of Sir Benjamin Brodie, he received from Albert Way,
Esq., a gentleman so well known in archeological science, a portion of skin supposed
to be human, which had been taken from underneath some of the ornamental iron-
work of one of the doors of Worcester Cathedral, with a request that he would favour
him with an opinion as to whether it were human skin or not, as a tradition existed in
Worcester that a man—having been caught in the act of committing sacrilege—was
flayed, and his skin nailed upon the church-door, as a terror to the sacrilegious. On

VI 2.G

2182 Quadrupeds.

‘this portion of skin the author succeeded in finding two hairs, which, from their well-
known characters, as compared with those of the hair of other animals, he was at once
enabled to pronounce to be human. Shortly after this he received from Mr. Way
another portion of. skin, said to be that of a Danish pirate, which had been taken from
the church-door of Hadstock, in Essex. On this the author found many hairs, all of
which he ascertained to be human. And on the 31st of August last a third specimen
was received from Mr. Way, that had been taken from the church-door of Copford,
also in Essex: this specimen was the largest of the three, and on it were very many
dark hairs, which were clearly ascertained also to be human. The author then men-
tioned that the rector of Hadstock, from the door of whose church the second speci-
men was procured, had obtained from a microscopist of some eminence an opinion
which entirely coincided with his.. In conclusion, the author dwelt upon the great
value of the microscope in these investigations, and stated how wonderful it is that
characters so minute should exist in hairs, even after their exposure to the atmosphere
for several centuries, and which proved the fact that of all the tissues of the animal
body, save the osseous, the corneous or hairy tissue is the most durable.—J. S. Bow-
erbank.

Fondness of the Dog.—The strong feelings of the dog, as displayed in the exercise
of all the capabilities which he (though in a very small degree) is gifted with, in com-
mon with men, has engrossed the attention of all naturalists. I mean such qualities
as affection, fidelity, &c.; and the existence of these powers, reciprocally, between
animals, naturally opposed to each other, is the subject of my present paper. In
Priscilla Wakefield’s ‘ Instinct Displayed, an instance is given of the extraordinary
influence Mr. Capel Lofft had over a terrier: “ he broke him of his propensity to
seize rabbits and worry cats, merely by the displeasure marked on his countenance,
without beating him. When he was most incensed against an unfortunate cat, that
happened to fall in his way, his master would snatch him up in his arms and quiet
him in an instant.” Now for my own illustration. A gentleman, with whom I am
well acquainted, has in his possession a fine yard dog, that an agricultural gentleman
from the neighbourhood of Yarmouth presented him with, because of his being unable
to manage him; for no sooner was he free than the sheep-flock was the object of his
search, and he chased, pursued, worried, and occasionally killed. This was a losing
game, and one to the agriculturist most disadvantageous: the issue of his determina-
tion was, that “ Nero” obtained a new habitation at a remote destination. The
fierceness and other features of Nero’s character were all well given, and a strong chain
and suitable house were prepared for him: he is a large, fine-built dog, of a cross be-
tween the “bull and Newfoundland,” of a colour called in Norfolk “ brindy ;” and
though I have been acquainted with Nero for several years, I have not found him in
any way inclined to be treacherous to me, though I have known him “ fly” at people
who ventured too near his domain ; but yet I think often more in sport than with
wicked purpose. Confinement may have materially checked his spirit, as the long im-
prisonment of a captive knight for ever quenches hope. Many are the runs and ram-
bles which, under the gentle management of young ladies, he has taken; but, with an
occasional desertion, he has ever conducted himself with becoming deportment.

Quadrupeds, &c. 2183

Among the chief traits of Nero's character is his affection. When our footman used
to be off the premises — as oft he was —then how long and wailful a lamentation did
the poor dog send forth! It appeared that he had a more than common instinct to
know his friend was away ; for the restless agitation of the beast, his whine of agony
and wail of sorrow, were more intense and acute than the inward pangs of many pro-
fessed friends at parting!! When first I witnessed this touching proof of his attach-
ment, and the almost human method of displaying it, I took to my heart’s memories a
love for that dog, though (to confess a weakness of mine) I never felt a very strong
partiality for the canine race. The family had, for the amusement of the children, a
dear little kitten, so black and velvetty that “ Tinker” was his undivided cognomen ;
and a pet he was, and yet is. “ Nelly,” Tinker’s mamma, had continued (being an
old-established housekeeper of nearly ten years) to hold her high station, which she
had enjoyed before Nero’s appearance; and often in her peripatetic rambles she took
a survey of Nero’s abode, stopped and examined, and wondered “ who or what” the
new visitant could be,—so to me did her actions imply. Well, in time Nero ventured
to look at her; then by degrees he lengthened his chain ; at last he stood out full
length ; and yet, during these manceuvres, Nelly stood like an ancient dame in her
silks, unmoved, as one who was not to be put down or deprived of her ancient rights.
Let me tell you that an intimacy sprung up between them ; and when the time arrived
for Tinker’s introduction to Nero, oh! then had you, with me (as often since I have),
seen the dog’s fondness, shown so endearingly and delightedly ! such barkings, such
springings as far as his chain would permit, such rubbing of his head against the kit-
ten’s soft coat, such playfulness and tenderness, as though fearful to hurt, that I once
more registered on my memory’s tablets the love of that dog. Many are the times
that I have watched them feeding from the same trencher, eating of the same food,
sporting together and lying side by side, as happy as kings, and happier too! When
in the sight of Nero the servant has fondled Tinker, then how joyously has he frisked,
as though the kindness were shown to himself! The lessons which I have garnered
from him are many and precious ; and to all my readers I would urge the necessity of
their studying the habits of that portion of Natural History they are most in the midst
of; and with a watchful eye and observant mind, they will have cause for admiration
(almost daily) that He who is our God and Father has not neglected, in his universal
scheme of love, sources of gratification of a refined and elevating nature for even ani-
mals.—G. R. Twinn.

Ornithological and other Observations in Norfolk for the months of April and May,
1848.—Early in the spring a specimen of that singular animal the black line-worm
(Lineus longissimus), Sowerby’s Brit. Misc., was captured on the north coast of Nor-
folk, having become entangled in some cod-lines. As this worm is not.of common oc-
currence on the east coast of England, and has not to our knowledge been previously
noticed on the Norfolk shores, we extract from the ‘ Transactions of the Linnean So-
ciety’ the following observations respecting its history.

“This species of Gordius”’ * (says Col. Montagu)t “ is not uncommon on several

* It is called by Montagu, Gordius marinus. + Trans. Linn. Soe. vii. 72.

2184 Birds, &c.

parts of the south coast of Devonshire, where it is by some of the fishermen known
by the very applicable name given to it in the ‘ History of Cornwall.’* It is indeed
of so prodigious a length that it is impossible to fix any bounds ; some of the fisher-
men say thirty yards,—but perhaps as many feet is the utmost : those specimens which
have come under our inspection did not appear to exceed twenty feet, and more com-
monly from eight to fourteen or fifteen.

“ The largest are taken by dredging in old bivalve shells, but are sometimes found
under stones at low water, always coiled or contorted in the most complicated manner :
those which we have kept in sea water never attempted to extend themselves, but con-
fined their motion wholly to contortion.”

A specimen of this worm having been taken by Mr. Davies, + was kept by him
alive for a fortnight in a dish of sea water. “It partook ” (says this gentleman) ‘‘ in
a great measure of the nature of the leech, and seemed in some degree amphibious, as
it frequently in part left the water, and to the length of a foot or two, or more, ex-
tended itself along the edge of the dish, and the table on which the dish was placed.

“ Tn the night I always found it coiled in a more lax and diffuse manner, covering
nearly the whole dish ; but on the approach of a candle it seemed affected, and in-
clined to contract itself; so that, although I could not see that it had eyes, I evidently
discerned that it was very sensible of light. It frequently by morning assumed some-
what of a spiral or screw-like form ; and on one morning in particular, I was highly
gratified in finding it almost perfectly and closely spiral from end to end. I was
forcibly struck with this appearance, as it seemed to suggest to me the solution of a
difficulty which perplexed me much, concerning the manner how such a wonderfully
soft, delicate, and seemingly unmanageable length of body, could possibly move itself
from one place to another. But from the moment when I observed this, I became
perfectly at ease with regard to that particular, being convinced that this must be the
state which the creature assumes when disposed to change its station ; not only as thus
it is contracted with regard to length into the most compact size which its make is
susceptible of, but likewise that when so modified every spire or volution, by a distinct
impulse exerted in an appropriate manner, will assist in the act of progression and of
shifting forward the whole of its amazing length at nearly the same instant.

“ Having thus attended to this remarkable animal for a fortnight, giving it daily
a fresh supply of sea water, I put it into a bottle, which by-the-bye, though the bottle
was wide-mouthed, I effected with no little trouble, owing to its facility of extending
and contracting itself, and likewise its being so slippery from the quantity of mucus
with which it abounds. When, however, this was done, I poured on it some spirits; it was
convulsed and greatly contracted with regard to length, and consequently much enlarged
in thickness, though neither nearly to that degree which I had often observed when
it was alive; and in an instant, to my great surprise, it projected, from the emarginate
part of the front, a proboscis which was eight inches in length. It is very strange that
during the space of time above stated, and the various treatment which the creature
had experienced, as well as the different attitudes and states I had seen it in, it never
in the least exhibited this part of itself till in its dying convulsion.”

This specimen was found by Mr. Davies to measure after death twenty-two feet

* Sea long worm. Borlase’s ‘ History of Cornwall.’
+ ‘ Transactions of the Linnean Society,’ ii. 292.

Birds, &e. 2185

in length, and he believes that when alive it might have been extended to four times
that length, and that the statement of the Devonshire fishermen to Col. Montagu was
therefore not improbably correct. With respect to our Norfolk specimen, part of it
only came into the hands of our informant, as the animal, upon being taken from the
line with which it was entangled, either was broken or broke itself into several short
pieces, some of which, and amongst them unfortunately the head, could not be found.
Of the length of these parts when alive we can only say, in the words of our informant,
that they were “ any length.” The separate pieces retained the power of motion for a
day or two, although kept out of water. We much regret that, owing to the loss of
the head, we have been unable to verify the existence of the curious proboscis men-
tioned by Mr. Davies ; and it is unfortunate that that gentleman did not, by dissection
of the part in question, endeavour to throw some light upon so singular a structure.
Perhaps some of your correspondents can give further information upon the subject.

The colour of this worm is stated, both by Montagu and Davies, to be rufous
brown, occasionally slightly varying, and our specimen agrees with this description :
Montagu also says that it has five faint longitudinal lines, of a paler colour than the
rest of the body.

A fine hoopoe was killed at Ormesby about the 2nd of April; and shortly after-
wards a red-necked grebe, in breeding plumage, was procured near Yarmouth: ano-
ther specimen of the latter bird, in similar plumage, occurred at Scottow on the 22nd.

On the 4th of April a cormorant, in breeding plumage, was shot at Herringfleet.

On the evening of the 11th of April a man placed a bow-net by the side of an
osier carr, at the mouth of a ditch running into the river Yare, at Cringleford, with the
view of catching pike, which often ascend such ditches at this season for the purpose
of spawning. On taking up the net on the following morning, it was found to con-
tain a male and female otter, both of which were drowned. The animals appeared to
be about twelve months old ; and, from the fact that their stomachs were empty, it is
probable that they were caught in the act of leaving the osier carr for their night’s
fishing. |

On the 12th of April an adult male osprey was shot at Hickling; and on the 19th
of May another adult osprey, which we believe was a female, was killed at Horsey.

Many wild fowl remained late this year ; wigeons, pochards and tufted ducks be-
ing observed after the middle of April.

On the 2nd of May a woodcock’s nest, containing four young, was found at Rain-
ham, near Fakenham.

About the 9th of May three specimens of the wood sandpiper occurred near Yar-
mouth: about the 15th a marsh harrier was caught at Woodbastwick, in a steel trap,
which had been baited with an egg, for the purpose of catching a crow.

A full-grown squirrel was caught at Hethersett, in May, by being chased into a
cottage by a cat.

It is said that an eagle with a white head * and a white tail was seen more than
once near Yarmouth, about the 19th of May, but could not be procured.—J. H. Gur-
ney, W. R. Fisher ; June, 1848.

* This is not the eagle respecting which I made a mistake a few months ago
(see Zool. 1966, 2018); but if the bird, the appearance of which we now record, really
was the bald eagle, we have a singular illustration of the saying that “ coming events
cast their shadows before.’—W. R. F.

2186 Birds.

Provincial Names of Birds.—Your correspondent, Mr. Evans, has favoured the
readers of the ‘ Zoologist’ (Zool. 2136) with a list of the names under which various
birds are known in Leicestershire. Such lists are not without their use, as when an
ornithologist changes his locality it is some time before he learns to what birds the ob-
servations of his rustic friends are intended to apply: perhaps, therefore, you may find
room for a short list of the names by which various common birds are known in Nor-
folk. I shall, however, leave those of the shore and sea birds to the pen of my friend
Mr. Dowell, who is, as I know, preparing a list of those found near Blakeney. The
kestrel usually changes names with the sparrow hawk, or two species are made of it;
the male being the ‘ kastril’ (the more correct pronunciation of the name retained
here), the female and young the ‘ sparrow hawk.’ The marsh harrier is the only ‘ buz-
zard’ commonly known, the true buzzard being rare and the harrier becoming so.
The jackdaw, though known by that name generally now, was anciently, as appears
by the Skeyton parish-books, called the ‘ caddaw.’ The ‘ hayjack’ comprises, I fancy,
Curruca hortensis and cinerea, while the blackcap is the ‘ black-headed hayjack.’
The spotted flycatcher is the ‘ wall-bird, so named from the place by which its nest is
usually found. The redstart bears the equivalent name of the ‘ firetail.’ The whin-
chat is the ‘furze chuck, I believe ; but I am not certain to which of the two, or
whether to both the stonechat and whinchat, this is applied. The sedge warbler is
the ‘ reed-bird. The Parus major and ceruleus are both known by the name of ‘ pick-
cheese, while the P. caudatus is the ‘ pudding-poke.’ Sylvia Trochilus is the ‘ oven-
bird,’ so called, like the preceding, from the shape of its nest. The bearded titmouse
it the ‘ reed pheasant,’ and indeed with its long graduated tail it is not unlike a minia-
ture pheasant. The yellow hammer is named, from the markings of its eggs, the
‘writing lark,’ or rather I should say the nest is called a writing lark’s nest, by bird-
nesting boys, without taking the trouble to find out the bird to which it belongs. The
chaffinch is of course the ‘ spink.’ The goldfinch is known, by the natives of the south
of Norfolk, by a much more honourable title than it has received in Leicestershire ; it
is the ‘ King Harry, from its beautiful crown: hereabouts it is usually the ‘ draw-
water,’ from the tricks it is taught when tamed. The green woodpecker is the ‘ whet-
tell’ or ‘ wet-wall.’ The creeper is the ‘ tree creeper,’ and the nuthatch the ‘ nut-
jobber.” The wryneck is the ‘ cuckoo’s leader’ and ‘ snake-bird.’ The swift is known
by the same name as in Leicestershire ; it is the ‘ deviling:’ if you were to ask here
whether there were any swifts about, you would be told, “ Yes, plenty in the clay-pits : ”
the only creature known by that name is the water-eft. The only ‘ bustards’ now left
are the (Adicnemus crepitans, which are very generally known by that name. The
heron retains its old English name of the ‘ heronshaw, or ‘ hernshe’ as it is pro-
nounced. Here is a list of a few names, some of which I suspect are not confined to
this county ; but though I am a native of it, I am still occasionally puzzled by some
name decidedly new to ornithology, and many more doubtless remain to be recorded.
—H. T. Frere ; Blofield, June 10, 1848.

Labelling Eggs of Birds.—Allow me to thank you for the notice (Zool. 2132) of
the ‘ Catalogue of Eggs’ you were kind enongh to insert in the last number of the
‘ Zoologist.’ As my only object is to promote, even in a trifling degree, the study of a
branch of Natural History which daily gains additional interest, you will perhaps al-
low me to add a few remarks in further explanation of my “ machine.” Had “ the
shovel ” (as you very appropriately call labels) really grown old in the service, there
would be no room for improvement ; and I, for one, should never be so much wanting

Birds. 2187

in gratitude as to wish to throw it aside, like a useless piece of old iron. On the con-
trary, I find labels indispensable, in their proper place, which is, to be affixed not to
- the eggs, but to the compartments made in the cabinet drawers for the reception of
each species of eggs. As regards labelling the eggs of a collection, I confess myself to
have utterly failed in my repeated efforts to reconcile a label one inch or more in
length with an egg less than half that size ; and I still doubt whether any one has
yet found the secret of making labels fit in all cases the eggs for which they are in-
tended. A label, whether used as a swathing-band around an egg, or fixed on to it
in its length, either effectually spoils the look of many eggs, or envelopes the smaller
ones altogether: so that a drawer containing the eggs of the Sylvie, Fringille, and
other small birds, thus treated, would present a very singular appearance : whereas if
the compartments be labelled, and the eggs be ticketted only, the ticket, being affixed to
the under side of the egg, is not seen; and the eggs look, when placed in their several
compartments, previously labelled and made ready for them, exactly as they did in the
nest in which they were laid. After several attempts at different arrangements, I
have found that the eggs of all the British birds may be conveniently contained in a
cabinet of twelve drawers. Each drawer measures 18 inches in length, 16 inches in
width, and 4 inches in depth, in the clear, and is divided into a number of compart-
ments, which vary in their dimension according to the number and size of the eggs
laid by the species of birds to be contained in the drawer; e. g., drawer 1 contains
the Rapaces Diurne, and is divided into twenty-four compartments ; drawer 3, in
which are arranged the Insectivore, is divided into fifty-eight compartments ; drawer 9,
for some of the ducks, into sixteen such divisions ; and so on with the rest. Each drawer
then is labelled inside with the name of the order or orders to be contained in it; each
compartment is labelled with the name of the species for which it is intended ; and if it be
the first species of the genus, the compartment bears also the name and number of the
genus, printed in larger letters than the name of the species ; and each egq is ticketted
and numbered, and thus secured against the possibility of its being mistaken for some
other species, by being accidentally mixed up with other eggs. The above method of
arranging a collection has proved, and proves daily, to be the most convenient, both
for study and for the appearance it presents to the eye. The compartments being
lined with the whitest cotton wool, prevents the eggs from getting injured by a jerk of
the drawer, and sets off their colour to the best advantage. In fact, the difficulty lies
not in working so simple a “ machine,” but, as I find it at least, in getting “ fuel” for
it: I mean, in obtaining well-authenticated specimens, which may be ticketted in
confidence, and then placed in the “ nests” previously labelled and made ready for
them. In conclusion, I beg leave to add that the round paper tickets alluded to in
the Introduction to the Catalogue, which measure one, two, or three eighths of an inch
in diameter, may be made by thousands in less than an hour’s time, with a patent screw
puncheon. Specimens of these tickets may be had gratis, by applying either to Mr.
Van Voorst or to myself. S. C. Malan ; Broadwindsor, June 15, 1848.

[I have sincere pleasure in printing these observations: I trust that this act, as
well as my reprinting (Zool. 2133) all that the author has written in favour of his pro-
ject, will show that I am guided by the spirit of fairness alone.—E. N.]

Some Notes on the Birds of Shetland.—We went out very early in the morning of
the 13th of May, intending to go to some of the outer islands in search of eider ducks,
&c., with a light breeze against us, but as we proceeded it kept increasing, and the
sea getting up very fast, by the time we got half-way we thought it prudent to turn

2188 Birds.

back, as it began to rain very heavily, and was blowing a half a gale of wind:
however, we rowed under the lee of a little island, and waited awhile to see if it would
not moderate, but it still continued to rain and blow: while we lay here we shot three
purple sandpipers, nearly in perfect summer dress. As we found it was not likely to
get any better, we set our sail to return home; by this time we were as wet as the rain
could make us: when we got within two miles of home we saw some singular-looking
birds flying towards us, right ahead of the boat; they appeared in the distance like
small herons, with their legs stuck out behind them ; but as we were going at a rapid
rate before the wind, they soon went over our heads. Several of them were quite
within gun-shot ; they were Buffon’s skua (Lestris parasiticus): there were ten in
number, and some fine long-tailed ones amongst them. I was very glad to see them,
but very mortified that I could not shoot them ; for I had just tried the large gun at
a cormorant a short time before, and it would not go off, having got wet: the other
two guns had refused before. I intend to go out to some of the headlands where the
kittiwakes are congregating together to breed, and then perhaps I may fall in with
some of them. My reason for mentioning these in particular is because I never saw
any either in Orkney or Shetland on my former visits, and this is the first time I have
seen them during my residence here. I have noticed the following since I came to
reside here, which are not mentioned in my ‘ Guide.’

1843, May 8. Observed seven or eight Canada geese flying in a southerly di-

rection.
49 »» 26, Observed a large willow wren in my garden.
35 »» 28. Observed a whitethroat in my garden.

1844, Feb. 20. Shot a woodlark close to my house.

» May 20. Shot two purple sandpipers (male and female) in summer plumage,
on the island of Hoy, at the mouth of Weesdale Voo.

1845, June. Took a nest containing seven eggs of the garganey teal.

» Oct. 14. Observed a great spotted woodpecker.
nN » 16. Shot a great spotted woodpecker.

1846, March. Shot a common redstart in my garden.

» Apr.20. Shot a king drake out of a pair, at the mouth of Weesdale Voo.
—Robert Dunn; Helister, near Weesdale, Shetland Isles, May 15, 1848..

Note on an Egg of the Blackbird (Turdus merula).—I have this year taken an egg
from a nest which had the black spots at the smaller end.—J. B. Ellman ; Battel,
June, 1848.

Is the Sparrow (Fringilla domestica) more useful or injurious to the Farmer P—A
friend of mine the other day requested me to write to you, asking to be informed if
sparrows do more harm or good to agriculturists? He is himself a farmer, and has
not decided whether he should kill the sparrows about his farm or not.—#. Peacock ;
Messinyham, Kirton Lindsey, Lincolnshire, June, 1848.

[I must leave this repeatedly-mooted question in the hands of my correspondents.
—E. N.])

Nesting of the Siskin (Fringilla spinus) near Durham —I noticed a pair or two of
siskins about our gardens and plantations all this spring (1848), and having observed
them later than usual I thought they might breed with us. About the 21st of April
I observed the male bird singing on the top of a tall spruce fir. I had a great desire
to find the nest, and searched diligently after it for several days, but without success.
At length, perceiving that the male invariably went towards some spruce firs in

Birds. 2189

another part of the wood, I followed him, and on the 8th of May, 1848, had the
pleasure of finding the nest near the top of a tall spruce fir: its size was nearly the

same as that of the redpole, and the materials are also similar: it contained four eggs,

of about the same size as those of the goldfinch.—J. Dale, in a letter to W. Proctor,
of the Durham University Museum.

Rooks Building. —The rooks are certainly a punctual people in their building, and,
no doubt, in their other operations. But I was not aware, till I read Mr. Lawson’s
note (Zool. 2145), that they were ever supposed to be exact toa day. The following
dates, accurately noted down by myself, record the day of the month on which the
rooks were observed to begin carrying sticks for building for several years past. These
dates, I should observe, relate solely to the rooks on the premises here ; and I mention
this, because I have reason to think that in some other places in this neighbourhood
they commence building rather earlier.

1831. Rooks began to build March 9.

1832. Do. eth Bh:
1833. Do. a Lie
1834. Do. gu
1835. Do. 5 410:

1836. Not recorded.
1837. Rooks began to build March 9.

1838. Do. sedis
1839. Do. » 33 but made little progress till about 13th.
1840. Do. SoH
1841. Do. aot Tx
1842. Do. cS db.

1843. Not recorded.
1844. Rooks began to build March 10.

1845. Do. » 123 severe frost.
1846. Do. 59) 8S juvery: busy:
1847. Do. 4 oN

1848. Do. $0 <Gi

It would appear from the above dates that the more general period at which rooks
begin to build is from the 9th to the 12th of March.
I may perhaps raise a smile by saying that I have more than a strong suspicion
that rooks have some instinctive knowledge when a tree has become unsound, and
consequently unsafe, or in danger of being blown down, and that they carefully avoid
occupying such trees for the purpose of nidification. The largest elm tree on the pre-
mises here—a very large and fine one—never had a rook’s nest in it, within my recol-
lection, since the rookery has been established, except that one year a late pair, that
appeared to have been expelled from the rest of the community, built in one of the
lower pendant branches of the head of the tree,—a rather unusual position. I am not
sure that the same occurrence might not have taken place a second year; but, with
these exceptions, the tree, to my surprise, was invariably unoccupied, though it ap-
peared to be extremely well suited for the purpose, and other elms hard by were clus-
tered with nests. I had myself long been aware that this large elm, though it was
not going to die of old age, was yet, from some unknown cause or other, getting into
a bad state of health ; evidently its constitution was impaired ; it produced but a thin
spare crop of leaves, and these diminished in size, and they turned colour prematurely

VI 2H

2190 Birds.

in the autumn. I suspected that the trunk had become hollow, though externally it
exhibited no signs of such decay; in this, however, I was mistaken. I had many
thoughts, and some talk too, about applying the axe; but resolution always failed me.
So the elm stood an ornamental object, from whatever quarter it might be viewed, till
a gale of wind in January, two or three years ago, saved me the trouble of all further
deliberation, and brought the tree to the ground with a tremendous crash. The trunk
and limbs proved perfectly sound, and available as timber; but every root or fang,
with the exception of one of the largest, was dead and decayed up to the surface of
the ground. Now, could the rooks have been aware of the unsound and unsafe state
of this elm? I can hardly help thinking that they were, and on that account avoided
it. Should it be argued that it is unfair (as logicians teach us) to draw a general
conclusion from a particular instance, I may mention that there are several other trees
on the premises that are never occupied by rooks’ nests, for no other cause, so far as I
see, except that they are more or less in a decayed state, as I know them to be. I
have alluded above to a late pair of rooks that built apart, and appeared to have been
expelled, as it were, from the rest of the community. Sumething of this sort, I be-
lieve, takes place frequently in most rookeries. This season, after the generality of the
nests were completed, or nearly so, I was a good deal amused by observing that a pair
of rooks had taken up an entirely new position, and commenced building in a horse-
chestnut tree opposite to my dressing-room window. These birds seem to work hard-
est early in the morning, as Mr. Lawson justly remarks, and good progress accordingly
was made with the nest by the time I was getting up. Long before night, however,
it was entirely demolished, whether by the lawful owners themselves out of caprice, or
by plunderers from a worse motive, I will not pronounce. The next morning, by the
same hour, the nest had. been begun again, and again disappeared before night. This
building up and pulling down was repeated for three or four days in succession ; till
at length the patience, I suppose, of the birds was exhausted, and they ceased from
all further operations in the chestnut tree: whether they built elsewhere I am unable
to say. Rooks make an astonishing litter under their nesting-trees, with the sticks,
&c., which they either drop accidentally or designedly discard ; and I think they
rarely, if ever, condescend to alight upon the ground in order to pick up a stick which
they have accidentally let fall in their passage to the nest. They will carry sticks
from a considerable distance. This spring I observed a rook a good height in the —
air with a stick in its mouth, a good half mile at least from the nearest rookery ; and
from its position when I saw it, I conclude it must have brought the burden from a
much greater distance. When I speak of rooks beginning to build, I would be un-
derstood to mean their actual conveyance of materials for that purpose ; for long be-
fore they begin to carry they visit their nesting-trees, and are extremely busy about
something,—laying their plans, we may suppose, and making their calculations, like
other builders ; and they seem to have a vast deal to say on these occasions, could we
but understand their language. Some of the country people here have a notion that
rooks make their nests higher or lower in the trees, according to the dryness or wetness
of the ensuing summer. This spring, for instance, I was told by a labouring man
that the rooks were building high, and that the circumstance prognosticated a dry
summer, I confess I have never myself been able to perceive any material difference
in this respect,—the great body of them building, as it appears to me, uniformly at
about the same altitude.—W. T. Bree; Allesley Rectory, July 6, 1848.

Occurrence of the Hoopoe (Upupa Epops) near Sunderland.—Mr. Calvert, of Sun-

Birds. 2191

derland, a good practical naturalist, writes me to say, that while on a botanical stroll,
_ on the 11th instant, to the above place and Ryhope, a village by the sea-shore, his at-

_ tention was called by a friend to a singular bird roosting on a bush, which proved to
be a fine hoopoe : it was chased away by some boys that were near; and though dili-
gent search has been made for it, it has not been since heard of.—Joseph Duff ;
Bishop's Auckland, June 19, 1848.

Occurrence of the White Stork (Ciconia alba) near York.—A very fine specimen of
the white stork, a male bird, was shot on the 18th of last May, by a small farmer on
lord Wenlock’s property, near the village of Riccall, about nine miles from the city
of York, and came the same day into the hands of Mr. Graham, my bird-stuffer, at
York, by whom it has been set up, and is now in my collection.—W. M. E. Milner ;
75, Eaton Place, July, 1848.

Occurrence of the Black Tern (Sterna nigra), de, near Oxford.—Two adult male
specimens of the black tern were killed in Port Meadow, near Oxford, during the
month of May: there are other examples from the same locality, preserved in the
Ashmolean Museum. I may perhaps add that several gray shrikes (Lanius excubitor)
were obtained in this county during the past winter—H. Roundell ; Wells, June 10,
1848.

Provincial Names of Birds.—Mr. Evans, in an interesting notice of the Leicester-
shire names of birds (Zool. 2136), remarks, that in that county the barn ow] is known
to the natives as a ‘ padge’ or ‘ padge owl ;’ here, in Warwickshire, it is generally
called a ‘ madge’ or ‘madge owlet.’ ‘ Madge,’ too, I may remark, is, so to say, the
vocative case of owl, just as ‘ puss’ is of cat. The great and lesser spotted woodpecker,
which, with Mr. Evans, I regret to say are every year becoming less frequent, are
known by the most appropriate name of ‘ pump-borer, a name derived, no doubt,
from the similarity of the extraordinary sound made by the bird in the spring to that
of the boring of a pump-tree with a large auger. Herons are not only very commonly
called ‘ cranes’ (as rooks are called ‘ crows ’*) but also ‘ moll-herons,’ or rather ‘ moll-
yerns.. In Warwickshire, as elsewhere, the swift is a ‘ jack squeeler, the bullfinch a
‘ nope,’ the chaffinch a ‘ piefinch,’ the redstart a ‘ firetail, or ‘ firytail,’ and the wryneck
the ‘cuckoo mate.’ The genus titmouse is, for the most part, lumped together under
one common denomination of ‘ tom-tit.’ The long-tailed tit, however, has its own dis-
tinctive appellation, and besides bearing the name of ‘ miller’s thumb,’ is also called
a ‘bombarrel’ or ‘bumbarrel,’ the derivation of which name I will not pretend to
suggest.t A whole host of our little summer birds of passage — whitethroats, willow-
wrens, &c.—frequently pass indiscriminately under the name of ‘ chates’ or ‘ chaits.’
The country people here call the great crested grebe ‘ hornigull diver. Within the
last half year I have been amused at hearing woodcocks termed ‘ woodsuckers, —by no
means an inappropriate name ; but the person who used this name was not, I believe,

* In the north of England, I am informed that rooks are called ‘ crows, and the
calrion crow a ‘daupe’ or ‘ dawp.’

+ It has just occurred to me, since the above was written, that this name may have
arisen from a fanciful resemblance which the nest of the bird, with its little round hole
for an entrance, bears to a barrel with the bung-hole left open; in which case the
name, I suppose, was originally ‘ bungbarrel, softened down to ‘ bumbarrel’ for eu-
phony’s sake ; but this is mere guess-work on my part.

2192 Reptiles.

a native of this part of the country, but had migrated from Norfolk. I have thus taken
Mr. Evans’s hint, and endeavoured to contribute my mite to the “ ornithological vo-
cabulary ” of this neighbourhood. If other readers of the ‘ Zoologist, residing in
distant parts of the country, would follow the example, no doubt they might add
largely to our knowledge of provincial nomenclature, and we should hear of names
strange sounding and hitherto unknown to Warwickshire ears.— W. T. Bree ; Allesley
Rectory, July 6, 1848.

The Great Sea-Serpent.—I1 have waited anxiously to see whether any more com-
petent person than myself would offer any observation upon the statement of Captain
Woodward, published in the March number of the ‘ Zoologist,’ relating to “‘ the great
sea-serpent.” As no one has done so, I beg to offer you the following. Ina note
which you added to this statement, you say, ‘“‘ The foregoing statement was formally
signed and sworn to at Hingham, by Captain Woodward, on the 12th of May.” What
12th of May? you should have told your readers. Now, evidence given upon oath is
generally considered as conclusive, except where the party swearing is known to be
unworthy of credit, or the evidence given is not consistent with itself. Of Captain
Woodward I know nothing; I never heard of him till I read the ‘ Zoologist’ for
last March. It is, therefore, upon the latter ground that I venture to attack his state-
ment, and I do so because in a disputed question it is necessary to throw aside all
evidence that will not stand the strictest scrutiny. Capt. Woodward tells us nothing
of his whereabouts, except that he was sailing from Penobscot to Hingham, steering
W.N.W., nor of the date when he says he saw the serpent, except that it was on
“Sunday last, at 2 p.m.” This is not sufficiently accurate. But these are trifling
points. The most extraordinary part of the statement will appear from this: Captain
Woodward says the beast moved with extreme, or, as he afterwards expresses himself,
astonishing rapidity ; that when he fired at the monster it was sixty feet at the most
from the bow of the ship, which appears to have been the nearest part of the vessel to
the animal; that after he fired the beast advanced towards his ship; that he had
caused his cannon to be reloaded and pointed at its throat,—of course while it was ad-
vancing towards his vessel,—but before he could fire his crew were seized with terror ;
that he tacked and got out of its way. So here we have an animal sixty feet from the
ship, moving with astonishing rapidity towards the ship, which it appears was also
moving towards the animal, and yet allowing time to load a cannon, point it at its
throat, and afterwards to tack to get out of its way. Truly, a most accommodating
serpent! But again, the animal remained five hours near the ship, allowing itself to
be minutely examined, but yet no further attempt to kill the beast! And what is al-
most equally strange, though even the position of the ear-holes is mentioned,—such
minute observation does Captain Woodward seem to have made,—yet no description
is given of any scales, or anything else, to account for what is before stated, that Capt.
Woodward and his crew “ distinctly heard the ball and bullets strike against his body,
from which they rebounded as though they had struck against a rock.” It is much to
be regretted that these inconsistencies did not strike you before you made public the
statement in question ; it is also to be regretted that no one better able than myself to
point them out has undertaken to do so. But it is highly desirable, in the present state

Fishes. 2193

of our ignorance upon this subject, that none but the most unexceptionable evidence

_ should be received. Let us have “ the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the

truth.” I need hardly add, that in these observations I am actuated by no unfriendly
feeling towards Captain Woodward: my desire is to get at the truth of the matter;
and I should hail with delight. the day when one of these monsters of the deep, what-
ever they may be (for some animal with which we are unacquainted has, I firmly be-
lieve, been seen), is brought to our shores and lodged in one of our museums, to be at
once the wonder and admiration of naturalists—W. W. Cooper ; Claines, Worcester,
June 2, 1848.

‘ Fish in Rivers and Streams : a Treatise on the Production and Management of Fish
in Fresh Waters, by Artificial Spawning, Breeding and Rearing : showing also the
cause of the Depletion of all Rivers and Streams. By Gottties Boccius.’ Lon-
don: Van Voorst. 1848.

[The ample title of this little work sets forth very truthfully the subject-matter of
its pages. Mr. Boccius is already favorably known to the preservers of fish as the
author of a ‘ Treatise on the Management of Fresh-water Fish, with a view to making
them a source of Profit to Landed Proprietors ;’ and the present pamphlet follows up
the subject by detailing an artificial mode of procuring fry. The following quotations
will I think be found highly interesting.—Z. N.]

‘“‘ The main cause why all fresh-water streams become sterile in the end, if not
carefully tended, is simple enough ; namely, all the smaller streams form the sewers
of the adjacent country, and fall into the larger rivers, and the latter again act as the
sewers of the towns and of the kingdom, and are carriers of their congregated impuri-
ties finally to the sea. The increasing pupulation of human beings charges the rivers
every day with more and more foul matters, the refuse of towns aud the agrarian dis-
tricts passing into them ; and hence the destruction of the spawn, egg, or ova of fish,
but not of the fish when once brought into life. One cause of this I shall explain
chemically. Water is composed of one volume of oxygen gas and two volumes of
hydrogen gas. No life can be sustained without oxygen, let it be animal or vegetable:
consequently, when water becomes thickened by other matters, a new compound is in-
troduced, which produces a new chemical action ; and this is the cause why all rivers
and streams eventually become barren: for the following is the result of such a con-
dition of waters, which it is an abuse of language any longer to call fresh. The egg
of a fish, in production, differs from that of other animals, as the absorption of the
spermatic fluids does not take place till it has passed from the parent, and is then left
on its bed, hill, or weed, according to the description of the fish, until the period of
incubation has arrived; but in the meantime, should the water become foul and
change its character, then the alluvial deposit in the water settles down upon the pedi-
cle or neck of the egg, hermetically seals the same, and prevents the oxygen gas (the
component part of water) from being absorbed and passing to the embryo, from which
cause suffocation takes place, and the egg is, in the common phrase, addled. This
may seem strange ; but the student of the laws of Nature well knows that oxygen gas

2194 Fishes.

is as absolutely necessary to life as it is the slow destroyer of all things. The destruc-
tion of the eggs of the trout, from the cause just assigned I have proved to many
friends, having shown them thousands in a putrefied state on their own natural hills
or breeding-grounds; whilst upon the principles I have to detail of my methods of
producing fish, not a single egg is lost.”—p. 1.

* * * * * *

“‘ Strange to say, however, the very cause of destruction to the fish while in em-
bryo produces them abundance of food when once brought into life. For instance,
the very mud or alluvial deposit in our rivers and streams, which is an enemy to the
embryo, breeds such myriads of worms, larve and insects, that when the young fish
—all dangers overcome—find their way into it at last, they have no labour to procure
food, and increase rapidly in size as a consequence of the easy life they lead: for it is
a well-authenticated fact, that fish which have to toil hard in hunting for their food
are bony and ill-conditioned, and never fat.”—p. 6.

* * * * * *

“In proof of the extraordinary growth of fish when confined and regularly fed on
food fit for them, I may refer to the two electric eels (Gymnotus electricus), now exhi-
biting at the Polytechnic Institution. These fish were imported six years back, and
placed as objects of curiosity in the Adelaide Gallery, in the Strand, and since have
become inmates of the above-named Institution. When brought to this country they
weighed abont one pound each ; but, being confined in a very small space, and fresh
warm water daily given to them, agreeable to their natural element, and regularly fed,
the largest of these specimens of Gymnoti has grown to the great weight of between
forty and fifty pounds, the smaller one to about forty pounds; and the cause assigned
for this difference in weight is, that the one fish was by nature the most powerful of
the two, and always claimed the lion’s share of food thrown to them; and it is a fact
worth noticing, that the largest fish of the two has the greatest power in giving the
electric shock.”—p. 7.

* * * * * *

“‘ Salmon take one hundred days, trout fifty days, and many other fish forty-two
days, to come forth from the egg, provided the water does not change its temperature
during the period of breeding: so that it is not impossible to bring varieties of better
sorts of fish from distant countries to stock our streams with, and I should say, from
what I have myself experienced, with success. The temperature best adapted for
spawning ranges from 53° to 56°, and at this warmth I have never found any alteration
in the time I have stated, which may be relied upon as correct, and the true time in
every case. Should this even temperature vary very much, then the egg, as the water
loses its warmth, is sensibly retarded in its incubation. From this change of tempe-
rature I have known the egg of the trout to be delayed from fifty to seventy days; and
when the fry have at last made their appearance, they have invariably heen poor weak-
lings, and puny in precise proportion to the time lost in their retardation in the egg.
After a fish of any description has burst its bounds into life, the vesicle or investing
membrane, which encompassed it in embryo, still adheres to the umbilical region, and
contains a smali proportion of the fluid necessary to the sustenance of the then unpro-
tected animal. This vesicle or sack is exhausted of its fluid in fourteen days in trout,
and in double that time with smolts, and then drops off; and by this time Nature has
taught these little creatures to hunt for their food, and to avoid danger, which they do
by keeping close to the shallows. Carp and tench spawn in June, at the time when

Fishes. 2195

wheat is in blossom, which will pretty well indicate the temperature of the water as
well as the air. These fish spawn near the surface, and this accounts in part for the
difficulty of breeding them in rivers and streams ; though, when bred in ponds, and
afterwards turned into rivers, they thrive fast and well, and are better as food. And
here, while I am on the subject of carp, I may as well mention that the gold carp, a
native of the Eastern World, cannot breed or spawn under a temperature of from 70°
to 80°, but at that they will breed luxuriantly : proper care, however, must be taken,
or they will devour every particle of spawn they have deposited. An instance of this
voracity I have from a gentleman who kept some of these fish in a reservoir in his hot-
house, but lost his brood regularly from this cause, till he placed some water-plants in
the reservoir last year, and thus secured the stock. Few persons are aware of the
cause of the death of these beautiful little fish when kept in the globular glasses, even
where much care is bestowed upon them. It is simply this,—they become heavy in
spawn, and not being able to rid themselves of the egg, for want of the assistance
which plants afford in the act of parturition, inflammatory action takes place in the
ovarium, mortification ensues, and death is the consequence.” —p. 12.
* * * * * *

“ As regards salmon, if I am rightly informed by a gentleman at Gloucester, who
is a proprietor of twelve miles of the river Severn, the grilse spawns in September and
October; the salmon in October, November and December. The young fish issue
from the egg in from 100 to 120 days, according as the warmth of the water may have
varied, which at that time of the year, from cold, rain or snow, it frequently does ; the
process of incubation being retarded in proportion to the effects produced by the nitrous
quality of snow-water, which reduces the temperature from 55° to 30°, and that in a
few hours; and when a large mass of snow falls into a spring-stream, it acts like salt
combined with snow, and freezes all before it. | Oyster-beds for miles are sometimes
from this cause totally destroyed in one night; for when this occurs all fish retire to
the deeps. Some streams, from this, in conjunction with other causes, freeze upwards
from their very beds in the shallows, and it is there where most fish prefer to spawn :
so that every egg is directly destroyed; but, fortunately, this extreme case is not of
frequent occurrence, although I have observed it in more instances than one. The
ice forms on the bed of the stream, and rises upwards to the surface as the water reco-
vers its original temperature. There are parts of the Colne where this can be observed.
As grilse spawn so much earlier than salmon, being maiden fish, it follows that the
produce of their spawn is much earlier ready for migration, and begin to run in April,
when they are about fifteen months old. I have omitted to mention, in its proper
place, the interesting fact, that the shell of the young fry of salmon adheres to the
umbilical cord for nearly a calendar month, which brings the fish to 130 days from
the deposit of the egg before he can hunt for his food, and the smolt is beyond a year-
ling before he is strong enough to take to the salt water; and when this change is
made, he bids adieu to fresh-water feeding for ever. A salmon ora grilse, returning
to its native river to spawn, feeds no more on what was formerly its food, though it
sports with flies, and will now and then take a minnow or a lobworm. No sort of food
is ever found in the maw of the salmon when captured in fresh water; but when taken
at the mouths of rivers, or on the coast making towards them, the remains of small
fry are frequently found among the contents of the stomach. The salmon and grilse,
too, when taken at the mouth of a river, are of different flesh and flavour to those
taken up-stream, the former being firm, brittle of flesh, and of large flake; but when

2196 Fishes.

taken in the latter, the flesh is weedy, thin of flake, and wanting in fat, and is of
course greatly affected by the large size of the roe or milt. Mr. Young, of Sutherland-
shire, writing on this subject lately in a weekly publication, says, that ‘ each salmon,
upon his second return to his native stream, will weigh from nine to sixteen pounds
weight, at which period,’ he says, ‘ the fish can be only two years old. What may we
not hope from this circumstance, if we resort to the artificial protective principle I am
advocating ?”—p. 21.
* * * * * *

“ T will now recall the attention of my readers to the plan which I propose for in-
creasing the food of man, by restoring the stock in rivers. To second the artificial
spawning principle, I propose that no pots or traps shall be permitted in the salt or
brack water, so that salmon in their migrations may descend their native streams un-
molested; and that where weirs are positively required, they should be made upon the
principle previously described, so as to be easily surmounted.

“ Artificial spawning for salmon is extremely simple: all that is required is, to ob-
tain as many female fish, or spawners, as are deemed sufficient to produce spawn
enough to restock the river, One male, or milter, is able to impart the germinating
principle to the eggs of a dozen full-grown females. The principal point to be at-
tended to is, to take the female at the right time, and this is when she is working high
up stream ; fur though some females return nearly ready to spawn, the greater number
make for the springs some time before they are full-gone and ripe for parturition.
You may easily know when a fish is full up and in condition to have her eggs taken
from her, by looking out for the redness and protrusion of the vent; and this must be
particularly attended to, or the mother may be destroyed in the operation.

“ To spawn artificially, first, a clear, clean, unadulterated spring must be found,
at a temperature of 54° to 56°, which can be so hemmed back as to form a good fall
of water: then the boxes, of any size, according to the amount of fish required, must
be placed one by another, and so arranged that the water shall pass from one to the
other ; for, as each box receives its spawn in succession regularly, it is essentially ne-
cessary that the flow of water shall be at the command of the operator. The boxes
must be made water-tight, with lids to all; and the first box should be placed one or
two inches higher than the second, so that the flow shall fall into each box in regular
succession, and form an artificial ripple, by which the egg is affected on the artificial
hill in exactly the same way as on its natural one. On sunny days it is advisable to
open the lids, and let the rays of light pass to them; for though the egg is buried in
the shingle, it is not at such a depth but that light affects it, and that sensibly. The
use of lids to the spawn-boxes is to prevent water-fowl and herons from peculation,
and keep the prying curiosity of individuals from disturbing the eggs, which is pretty
sure to end in their becoming addled. The hoxes being water-tight, the size I recom-
mend should be about four feet long to from twelve to eighteen inches broad and nine
inches deep. You then charge them with shingle, or very coarse, well-washed gravel,
divested of all sand, to about six inches deep, which will leave a flow of water over the
shingle of about two inches. The end of each box falling into the succeeding one
must have an aperture left for the water, which, with the help of a small flange, is shot
into the next, on the principle of a weir, so that the end of each box would be but
eight inches deep ; and by these means box after box will be filled with succession
spawn, according to the take of the fish as they ascend for spawning.

“The small fish are the first to spawn, the larger ascend later; but it is always

Fishes. 2197

advisable to obtain, if possible, a young male and an old female, as the brood are al-
ways the finest—to which subject I shall soon allude more at length. The last box of

_all in these artificial spawning-beds, or hills, must differ from the spawning-boxes in

being three times as broad, to form an eddy, and deeper by three or four inches; and
in this, which is the receiving-box for the brood, less shingle or gravel should be
placed, that there may be the more room for water. At the end of this box a perfo-
rated zine plate is to be placed, of the width and immediately opposite to the flow
from the preceding spawn-box next to it: so that the water, being prevented from
passing off too freely, forms an eddy in the back part uf the same; and it is into this
box that the brood will descend as soon as the egg-shell has dropped from their bodies.
Here all the young fry are easily and safely captured, where, if any other system were
adopted, thousands would be destroyed, from the extremely fragile and tender nature
of their frames, to which a bruise, however slight, is fatal; and therefore, in removing
them from the artificial bed to the nursery-stream, great care must be taken, or thou-
sands will be destroyed. Here, in this nursery, they remain undisturbed for the time
necessary to bring them up, which is from fifteen to eighteen months, and then they
may be turned into the river. Ifthe brood is salmon, they depart of themselves, if
the barrier to the nursery be removed ; if trout, or some other brood, it is best to take
them and transfer them to different parts of the fishery. By this fostering system, we
know to a certainty what stock we have in hand; and were this plan diligently and
annually followed out, we could reclaim all the rivers and streams in the United
Kingdom.

** Six years have I successfully carried out this arrangement with trout in a fishery
not far from London, which is now the richest stream in the South uf England. The
principle of artificial spawning I have been acquainted with as far back as 1815; and
I rely so confidently on the results which would ensue were it carried out, that I give
my experience as data to go upon, and now proceed with the practical part of the sub-
ject. Premising the spring of water is found, the boxes in order, and the yearling
brook arranged,—and this must be particularly attended to, as it affords the main or
chief protection to the brood,—then, in the early part of October, you begin to drag
for the grilse, which are ready to spawn. Presuming, therefore, that you have taken
a spawner or milter in or near the proper state, to be certain of this the vent must be
examined, and upon its appearing of a pear-shaped form, protruding and red, it may
be considered in a proper condition for expressing the eggs and milt. If they are
not in this state, or fairly up, on no account undertake the operation, as in so doing
some of the soft internal parts may be ruptured and the fish destroyed, whilst the eggs
untimely taken would be useless. In case the fish are not forward enough, they
should be kept in tanks in the river for a few days, for at this time they do not feed.
Should the fish be all right, take a large earthenware pan, with about two quarts of
the spring water at bottom, and, holding the female fish up by the gill-covers, draw
your hand downwards from the pectoral fins to the anal point. This must not be done
roughly, but with sufficient force to expel the eggs from the ovarium into the pan.
The same process is then to be applied to the milter immediately afterwards, rather
nearer the vent, the whole milt not being ready at one time ; but it is not necessary to
obtain a large quantity of the vivifying fluid from him, as a very little of it diluted
with water is enough for thousands of eggs. I have known the spawner, when per-
fectly to her time, shoot all her eggs upon merely holding her up; but this I attri-
buted to fear. On blending the milt with the spawn, a very interesting change takes

VI . 2

2198 Reptiles.

place in the egg. Before the fluid of the milter is added, all the eggs are of a very
brilliant reddish yellow ; the instant it is blended, the outer cuticle of the egg becomes
opaque and lustreless. As soon-as the milt is expressed in the water with the eggs,
the whole must be agitated with the hand for about a minute, and then the operation
is completed. You may now place the eggs upon the shingle, taking great care,
however, that they do not Jay one upon another, and cover them with fresh shingle,
two inches deep, letting the spring water flow freely over them ; and in a hundred days
you have the fry.”—p. 29.

“ Description of a Species of Newt.” —The paper thus headed in the last number of
the ‘ Zoologist ’ (Zool. 2149) must be interesting to those persons who have paid par-
ticular attention to these reptiles. ‘The remarkable characters of this new species are so
well recorded by Mr. Wolley, the author of the paper, that there is no difficulty in
distinguishing it from its near relatives. It is not uncommon in this neighbourhood.
I have for several years taken as many specimens as I wished, in March, April, and
the early part of May. In May, 1845, I sent some living specimens to Professor Bell,
author of the ‘ British Reptiles, and the following is an extract from a note which I
received from that gentleman soon after: “I thank you for your kindness in sending
the newts, three of which are still living, and in good health, in a glass globe. The
species is undoubtedly distinct, and I believe absolutely new, not only to this country,
but to science.” I have long anticipated a second edition of the ‘ Reptiles,’ contain-
ing a notice, name, and full description of this pretty species, from the able pen of
the author of that interesting work. On writing to Professor Bell about this newt, I
mentioned nearly all the characters which are given in Mr. Wolley’s paper. I extract
the following from my communications on the subject: “ You will find that it pos-
sesses abundant and evident characters, which will distinguish it from the species you
have described in ‘ British Reptiles.’ The hind feet are webbed, and the tail termi-
nates with a thread-like process ; it ends abruptly at the commencement of this fila-
ment. The colour and markings you will find very pretty, and different from those
of the known species.”” There can be no doubt of the specific identity of the newt
found about Edinburgh, so well described by Mr. Wolley, and those which I sent to —
Professor Bell; and I believe that the specimens mentioned in his paper as having
been sent from Devonshire are those which I have mentioned above, although Bridg-
water is in Somerset, not in Devon. <A gentleman residing somewhere about midway
between Edinburgh and Bridgwater, who has devoted a great deal of time, with much
scientific attention, to the natural history of newts, is of opinion that Lissotriton punc-
tatus and L. palmipes are one species, of different ages ; and he is preparing for pub-
lication a paper on this subject. How ours, with webbed hind feet and caudal
filament, with which this gentleman has lately become acquainted, will be treated, I
shall be anxious to know.— Wm. Baker ; Bridgwater, July 10, 1848.

Insects. 2199

Occurrence of the Narrow-bordered Bee Sphinx in the Highlands.—Is it generally
known that this charming insect is found in the Highlands? I saw it on June 7th,

- in a boggy spot. between Loch Katrine and Loch Lomond, hovering over the same

kind of flowers that it ffequents in the fens of the eastern counties; and in both lo-
calities it is accompanied by the greasy fritillary—John Wolley ; 3, Roxburgh Ter-
race, Edinburgh, June 9, 1848.

Capture of Deilephila Celerio at South Walsham.—A fine specimen of Deilephila
Celerio was captured at South Walsham, county of Norfolk, last summer, by a lady
who was ignorant of its rarity; it was, however, preserved. This was taken in a
house, as was another moth believed to be of the same species, which, however, was
not retained.—H, T. Frere ; Blofield, March 31, 1848.

Capture of Ephyra orbicularia, §c., at Battel.—I have three perfect males of this
rare Geometra, which were taken in May last year, and two in May of the present
year. At the same place I found E. omicronaria, porata, punctaria, trilinearia and
pendularia; the last in profusion.—J. B. Ellman ; Battel, June, 1848.

Note on Chlorissa punctaria.— Among upwards of 150 specimens, I have only taken
one female—Id.

Note on Grammesia trilinea.—Among upwards of 100 specimens, I have only taken
two males.—Id.

Note on Dasychira pudibunda.—I bred a female in April last which had the edge
of the left anterior wing notched like a saw.—Id.

Capture of Agrophila sulphuralis.—Within the last ten days Ihave netted, in the
same locality as last year, near Brandon, in Suffolk, seventy-two specimens of this
hitherto rare insect. It flies about sunset, in a field of lucerne, among which the food
of the larva, the small Convolvulus, grows in great profusion.—J. W. Dunning ; Elm-
wood Lodge, Leeds, July 1, 1848.

Occurrence of the Larve of Lepidoptera in the Catkins of the Sallow.—Walking
one day lately in Wickham Wood, I thought I would look at the catkins of the sal-
lows, on which I had heard that the larve of the Xanthie fed. The greater part of
the catkins had fallen, but of those remaining on the trees nearly every one had in it
a caterpillar. To my surprise there were not only Noctue, but Geometre and Tor-
trices. Some of them had evidently fed on the catkin itself, others had only resorted
to it for shelter, in some cases attaching it to a leaf with a silken thread. I do not
know at all what are the species that have these habits, but as I got a good many I
hope to see, and I thought that some one else may like to try also. I also found, on
the same bushes, great numbers of Tortrix larve rolled up in leaves; altogether the
number on a single bush was immense : indeed I never saw so many small caterpillars
as there are this year. I think it worth while to call the attention of entomologists to
the ease with which Tortrix larve may be obtained from many plants: in addition to
the knowledge we should get of the economy of various species, I think it very proba-
ble that many would be obtained that are now rare in collections. We know what
numbers of Peronee Mr. Weaver reared, and yet he could take very few in the perfect
state.—J. W. Douglas ; 19, Nelson Square, Peckham, June 8, 1848.

Netiles attractive to Moths—Returning from mothing a few days since, I passed
by a large bed of sting-nettles, among a clump of firs, and observed several Noctue
flying about. I stopped to see what insects these were, and I found the /eaves of the
nettles swarming with Agrotis segetum and exclamationis, Triphena pronuba, Gram-
mesia trilinea, Miana strigilis, Xylophasia rurea, Leucania comma and impura, Spilo-

2200 Insects.

soma lubricipeda, and others. I have since examined other nettles, and found them
equally attractive. None of the moths were feeding, but merely running about.—J.
B. Ellman; Battel, June 17, 1848. .

Distance to which Diptera will fly in quest of Food.—Diptera being of very gene-
ral diffusion, it is not often that we can fix upon any species that is not, as the subject
of our observation, within the sphere it has occupied since its arrival at its ultimate
state of development. I have met, however, within this week past, several instances
that would lead to the belief that the range of individuals is often wider than might
be at first expected, from the preference they frequently show to particular spots. I
find that the flowers of the sallow and the sap exuding from the trunks of trees recently
felled, offer here a rallying point for most of the two-winged revellers of the district ;
and among the various inland species thus assembled, I have observed two which must
have wandered, at the least, four miles from the coast. The species I allude to are
Ceelopa simplex and Scatophaga maritima, of which I have taken one of the former,
and five or six of the latter, most of which are males. Both of them, especially the
first, occur in abundance under or upon sea-weed, on most parts of the coast. The
C. simplex is fond of sweets, as it often occurs in profusion on the flowers of thistles,
growing near the sea-banks. We may account for the present stretch by supposing,
since there is almost a continuous wood betwixt the place of observation and the sea,
that these wanderers may have had many a baiting place before they reached their ne
plus ultra! Add to this that they had the wind in their favour. Another instance of
search after food may be instanced in the Cheilosia mutabilis, of which I found a sin-
gle specimen in the flower of.a celandine, the only one, so far as I could observe, in
bloom in the glen where I met with it, which was about half a mile long. This spe-
cies attaches itself by preference to the flowers of the Ranunculi.—James Hardy ; Pen-
manshiel, by Cockburnspath, Berwickshire, April 11, 1848.

Capture of Tetanocera dorsalis.—I took a male of this pretty species among Junci,
on the 10th instant. I have been hitherto accustomed to find it only after June or
July.—Id.

Descriptions of the British Species of Bees belonging to the Genus
Hyleus, Fab. Ent. Syst. 1793, and Prosopis of the same Author,
Syst. Piezat. 1804; and also of the Genus Cilissa of Leach. By
FREDERICK SMITH, Esq., Curator to the Entomological Society.

THE bees of which this genus is composed have been considered to
be parasitical by all authors who have classified or written upon them,
excepting Mr. G. H. K. Thwaites, who, in the year 1841, reared seve-
ral specimens of two species from bramble-sticks : what was the na-
ture of the food stored up in the cells Mr. Thwaites did not discover:
he however describes the cocoons as being arranged end to end, the
upper ones producing males, which came out first, and subsequently

Insects. 220 1

the females: two of each sex were produced from one stick. The
food doubtless consists of some elaboration of honey, similar to that
stored up by Ceratinz. The fact of these bees not being furnished with
any structural apparatus for conveying pollen, led to the hypothetical
opinion of their parasitism, showing the utter inutility of such deduc-
tions.

In the month of June, 1846, I reared three specimens of Hyleus
signatus from a bramble-stick : the tube at the further extremity was
coated with a thin substance, resembling very much the slimy track of
a snail, not separable from the remaining pith of the bramble. On
opening the stick, I found what I probably mistook for the cocoon
of the larva, but which I believe to have been the thin pellicle which
encloses the pupa. Mr. Thwaites exposed the larve, so as to watch
their transformations: it is to the careful observations of such natu-
ralists that the science is indebted for invaluable records of insect de-
velopment, and for clearing away all mere hypothetical conclusions. .

1. Head of Hyleus annulatus, 9. 2. Head of H. annularis, ¢. 3. Head of H. cornutus, ?.
4. Head of H. dilatatus,¢. 5, Headof H.plantaris,d. 6. Intermediate leg of ditto. 7. Under side
of the abdomen of ditto.

Genus.—Hy aus, Fab.

Pr osopis, Fab., Jurine, Panzer, St. Fargeau. Hyleus, Latr., Curtis,
Smith, Ent. Trans. 1842. Sphex, Panzer.

Generic characters.—Head subtriangular, as wide as the thorax ;
the stemmata placed in a triangle on the vertex ; the maxillary palpi

2202 Insects.

six-jointed ; the labial palpi four-jointed. Thorax ovate, the wings
having two submarginal cells. Abdomen sub-ovate. The males have
the face always either entirely white or yellow, or spotted with those
colours.

Sp. 1. HyL2us VARIEGATUS.
Prosopis variegata, Fab., Jurine. Prosopis colorata, Panz.

Female.— (Length 2—3 lines). Black; a cream-coloured line
along the inner orbits of the eyes, reaching nearly to the vertex ; also
a spot or line of the same colour on the apical margin of the clypeus ;
the antenne rufous beneath; the scape, and one or two following
joints, black. Thorax rather deeply and closely punctured ; the col-
lar, the tegule in front, the tubercles, and a spot on each side of the
scutellum at its base, cream-coloured ; all the tibiz at their base, the
anterior pair in front, and the femora at their extreme apex, cream-
coloured ; the apical joints of the tarsi ferruginous. Abdomen, the
two basal segments ferruginous, and the margins of the rest rufo-pi-
ceous ; sometimes only the base of the second segment ferruginous.

Male.—(Length 2—83 lines). Black; the face and base of the
mandibles, and also the scape in front, white ; the basal segment of
the abdomen red ; all the tibiz and basal joints of the tarsi white.

This species I have never met with: there is a single specimen in
the British-Museum collection of Hymenoptera, with a label attached,
giving the locality of Kingsbridge, Devon, captured by Dr. Leach,
and I believe it to be the Hyleus geniculatus, MSS., of that author.
I have also a single specimen, which I purchased of the late Mr.
Pelerine, together with a number of other bees, all captured at Bide-
ford, Devon. I have, on these authorities, included it in the British
list. I suspect it is an extremely local, and perhaps not an abundant
species in this country.

Sp. 2. HyL2us ANNULATUS.
Melitta annulata, Kirby. Apis annulata, Linn. Prosopis annulata,
Fab. Syst. Piezat.

Female.— (Length 23—3 lines). Black; head closely and finely
punctured ; the face has an oblong angulated yellow macula on the
inner orbits of the eyes, below the base of the antenne. Thorax
closely and finely punctured ; a spot on the tegule in front, the tuber-
cles, and sometimes the collar laterally, pale yellow; the wings sub-

Insects. 2203

hyaline, iridescent; the legs have the posterior tibize pale yellow at
their base, the anterior and intermediate pairs are sometimes slightly
yellow at their extreme base. Abdomen oblong-ovate, very smooth
and shining, and delicately punctured towards the apex.

Male.—(Length 13—23 lines). Black; punctured as in the female
above, but the thorax very coarsely so beneath ; the clypeus and in-
ner orbits of the eyes yellow ; the antenne obscurely fulvous beneath.
Thorax, in rare instances a yellow spot on the collar laterally, but ge-
nerally obsolete ; the anterior tibiz more or less rufous in front; the
intermediate tarsi at their base, and the posterior tibiz and tarsi at
their base, pale yellow.

It must be observed of this species, that the yellow markings are
subject to great variety in the females: the spot on the tegule is
sometimes, but rarely, wanting, sometimes wanting on the tubercles,
and the spots on the face nearly obliterated ; but all the varieties will
be found to agree in the form of the head and in the general sculpture.
This species is very generally distributed, and in the month of June
may be found frequenting the flowers of Reseda: all the species on
being captured emit an agreeable odour, resembling that of lemons.

Sp. 3. HyYL2us aNNULARIS.
Sphex annulata, Panzer. Melitta annularis, Kirby.

Female.—(Length 24—3 lines). Black; head orbicular, truncate
in front, a yellow or sometimes fulvous macula immediately below the
base of the antenne, not touching the eyes ; antenna, the three or four
basal joints black, the rest fulvous beneath. Thorax closely punc-
tured ; a spot on the tegulz in front and the tubercles pale yellow ;
all the tibiz yellow at their base. Abdomen very smooth and shining;
the margins of the segments sometimes slightly piceous.

Male.—(Length 23 lines). Black; a line on the mandibles, the
face, and the basal joint of the antennz beneath, white, the rest ful-
vous beneath. Thorax closely punctured; the sides and the meta-
thorax have a short white pubescence; the intermediate and posterior
tibiz at their base, and also the basal joint of their tarsi, white ; the
anterior tibiz rufous in front. Abdomen as in the female.

The H. pallidens of Kirby’s MSS. is, I think, having carefully ex-
amined the original specimen, a variety of the male. Although this

~ species closely resembles the preceding, yet it is a good and quite dis-
tinct species : the head viewed in front is nearly round, and the yel-

2204 Insects.

low maculez on the face of the female do not touch the eyes, but are
placed a little below the base of the antennz. The male has the face
white, not, as in the same sex of “ annulatus,” yellow. The species is
said to occur in the neighbourhood of London, but I never met with
it. - I once took a pair in Hampshire, and Mr. Samuel Stevens took it
at Arundel. I believe it to be very local.

Sp. 4. HyLzus DILATATus, Curtis.
Melitta dilatata, Kirby.

Male.—(Length 3 lines). Black; the face below the base of the
antennz pale yellow; the mandibles white, black at their extreme
base, and ferruginous at their tips; the basal joint of the antenne
very much dilated, subquadrate, externally concave, pale yellow in
front, the remaining joints fulvous beneath. Thorax closely punc-
tured ; the metathorax has a slight white pubescence ; a spot on the
tegule in front, the tubercles, and the collar laterally, pale yellow ;
the tibiz and tarsi yellow; the anterior and intermediate tarsi have a
black stain behind, and the posterior pair are annulated with black
towards the apex. Abdomen closely and finely punctured, and
clothed with fine, short, white pile, observable in certain lights.

This very distinct insect. was discovered by Mr. Kirby, and has
been beautifully figured by Mr. Curtis: the details which I have given
of the head will serve to distinguish it from its congeners. I have
some suspicion that the female which I shall next describe belongs to
this male : I captured them in the same locality in Hants. Mr. Saml,
Stevens took the male in Sussex. I never met with it near London,
It is a very local species.

Sp. 5. Hyizus cornutus, Smith, Ent. Trans. iv. 32.
Melitta cornuta, Kirby’s MSS.

Female.—(Length 34 lines). Black; head closely punctured, ro-
tundate, a stout acute tooth on each side of the clypeus, and a raised
tubercle immediately below the base of the antennz, which are testa-
ceous beneath, excepting three or four of the basal joints, which are
black; a spot on the tegule anteriorly, and an interrupted line on the
collar, yellow ; the wings sub-fuscous, palest at their apical margins ;
all the tibiz yellow at their base ; the claws ferruginous. Abdomen
shining, entirely but delicately punctate.

Insects. 2205

I possess two specimens of this insect, captured in Hants ; there is
also one in the Kirbyan collection: these are all that I have seen.

Sp. 6. Hytzus plantaris, Smith, Ent. Trans. iv. 32.

Male.—(Length 3 lines). Black; head orbiculate, closely punc-
tate; the mandibles pubescent ; the antenne yellow, slightly stained
with fulvous above, placed on a ridge or prominence in the middle of
the face, closely approximating ; the scape considerably dilated, pale
yellow, with a black stripe behind, the margins fringed with pale
hairs. Thorax, a spot on the tegule, and an interrupted yellow line
on the collar, white ; the wings fuscous, yellowish at their base ; the
anterior tibiz in front, and the intermediate and posterior pairs at their
base, yellow ; all the tarsi pale yellow, the apical joints ferruginous ;
the basal joint of the intermediate tarsi much dilated. Abdomen
elongate, slightly pubescent towards the apex, entirely but finely
punctured ; at the apical margin of the second segment beneath is a
patch or cushion of yellow pubescence, clothing a depression.

This is a very distinct species, and I suspect very local. My spe-
cimens were captured some years ago on Cove Common, Hants, and
although I have since searched the spot assiduously I have not again
met with it. In form this insect is remarkable: the scape is consi-
derably dilated and fringed with hair; the apical joints are of equal
thickness, and much shorter than usual in this genus; the dilatation
of the basal joint of the intermediate tarsi is also a striking peculiarity.

Sp. 7. Hy Lzus puncru.atissimus, Smith, Ent. Trans. iv. 33.

Female. — (Length 3 lines). Black; head and thorax rather
coarsely punctured ; the inner orbits of the eyes pale yellow below
the base of the antenne. Thorax, the tegule anteriorly, the tubercles,
and the collar laterally, pale yellow; the wings subhyaline, iridescent ;
all the tibiz pale yellow at their base. Abdomen, the basal segment
coarsely punctate, the remaining segments more finely so; a patch of
white pubescence on the anterior margin of the basal segment late-
rally, frequently obliterated ; the apical segments have a clothing of
fine silvery pile, observable in certain lights.

Male.— (Length 3 lines). Black; the face, and a spot on the
scape of the antenne in front, yellow; the apical joints nigro-piceous
beneath. Thorax coarsely punctured ; the wings as in the female; a
spot on the tegule in front, the anterior tibiz in front, the interme-

VI 2K

2206 Insects.

diate and posterior pairs at their base, and also their tarsi at their
base, yellow. Abdomen oblong-ovate, closely and distinctly punc-
tured.

This species I took some years ago at Birch Wood, in Kent, since
which I have not met with it.

Sp. 8. Hy tamus uyaLinatus, Smith, Ent. Trans. iv.

Female.—(Length 2} lines). Black; the face has a yellow spot
touching the eyes, a little below the base of the antenne. Thorax
closely punctured ; a minute white spot in front of the tegule ; wings
subhyaline, splendidly iridescent ; the posterior tibiz pale yellow at —
their base. Abdomen ovate, smooth and shining, delicately punc-
tured.

Male.—(Length 2} lines). Black; the face coarsely punctured,
cream-coloured ; the antenne fulvous beneath, the two basal joints
black. Thorax rather coarsely punctured, pubescent, particularly the
metathorax, and beneath ; a spot in front of the tegule, the tubercles,
the anterior tibiz in front, the intermediate and posterior pairs at
their base, and all the tarsi, pale yellow; the intermediate and poste-
rior tarsi have the apical joints black, the anterior rufous ; the wings
are clear hyaline and splendidly iridescent. Abdomen ovate, smooth
and shining, finely pubescent, observable in certain lights.

This species was first discovered by Mr. Thwaites, who bred it
from bramble-sticks. I have also taken it near London. It is not so
numerous as the generality of this genus of bees.

Sp. 9. HyYLa&us SIGNATUS.
Prosopis signata, St. Fargeau. Sphex signata, Panzer. Melitta
signata, Kirby.

Female.—(Length 34 lines). Black; the antenne fulvous beneath ;
the scape black; the face has a fulvous line along the inner orbits of
the eyes. Thorax, a yellow spot on the tegule and tubercles ; the
wings hyaline; the nervures black ; the base of all the tibiz and the
anterior tibie in front more or less rufous. Abdomen shining, closely
and finely punctured; a patch of white pubescence on the lateral
margins of the basal segment; the apical segment is also pubescent.

Male.—Length 8—-33 lines). Black; the face pale yellow or white ;
the antenne fulvous beneath. Thorax clothed at the sides and be-
neath with a thin, fine, short, white pubescence ; the anterior tibiz

Insects. 2207

rufous in front; the basal joint of the posterior tarsi white. ‘The ab-
domen has a short, fine, silvery pile, observable in certain lights, with
a patch of white pubescence on the margin of the basal segment late-
tally, frequently obliterated.

Var. the face of the female sometimes entirely black.

So very distinct is this species from any of the foregoing, that, aided
by Mr. Kirby’s excellent descriptions, it appears remarkable that St.
Fargeau should have considered annulatus, annularis and dilatata as
probable varieties of signata: such I am confident is not the case, as
a careful examination of their sculpture alone will easily determine :
the metathorax of each species is different, although the difference
would be difficult to express in words, and the characters pointed out
are ample for specific distinction. This is the largest species of the
genus hitherto discovered in this country: the males are frequently
larger than the females.

Genus.—CILissa, Leach.
Andrena, Latr. Apis, Panzer. Melitta, Kirby. Kirbya, St. Fargeau. .

Generic characters.—The labial palpi four-jointed, the maxillary
palpi six-jointed. The superior wings having three submarginal cells.
The antennez of the males sub-serrate beneath. The ocelli placed in
a curve on the vertex. |

Of this genus we have two British species: they are very closely
‘ allied to the true bees, or those having the tongue elongate : in this
genus it is sub-elongate and acute, thus forming as it were a connect-

ing link, as Mr. Kirby observes, between the Andrenoides and Panur-
gides.

Sp. 1. CrILissA H&MORRHOIDALIS.
Apis hemorrhoidalis, Panzer. Melitta chrysura, Kirby. Kirbya
chrysura, St. Fargeau.

Female.—(Length 53—6 lines). Black; the face below the anten-
ne and cheeks clothed with pale fulvous pubescence, on the vertex
it is black and not so dense; the clypeus coarsely punctured ; the
mandibles arcuate, rufo-piceous at their apex ; the apical joints of
the antenne piceous beneath. ‘Thorax clothed with pale fulvous pu-
bescence ; on the disk it is black; the tegule nigro-piceous ; wings

2208 Insects.

sub-hyaline, with their apical margins slightly clouded; the pubes-
cence on the legs is fulvous, the scopa on the posterior tibie being
very bright and dense ; on the basal joint of the posterior tarsi it is
ferruginous, as are also the claws. Abdomen oblong-ovate ; the basal
segment thinly clothed with pale pubescence, the margins of the three
following have a narrow white marginal fascia, frequently more or less
obliterated ; the apical fimbria bright fulvous.

Male.—(Length 5} lines). Black; the face densely clothed with
bright pale fulvous pubescence; the antenne sub-serrate beneath.
Thorax clothed with pale fulvous, with a few black hairs intermixed
on the disk; the wings as in the female ; the legs have a similar pu-
bescence to the thorax, but paler. Abdomen thinly clothed with
pubescence of the same colour.

This species for many years was a desideratum in most cabinets, un-
til the year 1844, when I took it in plenty at Shirley, near Croydon,
in the month of August. I observed, as mentioned by Mr. Kirby, that
the sexes fly in company, frequenting the flowers of the common blue- »
bell (Campanula rotundifolia). At the same time that I met with
this species, it was also captured in abundance near Bristol, by Mr.
Walcott.

Sp. 2. CiLissa TRICINCTA.
Apis leporina, Panzer? Melitta tricincta, Kirby. Kirbya tricincta,
St. Fargeau.

Female.—(Length 5 lines). Black; the face thinly clothed with
pale fulvous pubescence, that on the vertex is black; the antenne
piceous beneath, the three basal joints black. Thorax clothed with
pale fulvous pubescence, on the disk it is black; the tegule piceous ;
the wings sub-hyaline, their apical margins slightly clouded ; the pu-
bescence on the legs is similar to that of the thorax ; on the tarsi be-
neath it is ferruginous ; the claws ferruginous. Abdomen ovate; the
basal segment has a thin pale fulvous pubescence, its margin and
that of the three following have a pale fulvous fascia; the anal fim-
bria black.

Male.—(Length 44 lines). Black; the pubescence on the face is
rich fulvous; the antenne rufo-piceous beneath ; the mandibles fer-
ruginous at their apex. Thorax clothed above with fulvous pubes-
cence, beneath much paler, inclining to white ; the pubescence on the
legs is pale fulvous; the claws ferruginous; the wings as in the fe-
male. Abdomen, the three basal segments have a thin clothing of

Insects. 2209

pale fulvous pubescence ; on the apical ones it is black, observable
_ when viewed laterally ; the margins of the basal and four following
segments have fulvous fasciz, the sixth is fringed with black, and the
seventh concealed.

This is a scarce species. I never met with more than single spe-
cimens, occasionally ; of the male I took some numbers eight or ten
years ago. I have taken it at Battersea, Charlton, Gravesend, and in
Hampshire.

The specimens described are those in the finest condition : the pu-
bescence of the male of this species is frequently changed to pale
lemon-colour, or nearly white, as it also changes in the preceding
species.

FREDERICK SMITH.

5, High Street, Newington,

June, 1848.

Appendix to F. Smith’s Descriptions of British Bees. By FREDERICK
SmitTH, Esq., Curator to the Entomological Society.

SPHECODES RUGOSUS, Smith.

Male.—(Length 5—54 lines). Black; the head rather wider than
the thorax; the face densely clothed with silvery white pubescence ;
the joints of the antennz much swollen or sub-moniliform. Tharax
very coarsely punctured ; the metathorax rugose, truncate ; the tegule
rufo-piceous, with a yellow spot in front; the wings sub-fuscous,
darkest at their apical margins ; the pubescence on the legs is silvery
white ; the apical joints of the tarsi ferruginous. Abdomen entirely
red and strongly punctured; the margins of the segments smooth,
shining and slightly depressed. 7

Of this species I possess two specimens, which I purchased, to-
gether with a number of British bees, of the late Mr. Pelerine. It is
said to have been captured at Bideford, Devon. There is also a
pair in the cabinet of the British Museum, said to have been taken
at Kingsbridge, Devon, by Dr. Leach. This is the largest species
found in this country, and so conspicuous an insect, that when ento-
mologists shall have ceased to be almost entirely devoted to the col-
lection of Lepidoptera, and those whose leisure will allow of their
visiting remote districts, shall devote some portion of their time to the

2210 Insects.

investigation of other orders, then I doubt not many unexpected novel-
ties will be met with, and probably all the species which I have
placed in this Appendix may—without doubt of their being indige-
nous — be arranged amongst our British bees.

Hauictus sexcinctus, Latr. Gener. Crust. et Ins., Walckenaer,
St. Fargeau.

Andrena rufipes, Spinola. Hyleus sexcinctus, Fab., male. Hyleus
arbustorum, Panz., male. Not Melitta quadricincta, Kirby, male,
(Walckenaer).

Female.—(Length 6—8 lines). Black; the face clothed with pale
fulvous pubescence ; the clypeus naked and roughly punctured; the
antenne nigro-piceous beneath. Thorax thinly clothed above with
pale fulvous pubescence, most sparing on the disk ; the tegule testa-
ceous ; the wings slightly fuscous, and slightly clouded at their apical
margins ; the legs have a fulvous pubescence; the calcaria and apical
joints of the tarsi testaceous. Abdomen, the first segment has a little
pale fulvous pubescence at the base; all the segments have a conti-
nuous pale fulvous marginal fascia, between which the abdomen has
a short. brown-black pubescence.

Male.—(Length 43—6 lines). Black; the face clothed with short
pale fulvous pubescence ; the apical margin of the clypeus luteous ;
the apex of the mandibles ferruginous ; the antennz luteous beneath ;
the scape yellow beneath ; the terminal joints are recurved or convo-
lute. Thorax clothed as in the female ; the tegulz luteous ; the wings
hyaline, slightly clouded at their apical margins ; the legs pale luteous ;
the coxe and trochanters brown-black. Abdomen cylindrical, elon-
gate, not wider than the thorax ; the segments have each a continuous
pale fulvous marginal fascia; beneath, the margins of the segments
are testaceous.

Specimens of this species are placed in the national collection of
British insects, probably by Dr. Leach; but as the locality from
whence they came cannot be found, I think there is reason to doubt
their being indigenous, and to suppose that they were placed in the
cabinet by some mistake. I shall be glad to be convinced to the con-
trary by the capture of so fine a species. There is a specimen of the
male in the collection of Mr. Desvignes.

Insects. 2211

ANDRENA APRILINA, Dale, MSS.

Male.—(Length 43 lines). Black; the clypeus clothed with brown
pubescence, with fulvous at the base of the antennez, which are not
quite so long as the head and thorax ; the joints subarcuate; the apex
of the mandibles ferruginous. Thorax very closely and finely punc-
tured, clothed with fulvous pubescence, most sparing on the disk, and
palest on the sides of the metathorax ; the tegule nigro-piceous ; the
wings sub-hyaline, slightly clouded at their apical margins; the
nervures testaceous ; the pubescence on the legs fulvous, with which
the posterior tibiz are thickly clothed; the tarsi ferruginous. Abdo-
men oblong-ovate, shining, the margins of the segments piceous, the
second and third sub-depressed ; the margins of the segments are
thinly fringed with fulvous pubescence; the pubescence on the apical
segment is of a brown-black.

This very distinct species was transmitted to me by Mr. Dale, with
the name adopted. It is, I expect, a very local species. The speci-
men described, and one in the British Museum, are all that I have yet
seen. The female is not known.

ANDRENA EXIMIA, Smith (Zool. 1930).

Female.—(Length 5% lines). Black; the pubescence on the face
and cheeks is fulvous ; the antennez nigro-piceous beneath, the apical
segment piceous; the clypeus smooth in the centre, and coarsely
punctured laterally ; tips of the mandibles ferruginous. Thorax very
finely punctured, with larger punctures intermixed; the disk naked ;
the sides, and metathorax laterally, clothed with fulvous pubescence ;
the wings sub-hyaline ; the nervures rufo-piceous ; the pubescence
on the legs above is fuscous, beneath pale fulvous; the apical joints
of the tarsi ferruginous ; the floccus and scopa beneath pale fulvous,
the latter fuscous above. Abdomen smooth and shining; the apical
margin of the basal segment, and the second and third segments, en-
tirely red; the apical fimbria fuscous, beneath very finely punctured.

I captured a female of this species some years ago at Darent Wood,
and had considered it as an extreme variety of A. Rose, which it
closely resembles ; but Mr. Weir captured a series of specimens of
both sexes on the 10th of April, 1846, at Pembury, Kent: they were
crawling on a sand-bank, benumbed with cold. My female was cap-
tured in the beginning of May, and Mr. Heales captured the males, as

2212 Insects.

before stated, in April. JI have also a male, captured at Bexley by Mr.
Saml. Stevens, in April. The time of appearance alone points out a
distinct species from A. Rose, which is an autumnal insect, appearing
about the middle of August. The present species always has two en-
tire segments red, A. Rose only one, and that with generally a central
black stain, or varying as previously described, and being also coarsely
punctured beneath ; eximia, on the contrary, is very finely punctured.
The specimens captured by Mr. Weir are in the cabinet of Mr. Des-
vignes, who kindly gave me a fine specimen of the male: these, and
the males in Mr. Heale’s cabinet, are all I have yet seen.

Genus.—AmmopsaTEs, Latr., St. Fargeau.

Generic characters.—The maxillary palpi six-jointed ; the stem-
mata placed in triangle on the vertex ; the superior wings with two
sub-marginal cells.

Sp. 1. AMMOBATES BICOLOR, St. Fargeau.

Female.—(Length 33—4 lines). Black; the face clothed with a
short silvery white pubescence below the base of the antennae. Tho-
rax above coarsely punctured ; the sides, beneath, and the metathorax
laterally clothed with fine, short, white pubescence ; the outer margin
of the tegulz testaceous ; the wings slightly fuscous ; the legs have a
clothing of very short silvery white pubescence, the anterior pair rufo-
testaceous; all the claws ferruginous. Abdomen, the three basal
segments ferruginous ; at the extreme lateral margin of the three basal
segments is a small patch of silvery white pubescence, the fourth and
fifth have a continuous broad fascia of the same colour ; the abdomen
ferruginous beneath.

There is a specimen of this beautiful insect in the British Museum,
with a ticket attached, giving the locality of Leicester. I have placed
it in the Appendix, but have little doubt it will prove hereafter to be
an undoubted British insect; since I observed that the hand-writing
on the label is the same as that on the specimen of Macropis labiata,
since proved to be indigenous, also taken at Leicester by Dr. Leach.

Insects. 2213

OsmiIA corNutTA, Latrezlle.
Megilla cornuta, Spinola. Apis cornuta, Oliv.

Female.—(Length 5 lines). Nigro-zneous ; the clypeus armed on
each side with an incurved horn, obtuse at the apex ; the mandibles
very stout, and having an acute tooth at the apex ; the face clothed
with long black hair, as well as the thorax; the wings slightly fus-
cous. Abdomen entirely fuscous; all the tarsi beneath and the pos-
terior tibiz clothed with ferruginous pubescence; the claws ferru-
ginous.

Male.—(Length 4—5 lines). Nigro-zneous; the face and head
beneath clothed with long white hair, the sides with black; the an-
tennz as long as the head and thorax. Thorax clothed above with
brownish black pubescence, beneath intermixed with pale ferruginous ;
all the tarsi beneath and the abdomen clothed with ferruginous pu-
bescence.

There are both sexes of this species in the national collection at the
British Museum, but no locality can be discovered. I must confess
my doubts of the species being indigenous ; so fine and conspicuous
an insect would I think have been observed by entomologists, since
it belongs to a section of bees usually abundant, although some
are local. There are also specimens in the collection of Mr. J. F.
Stephens, said to have been captured, I think, at Bristol.

Systropha spiralis. There is a specimen of this insect in the
national collection at the British Museum, but its locality is not
known : it therefore is doubtful as a British species. The same will
apply to a specimen of Melliturga clavicornis.

ANTHOCOPA PAPAVERIS, St. Fargeau.
Osmia papaverts, Latr.

Female.—(Length 4—4# lines). Black, punctured; the face thinly
clothed with white pubescence, thickest along the inner orbits of the
eyes and on the cheeks ; the antenne a little longer than the head ;
the pubescence on the disk of the thorax is of a dirty white; on the
sides, metathorax and beneath it is white; that on the tarsi beneath
is fulvous ; the claws ferruginous. Abdomen, the basal segment is
clothed at the sides with long white pubescence ; all the segments
have a narrow white marginal fascia, the two first frequently inter-
rupted ; beneath, the pollen-brush is pale fulvous.

VI 21

2214 Insects.

Male.—(Length 4 lines). Black, punctured; the head rather wider
than the thorax; the face clothed with long white pubescence, or
slightly stained with yellow; the scape of the antenne large, thicker
than the remaining joints, which are compressed towards the apex,
sub-testaceous, and gradually tapering to the apex; the pubescence
on the disk of the thorax is thin and of a dirty white; on the sides of
the metathorax and beneath it is white; the tarsi ferruginous ; be-
neath, clothed with pale fulvous pubescence ; that on the tibie, femo-
ra, &c., is white; the tegule testaceous; the wings sub-fuscous,
clouded at their apical margins. Abdomen, all the segments have a
white marginal fascia; the margin of the sixth segment is minutely
dentate in the centre, and has laterally an incurved sharp tooth or
spine, the seventh entire.

There is a series of specimens of this insect in the national collec-
tion ; the label attached gives the locality of Leicester. I have not
seen it in any other cabinet, except that of Mr. Desvignes, and his
specimens came from the British Museum: they were captured, I be-
lieve, by Dr. Leach.

Page 600, ‘ Zoologist.’ Nomada xanthosticta. I have stated that
there is no specimen of this insect in the Kirbyan cabinet ; and I ne-
ver saw one answering to the description until the autumn of 1846,
when the late Rev. G. T. Rudd sent one or two to me, requesting to
know if I could tell him the name of the species. I had no doubt, at
first sight, that it was Nomada xanthosticta; the yellow tubercles, fer-
ruginous tegule, and spots on the scutellum, are marked distinctive
characters: one of the specimens is in my own collection. Mr. Rudd
informed me that he captured them near his own house, Worsall
Grange, Yarm, Yorkshire.

Page 891. Saropoda bimaculata. Omit the words between the
inverted commas :—Head, the clypeus pale yellow, a central attenu-
ated line running upwards, “and another along the margin of the
eyes,” as high as the base of the antenne, yellow, “forming a tri-
dentate mark.”

Page 895, line 14, for repainted read repointed.

Page 1448. Heriades truncorum. Both sexes captured by Dr.
Leach, at Kingsbridge, Devon.

Page 1743. Sp. 28, alter the name Andrena prowima to A. consi-
milis.

Page 1749. Andrena bidentata should be Andrena tridentata.

Insects. 2215

Halictus quadricincta. Mr. Dale sent to me a specimen for ex-
amination of the female of this species, captured in the Isle of Port-
land, in August, 1828, since which time he has not met with it.

With the present I conclude my papers on the British bees; and
although I am aware that a much more perfect work might be pro-
duced, still I cannot but think that if every entomologist who devotes
some years to the study of any particular group, were to give—in the
best manner he is able—the result of his investigations, he must con-
fer some benefit to the science; additional information must be im-
parted, and in many cases important additions made to the various
genera treated upon.

The result of my own labours will prove to be little more than a
record of my own observations, and it may hereafter become the office
of some Hymenopterist to work out, in a more complete and scientific
form, the monograph of our indigenous bees; but in such a case he
may probably find some of the materials which I have collected useful
in raising his superstructure.

To those who have not the opportunity of examining the original
specimens from which Mr. Kirby drew the descriptions for his ‘ Mo-
nographia Apum Angliz,’ the observations which I have made upon
them will, I think, prove useful. I am not aware that I have omitted
anything of importance in the descriptions, which is to be found in
Mr. Kirby’s; but I have, in many instances, added such additional
particulars as the result of my own investigations appeared to prove
to be necessary, and frequently whereby a species may at once be
discriminated from its congeners. The marked differences in species,
when pointed out, independently of the detailed description, is, in my
opinion, always desirable, as it requires great practice in working out
species before these distinctive characters at once present themselves
to the student in Entomology.

I have described forty-eight species either new to the British list or
not previously to be found in any English work: one or two probably
which are included in the Appendix may not prove to be indigenous,
but as I find them in collections, they are described, in order that they
may be recognized if captured again.

In conclusion, I beg to acknowledge the obligations I am under to
those gentlemen who have so kindly and liberally rendered me the
most valuable assistance, not only by allowing me a ready access to

2216 Insects.

their collections, but also, in many instances, by presenting me with
specimens of rare, local or unique insects. To Messrs. Desvignes,
Walcott, Thwaites, J. F. Stephens, Samuel Stevens, Doubleday, Dale,
Waterhouse, Bowring, the Rev. W. Little, and the Rev. J. F. Daw-
son, I return my most sincere thanks for their kind assistance.

FREDERICK SMITH.
5, High Street, Newington,
June, 1848.

Descriptions of two Species of Trichius supposed to be British.—It appears to me
that we have in this country two species of the genus Trichius which have hitherto
been confounded ; at least I am not aware that any one has decided the question, and
it is with the intention of so doing that I address a few words to the readers of the
“Zoologist.’ The species in question are the Trichius fasciatus of Fabricius and the
T. zonatus of Schmidt. This point I think it will be desirable to determine. Both
species undoubtedly exist in cabinets. All the specimens taken in Scotland are, I be--
lieve, the T. fasciatus ; and all the specimens which I have seen of zonatus are from
old collections. I have not been able to ascertain satisfactorily the locality of any of
the specimens, or by whom they were captured. I send you short descriptive differences,
whereby any one can ascertain which species he possesses; and should any one be
able to give the locality of zonatus, and satisfactory evidence of its capture, the
question will be at once decided. JI have some idea that the Swansea and other
West of England specimens may prove to be zonatus, and the northern specimens
the T. fasciatus.

Sp. 1. Tricurus zonatus, Schmidt, Germ.
T. Gallicus, Dej. Cat. TJ. abdominalis, var., Schmidt, Dej. Cat.

Male.—The lateral margins of the thorax immaculate ; the central segment of the
abdomen transversely striated, and having two yellow macule ; the anterior coxe have
a yellow macula in front.

Female.—The lateral margins of the thorax yellow, sometimes interrupted ; the
ventral segments immaculate.

The elytra in both sexes black, having the suture black, with two transverse yellow
fascie united to a longitudinal one, which reaches to the angle of the shoulder. The
base never has a transverse black band. The yellow fascie are nearly, or quite, of
equal width.

Sp. 2. Tricurus rascratus, Fab.

Male.—The anterior coxe not maculated, nor are the ventral segments macu-
lated.

Female.—The thorax has a lateral yellow macula.

In this species the elytra are usually entirely black at the base, sometimes inter-
rupted, but the longitudinal fascia does not reach to the angle of the shoulder; the
basal transverse yellow fascia is usually much broader than the second; the apex of

Insects. - 2217

the abdomen is also generally entirely clothed with yellow hair, whereas in T. zonatus

the centre is usually naked, or but slightly pubescent; but the yellow fascia touching

_ the shoulder will always point out zonatus: fasciatus is also usually the largest spe-
cies.— Frederick Smith ; 5, High Street, Newington, August 15, 1848.

Tenacity of Life in Rhagium bifasciatum.—Sometime ago I sent you a notice of the
remarkable tenacity of life in Pissodes Pini (Zool. 699). A still more singular instance,
in a specimen of Rhagium bifasciatum, came under my observation last December,
while staying with a friend near Alloa. I had taken a number of this species from the
interior of old larch stumps, and after keeping them in strong spirits for twenty-two
hours, I placed them on the setting-board. The next morning I was obliged to go
to Edinburgh, where I was detained above a fortnight; and one of the first things
which occurred to me on my return was to look at my specimens, supposing, of course,
that I should find them all stiff enough, and ready to be deposited in my store-box.
Imagine my surprise to find one of them (a large female) “ alive and kicking,’ and
my wonder was not diminished when, on my releasing it from the pin, it walked as
coolly (I will not say as comfortably) across the table as if nothing had happened. I
have met with many notices of the tenacity of life in insects, but I think few so re-
markable as this; and I should really have hesitated to record it had not my friend
been present when the insect was put into and taken out of the spirits, and likewise
when it took its subsequent promenade.—R. Northmore Greville ; 33, George Square,
Edinburgh, June 26, 1848.

Descriptions of Aphides. By F. Waker, Esq.

Aphides on Hound’s-tongue (Cynoglossum officinale).
Apuis CyNoGLossi. |

The winged viviparous female. The body is pale greenish yellow and of moderate
size: the crown of the head is greenish brown: the disk of the thorax above and be-
low is dark brown: there is a row of small black spots along the back of the abdomen,
and a few black dots on each side: the antenne are black, and much longer than the
body: the rostrum is pale yellow; its tip and the eyes are black: the tubes are pale
yellow, with black tips, and about one-fourth of the length of the body: the legs are
long and pale yellow; the tarsi, and the tips of the thighs and of the tibie, are black :
the wings are colourless; the squamule and the costal veins are pale yellow; the
stigmata are very pale brown ; the other veins are brown.

APHIS SOCIA.

The winged viviparous female. The body is black and very small: the antenne
are a little longer than the body: the tubes are about one-sixth of the length of the
body: the tibie are dark yellow, with black tips: the wings are slightly tinged with
gray; the squamule are yellow; the stigmata and the veins are brown.

APHIS PARTICEPS.

The wingless viviparous female. The body is pale brown, small, oval, shining,
and rather flat: the antenne are pale yellow and longer than the body ; the rostrum

2218 Insects.

is pale yellow ; its tip and the eyes are black: the tubes are pale yellow and rather
more than one-fourth of the length of the body: the legs are pale yellow ; the tips of
the tarsi are black.

APHIS SODALIS.

The wingless viviparous female. The body is dull yellow, brown towards the tip of
the abdomen, and of moderate size: the antenne are black, yellow towards the base,
and longer than the body : the rostrum is yellow; its tip and the eyes are black: the
tubes are yellow, with black tips, and as long as one-fourth of the body: the legs are
long and pale yellow ; the knees, the tarsi and the tips of the tibie are black.

The winged viviparous female. While a pupa it is small, elliptical and pale red ;
the feelers are palé yellow: in other respects it resembles the wingless female,

APHIS CONSORS.

The wingless viviparous female. The body is dark brown, dull, small, elliptical,
convex: the antenne are yellow, with black tips, and about half the length of the
body: the rostrum is pale yellow ; its tip and the eyes are black: the tubes are dull
yellow and about one-eighth of the length of the body: the legs are yellow and rather
short: the tarsi and the tips of the tibie are black.

The winged viviparous female. The body is black and small: the abdomen is dull
green, with a row of black spots on each side: the antenne are black and as long as
the body; the base of the third joint is pale yellow: the rostrum is pale yellow, with
a black tip: the legs are black; the thighs are pale yellow towards the base; the
tibi are yellow, with black tips: the wings are colourless; the squamule and the
costal veins are pale yellow; the stigmata and the other veins are pale brown.

Near Fleetwood, in the beginning of October, with the four preceding species.

Aphides on Sea Wormwood (Artemisia maritima).
APHIS PULVERA.

The wingless viviparous female. The body is oval, rather small, slightly convex,
pale green, very thickly covered with white powder: the antenne are pale yellow,
black towards the tips, and shorter than the body: the eyes are bright red; the ros-
trum and the tubes are pale yellow, with black tips, and about one-eighth of the length
of the body: the legs are pale yellow and moderately long ; the knees, the tarsi and
the tips of the tibie are black; the hind tibie are brown for nearly half their length
from the base.

APHIS AMICA.

The wingless male. The body is gray, narrow, linear, very small, and covered
with white dust: the abdomen is red, with a row of black dots on each side: the an-
tenne are black and very much longer than the body: the eyes are red: the rostrum
is yellow, with a black tip: the tubes are black and nearly one-sixth of the length of
the body: the legs are black and very long; the thighs towards the base are pale yel-
low; the tibiz, except the tips, are yellow.

APHIS COLLEGA.

The wingless viviparous female. The body is oval, red, slightly convex, covered
with a white bloom, smaller than that of Aphis pulvera: the eyes are dark red: the

Insects. 2219

rostrum is pale red, with a black tip: the antenne are pale red, black towards the
tips, and as long as the body: the tubes are pale red, with black tips, and about one-

_ sixth of the length of the body: the legs are pale reddish yellow ; the knees, the tarsi

and the tips of the tibiz are black.

ApuHIs COMMODA.

The winged viviparous female. The body is small and black: the abdomen is
very dark green: the antennz are black and as long as the body: the mouth is yellow,
with a black tip: the tubes are black and about one sixth of the length of the body:
the legs are yellow and moderately long ; the knees, the tarsi and the tips of the tibie
are black : the wings are colourless and very much longer than the body ; the squamule
are yellow; the stigmata and the veins are brown. .

APHIS FREQUENS.

The wingless oviparous female. The body is small, spindle-shaped, flat, narrow,
dark green, somewhat glaucous, mottled with yellow, and slightly powdered with
white: the antennz are black, yellow at the base, and about one-fourth of the length
of the body: the eyes are dark red: the rostrum is dull green, black at the base and
at the tip: the tubes do not appear above the surface of the body: the legs are short
and dull yellow ; the tarsi and the tips of the tibie are black. The eggs, when newly
laid, are bright yellow, and about one-fourth of the length of the body of the insect.

The wingless male. It is shorter and darker than the female, with which it pairs
in October: the antennze are quite black and about half the length of the body.

In the beginning of October, near Fleetwood, with the four preceding species.

Aphides on the Small Bugloss (Lycopsis arvensis).
Apuis DianTHI?

The wingless viviparous female. The body is pale green, oval and convex: the
antenne are yellow, black towards the tips, and much longer than the body: the eyes
are red: the rostrum is pale yellow, with a black tip: the tubes are also pale yellow,
with black tips, and as long as one-fourth of the body : the legs are long and pale yel-
low; the tarsi and the tips of the tibie are black.

A common species, feeding on a great variety of plants.

Apuis LycopsIDIs.

The wingless viviparous female. The body is oval, convex, shining, of moderate
size, dark red, almost black above, or sometimes nearly all black: the body beneath
has a light gray bloom, and is almost white about the base of the hind legs: the an-
tenne are black and a little longer than the body: the eyes, the rostrum and the tubes
are also black, and the latter are full one-fourth of the length of the body: the tip of
the abdomen is yellow: the legs are black and very long; the tibie, except their tips,
are yellow.

APHIS CONSUETA.

The oviparous wingless female. The body is oval, convex, smooth and shining,
dull green, of moderate size: there is a broad brown band along the back of the ab-
domen, wlth a row of black dots on each side: the antenne are black and longer

2220 Tiisbots’

than the body : the eyes are dark red : the rostrum is green: its tip is black: the tubes
are black and about one-fifth of the length of the body: the tip of the abdomen is
pale green: the legs are long and pale yellow; the thighs from the middle to the
tips, the tarsi and the tips of the tibie are black ; the hind tibie from the base to the
middle are dull yellow and slightly dilated.

APHIS ADJUTA.

The winged viviparous female. This, while a pupa, is dull red, elliptical, rather
flat and of moderate size: the head and the rudimentary wings are greenish: the an-
tenne are black, dark red towards the base, and a little longer than the body: the
rostrum is dull yellow, with a black tip: the eyes are dark red: the tubes are black
and about one-sixth of the length of the body: the legs are dull yellow and rather
long; the tarsi, and the tips of the thighs and of the tibia, are black.

APHIS CONJUNCTA.

The wingless viviparous female. The body is bright yellow, oval, convex, smooth,
of moderate size, and rather slender: the antenne are pale yellow and longer than
the body ; the tips of the joints are black: the eyes are very dark red or almost black :
the rostrum and the tubes are pale yellow, with black tips, and the latter are as long
as one-fourth of the body: the legs are very long; the tarsi and the tips of the tibie
are black: the antenne and the legs are somewhat bristly.

APHIS BASALIS.

The wingless viviparous female. The body is grayish green, with a whitish bloom
beneath, and of rather small size: the antenne are dull yellow, with black tips, and
much longer than the body: the mouth is pale yellow; its tip is black: the tubes are
dull yellow, black at the base and at the tips, and at least one-fourth of the length of
the body: the legs are long and dull pale yellow; the knees, the tarsi and the tips of
the tibie are black.

APHIS FAMILIARIS.

The wingless viviparous female. The body is small, oval, buff, smooth, shining,
and rather flat: the back is very finely granulated and slightly varied with red and
green: the antenne are pale yellow, black towards the tips, and less than half the
length of the body: the rostrum is pale yellow; its tip and the eyes are black: the
tubes are pale yellow, with black tips, and about one-twelfth of the length of the body :
the legs are pale yellow and rather short; the tarsi and the tips of the tibie are black.

APHIS ADJUVANS.

The oviparous wingless female. The body is granulated, elliptical, buff, tinged
with red, and is narrower and longer than that of the preceding species: the head is
crenulate or dentate in front, and there are two little black dots between the eyes: the
antenne are pale yellow, with black tips, and about one-fourth of the length of the
body: the legs are pale yellow ; the hind tibize are brown.

APHIS ADSCITA.

The wingless viviparous female. The body is grass-green, small, oval, and rather
flat: the antenne are black and nearly as long as the body: the eyes are dark red:

“Insects. 2221

the rostrum is dull yellow, with a black tip: the tubes are black and about one-tenth
of the length of the body: the legs are dull yellow; the knees, the tarsi and the tips
of the tibie are black.

The winged viviparous female. The body is black: the abdumen is very dark
green, and sometimes black above: the antenne are as long as the body: the rostrum
is dull yellow, with a black tip: the tubes are black: the legs are dull yellow; the
tarsi, and the tips of the thighs and of the tibie, are black: the wings are colourless ;
the costal veins are yellow; the stigmata and the other veins are brown.

APHIS SUFFRAGANS.

The winged viviparous female. The body is dull green and larger than that of the
preceding species: the disk of the thorax and that of the abdomen are sometimes al-
most black above: the antenne are black and a little longer than the body : the mouth
is yellow; its tip and the eyes are black: the tubes are dull yellow, with black tips,
and nearly one-fourth of the length of the body: the legs are yellow; the tips of the
thighs are brown; the tarsi and the tips of the tibie are black: the wings are colour-
less; the squamule and the costal veins are yellow; the stigmata and the other veins
are brown.

Found, with the nine preceding species, near Fleetwood, in the autumn.

F. WALKER.
August, 1848.
(To be continued).

Of the manner in which the Female of Psocus quadripunctatus constructs a Web to
protect her Eggs——Mr. Westwood, in his ‘ Introduction to Entomology’ (ii. 20), re-
lates, that M. V. Audouin had observed that a female winged Psocus was in the habit
of weaving a web over its eggs, “ which it had deposited in the impressed parts of
leaves formed by the veins of the leaf: likewise, that in another species, the eggs,
eight in number, were arranged on a leaf in an irregular circle, with the tips all
pointing to the centre of the circle.” Dr. EKrichson, in his ‘ Annual Report’ for 1843,
remarks that Huber, in the ‘ Memoirs of the Physical and Natural-History Society of
Geneva ’ (x. i. 35), has made observations on the Psoci. He observed that they lay
their eggs upon leaves, and surround them with a web, and that the various species
form webs of different kinds. But the chief merit of his observations consists in the
discovery of the spinning organ, “ which is placed, in the form of a couple of oblong
corpuscles, on the border of the labrum;” (Ray Soc. Report, 1847, 165). On the 4th
of July, while examining the leaves of the oaks in this vicinity, which are chiefly
Quercus sessiliflora, I came upon a spotted-winged Psocus (which I afterwards deter-
mined to be P. quadripunctatus of Fabricius), attending a collection of eggs, covered
over with a web, and placed on the underside of the leaf. Though disturbed at my
intrusion, after a short flight she returned and took her post at their side. I cannot
decide whether the object of her “ solitary watch ” was the protection of her eggs,
or whether she might not yet have completed her operations for their security: from
subsequent observations I am inclined to the latter supposition, as I afterwards found

VI 2M

2222 Insects.

numerous depots of eggs similarly situated, without any presiding guardian exercising
over them a special care. Shortly afterwards I surprised another female of the same
species in the act of oviposition. She had already laid two eggs side by side, and was
about to deposit the third, which she did between the tips of the two others, so that
the three formed a triangle; then, after walking over them twice or thrice, she fastened
down another in the place best suited for it, and proceeded in a similar manner till
she had laid three others. She scarcely ever made use of the antenne or palpi to as-
certain the proper situation for the forthcoming ovum ; but by probing with the apex
of the abdomen she accomplished all she desired. After completing the final number
of eggs, she continued brooding, as it were, for a short time; no doubt being engaged
in ascertaining if she had produced the requisite number. This done, she all at once
became animated with a new object, carried out by a new mode of procedure. Hasten-
ing with great rapidity, now to one side and now to another, now retracing her steps
and now wheeling all round, and at the end of every turn placing her mouth against
the leaf, accompanying this action with a rapid movement of her head, two or three
times repeated ; she seemed to be engaged in a rural dance to celebrate her late happy
delivery. It was some time before I could trace the nature of the new operation,
till, turning up the leaf to the light, I observed a series of extremely delicate threads
already spread over the eggs in various directions. She was now engaged in spinning
her web, if I may use the expression; and those rapid movements of the head, when
brought into contact with the leaf, were to fix the rapidly-produced threads; while her
crossings and counterwindings gave direction to the warp and weft that would enve-
lope her future progeny. I watched her about half an hour, and I left her in full ac-
tivity, which she never had remitted from the time she commenced. The eggs are
usually placed in the hollow between the nervures of the leaf, and occur on the upper
as well as on the under surfaces of leaves, though most frequently on the latter.
When the web is completed, they appear in white sub-oval glazed patches, not unlike,
at a short distance off, the scale of a fish, apparently continuous with the substance of
the leaf. The eggs are oblong-ovate, minute, white. I have found the number va-
riously, five, seven, eight, sixteen. Two other species frequent the oak in the woods
here, Psocus ochropterus, Steph., and P. longicornis, Fab., but I have not yet obtained
an acquaintance with their economy. They are all cowardly, timid creatures, betaking
themselves to the other side of the leaf when disturbed. Huber is of opinion that
they feed upon the Uredines of plants, which he supposes have a tendency to follow in
the wake of the Aphides. I have made no observation to this effect. I once obtained
a great number of a small, hyaline, iridescent-winged species, which I did not ascer-
tain at the time, from Usnea hirta (a kind of lichen, gathered from the trunk of the
birch), which I had placed between the leaves of a book to fit it for the herbarium.
They appear to have lived upon it, as I found them after an interval of some months.
What confirms this is, that the lichened trunks of trees, and the surface of stone walls
similarly invested, are the favourite resort for numerous larve.—James Hardy ; Pen-
manshiel, by Cockburnspath, Berwickshire, July 10, 1848.

On killing Insects by Heated Air.—Perceiving, by the correspondence of some of
the contributors to the ‘ Zoologist,’ that chloroform and prussic acid are both used to
take the life of insects, and thinking it not improbable that the use of either may be
inconvenient to many entomologists, I send you the following account of the means I
have used for years. Having a tin box, six inches by four and two in depth, with a
piece of cork at the bottom (fastened by a rivet at each corner), to which the insect is

Zoophytes—Quadrupeds. 2223

secured, I place it in an oven or by the side of the fire, when, in the course of a few
seconds, life becomes extinct by the heated air; but care should be taken not to allow

it to remain too long, otherwise the insect must be softened before it can be set.—
Joseph Duff.

Definitions of Three New-British Zoophytes. By Arruur Hitu Hassatt, Esq.,
F.L.S., Surgeon.

Coppinia, nov. gen.

Polypidom parasitic, massive, hirsute ; polype cells elongated, tubular, often curved,
arising at irregular distances (and generally at the angles of junction) out of a cellular
basis, the apertures of the cells or spaces of which are often themselves covered in by
a lid perforated by a small tubular orifice.

But a single species at present included in this genus,—Coppinia mirabilis.

CAMPANULARIA SERPENS.

Polypidom encrusting, spreading ; cells small, sessile, often curved, with an even
patulous vein ; root-like fibres obscure, firmly attached to the object (often a Sertula-
ria) upon which the species is developed, and incapable of being detached and exhi-
bited in a separate form.

SERTULARIA GRACILIS.

Polypidom slender; cells opposite, tubular, everted; apertures oblique, slightly
mucronated, having an average diameter of about the ;1,th of an inch; vesicles sessile,
obovate, with small, circular, smooth, terminal perforations, averaging the ;j;th of an
inch in diameter.

A very distinct and interesting species.

A. H. Hassatu.
July, 1848.

Anecdote of a Rat.—The wall of the renowned Battel Abbey abuts to my neigh-
bour’s garden: there is a Morella cherry tree growing against the wall. For some
days past he missed great numbers of cherries from the tree, and could not detect the
thief, till at last, walking one day at noon, he saw a house rat deliberately biting the
cherries off by the stalk, and taking them away to a hole in the wall. This is a most
extraordinary occurrence, as, the cherries being bitter, one would have imagined that
they would have been far from palatable-—J. B. Ellman ; Battel, July 31, 1848.

2224 Birds.

On the Arrival of Migratory Birds in the Neighbourhood of Kendal in 1848.

WW Heated iias..a0c'o*0i5 sna’ gonpeetne dt anCR 29 Common whitethroat............ April 28
“Rane OUZel or 5s «pvisceamnniereagvene” APTN WmCh al x. sanasseasepassnnssemn pe eee

Wallow. warbler cp ccsisesiejssins-'09. Aree Fe COMMON, SWE. .sscsenciesencssiags a
Swallow ...... Se eee eee wide sb Wood Warbler cscs scnsennnecns May 1
Redstart ....scscoccsevessecesceeere tO Sedge warbler ......scsscseeres ee
Common sandpiper .........00 gu is Garden warbler iosessavccccesgnnns mee
Tree titling, ccccossesasceeeesoaee at LS aR gals... ug dar canta. kosyae masa hh Lt
Ray’s wagtail...... sVagemmohtiny nei lo BACKOaD «0: <nsstneactnepunehaseite i | dele
OIC ag Masia tiv eras eieis caaginns’ a Lo Lesser whitethroat .........ssee0. ey" |

DAMA MATAN secs caseccasenssses. 159, 20 Spotted flycatcher ......sseseceue 55 14
PAB RRCMN ATG ic00ia sisesen ncnase'ene samen

The above list contains all the summer migrators of this district, with one excep-
tion, viz., the nightjar, of the precise date of whose arrival I have no observation ; the
distance of its favourite haunts being too great to allow of daily visits about the period
of its arrival. On bushy heaths, either on slate or limestone formations, the nightjar
may be found from about the end of May till the middle of September. Our partial
and irregular migrators are also omitted. The curlew and lapwing quit the coast,
and arrive on our moorlands during the first week of March, the latter species appear-
ing a few days earlier. A few pied wagtails remain with us through the winter, but
the majority migrate southwards in autumn: they return in March (25th of the pre-
sent year), and resort to farm-yards and the margins of our river. When the plough
gets to work, we meet with them busily employed in running over every portion of
fresh-turned earth, their cleanly white contrasting beautifully with the dark parts of
their plumage and with the dusky soil; and their sprightly movements and merry
chirpings forcibly reminding us that they are among the earliest announcers of re-
turning spring. This species has attracted the attention of agricultural labourers, to
whom it is known by the name of ‘ seed bird.’ The pied wagtail conceals its nest in
old walls, or under the eaves of out-houses. About the latter end of September, old
and young birds assemble on our public walks over-shaded with trees, whither they
are evidently attracted by insect-food falling to the ground upon scattering leaves. A
mouth later, large flocks of them may be seen along the shores of Morecamb Bay,
where they loiter awhile before the general migration southwards. To the account of
the gray wagtail already given in the ‘ Zoologist’ (Zool. 136, 230, 358), I have nothing
to add. The greenfinch is occasionally met with in the early part of winter ; the same
may be said of the lesser redpole ; but in the severe weather of January both species en-
tirely disappear, and rarely return till the spring. The greenfinch makes known its arrival
by incessant chattering, about the middle of March (25th of this year), and the red-
pole returns to the larch and alder in the early part of April (9th). Coots return to
our towns in March. The moorhen is a constant resident with us, but it makes a
partial change of abode with the seasons: in winter, bushy sheltered rivers and mill-
ponds are its favourite haunts ; as spring returns (early in March), it seeks a summer
residence on our more exposed tarns, the sedgy borders of which furnish a suitable
hiding-place fur its nest. In the same locality we also meet with the spotted crake,
which arrives later in the spring, and remains till October. With us the water rail is
a winter visitor; nor am I aware of this species ever having been found here in the
summer months. In the latter part of April, golden plovers and dotterels occasionally

Birds. 2225

linger a few days on Kendal Fell, on their way to more elevated and distant breeding-
grounds. In some habitats the dunlin is a constant summer companion of the golden

_ plover. The dalesmen call this little Tringa a ‘ jack plover ;’ but on the coast, where

large flocks are found throughout winter, its altered plumage transfurms it into the
fisherman’s ‘ sand-mouse.? Numbers of these ‘ sand-mice’ are taken in the flook-nets,
and are exposed for sale in our fish-market, along with oyster-catchers, scoters and
scaup ducks, for several weeks in the depth of winter. Our first regular migrator is
the wheatear, its arrival being rarely earlier than the 29th of March, and seldom late:
than the 3rd of April: stone fences and the rocky parts of high inclosures are its
favourite haunts, and in these places it appears three or four days earlier than in the
valley. During the cold easterly winds, accompanied with hail or snow, which occa-
sionally prevail about the middle of April, I have known wheatears assemble in large
flocks: they select a sheltered inclosure, and remain, not on the most harmonious
terms with each other, till more genial weather invites them to disband and scatter
again in pairs over the country. The ring ouzel was nearly a week earlier than usual :
this species abounds on most of our “ fells,” building in low bushes, or among the
rough banks of deep water-courses. This bird becomes very docile in confinement ;
one in my possession, reared from the nest, far apart from its congeners, proved to be
a male bird; and on the following spring whistled correctly and freely the wild notes
of its species. The willow warbler was also a few days earlier than in ordinary sea-
sons, the 16th of April being its usual time. For many years I have observed the fact,
mentioned by Mr. Selby, of this warbler’s arrival coinciding with the leafing of larch
plantations. In the early spring of 1846 this harmony between the two was disturbed ;
for the larch was in leaf, in sheltered places, as early as the 5th of March, and by the
middle of that month most of the larch plantations were fully in leaf; but the willow
warbler was not with us till the 12th of April. The redstart is an abundant species
both in town and country, pouring forth its sprightly song from the top of a chimney
or arm of a weathercock. In 1846 I heard its note as early as the 13th of April, the
18th being its usual time. This species arrives about three days sooner in low than
in high situations: an old garden-wall is preferred as a nesting-place. From the 15th ©
to the 20th of April, the tree titling arrives,—a plentiful species in most of our culti-
vated inclosures, particularly such as have the fences tolerably stocked with trees.
The 19th of April is an early date for the cuckoo: this observation was taken among
the hills, in a range where this well-known cry is first heard. In another mountainous
situation we have it noted ten days later; and in the valley our utmost vigilance never
welcomed the arrival till the 3rd of May. In 1846, the cuckoo was among the fells
still earlier, April 14th ; but we failed to hear it in the lowlands before the Ist of May.
The sand martin was late, the 13th of April being the average date of its arrival.
The present year furnishes the only instance in which I have known the swallow pre-
cede the sand martin. This species, without any apparent cause, is becoming annually
scarcer, and appearing later in the district. The swallow generally arrives about the
18th of April; in some years as late as the 231d. _‘I_ have no previous record so early
as the 12th. Not unfrequently, if a few cold wet days set in soon after its arrival,
every swallow seems to have forsaken the neighbourhood. This fact arrested the at-
tention of White of Selborne, and he considered the circumstance “ much more in
favour of hiding than migration; since it is much more probable that a bird should
retire to its hybernaculum just at hand, than return for a week or two only to warmer
latitudes.” The following fact, which came under my notice in the spring of 1840,

2226 | Birds.

is worthy of being recorded, inasmuch as it offers an easier explanation of this tem-
porary disappearance than that of supposing these early visitors to return either to
their winter hiding-places or to warmer climates. On a cold wet day, while walking
near some mills, my attention was arrested by the continued twittering of swallows:
none had been seen for many days, neither were any now to be seen in the air above
me: led by the sound, at last, after some research, I found about twenty of these birds
seated upon the grate which prevents drifted wood and rubbish from passing down the
mill-race to the water-wheel. The poor creatures were miserable objects, and, shiver-
ing with wet and cold, were sitting in close contact. To watch them more narrowly,
I gradually approached within a few yards, without any token of alarm being mani-
fested. It was evident that they had thus congregated in a calm and sheltered situa-
tion for the express purpose of procuring food: there was a constant watchfulness
kept up over’the river; and whenever an insect moved upon its surface, one or two
swallows rushed forth to make a capture: this was most effectually accomplished ; for
each bird, guing open-mouthed, fearlessly dashed its breast upon the water, and easily
secured the object of its pursuit. The supply of food was by no means plentiful; and
it was evident that weakness and torpor, conjoined with earnest watchfulness for every
passing insect, enabled me to observe this interesting group of swallows at my leisure.
There is another device to which the swallow has recourse on a cold April day,—too
cold to allow of many insects being on wing: it alights suddenly on the ground, se-
cures its prey among the grass or in a piece of dung, then rises, skims away, and re-
peats this operation several times within a limited area. The swift was five days
earlier than its usual time ; the 30th of April is the earliest date of its arrival, ina
long series of observations: a pair of these birds were seen for several hours on that
day ; but the weather becoming cold, no more were observed till nearly a week after-
wards.. Once or twice I have known the swift arrive on the Ist of May. In 1829 it
appeared on that day. The following fact is extracted from my note-book of that
date: “ Three swifts seen on wing early in the morning. During the day a specimen
was brought to me in a state approaching to torpidity: it was found suspended by its
claws in a lodging-room. I immediately placed the captive in a similar position
upon a stretched cord, in a cool part of a sitting-room, when slight symptoms of re-
turning activity were manifested. In this situation the bird was suffered to remain
about three hours, but not content with this slow progress I placed it upon a warm
hearth: in a few minutes the bird fluttered and attempted to rise from the floor, and
after this momentary excitement presently died. Perhaps the too rapid application of
heat produced a higher degree of reaction than its exhausted state was able to sustain.
Temperature during the day, max. 50°, min. 43°. Hills tipped with snow yesterday.”
The lesser whitethroat is the most uncertain of our summer migrators : for many years
we never met with a single specimen, though forty years ago it appears to have been
tolerably frequent, arriving regularly about the 26th of April, and resorting to the
hedgerows and gardens in the neighbourhood of the town. Sume few years after this
species entirely quitted the district, and we were never able to meet with it again till
1834, when a single pair were observed. In 1837 we first saw it on the 11th of May;
in 1845, as early as the 30th of April; in 1846, May Ist. Since 1834 we have usually
had about five pairs around the town ; but within the last three years this species be-
gan to be less frequent, and during the present spring I have observed but a single
pair, and they remained with us only a short time. The spotted flycatcher was rather
later than usual, about the 11th of May (1846) being its usual date: we have had it

Birds. | 2237

as early as May 5th (1844), and as late as the 28th of the same month in 1845, a year
in which many of the migratory birds were strangely irregular. The spotted fly-

catcher begins to build almost immediately after its arrival, returning to the same

spot which had been previously selected for a number of years successively. If later
than usual in arriving, it completes its nest and deposits an egg within a week after
its appearance. The new nest is occasionally placed upon the ruins of the last year’s
one: indeed I know a situation in which for many years the nests have been piled
upon each other, till they form a kind of pyramid of upwards a foot in height: the
place selected is a projecting stone in a sheltered ivy. The pied flycatcher is a rare
visitor ; it may occasionally breed with us: I have once met with it in May, and ano-
ther year in June.—Thomas Gough ; Kendal, July 19, 1848.

Arrivals of Migratory Birds at Elveden, Suffolk.

1848. 1848.

Ringed Plover ......... about February 7 Nightingale ............... about April 19
Pet ied za. in sie ctves 4 020 Hays wagtal..c.ccissse sex 55 tO
Pied wagtail............ is March 7 PIOGI GRE iii ia iesin'seslaxv ane. “i5y jt ee
| a a eet 0) AW Hinchae S..ceccccaeecsee!, Ys ae
Great plover ........0.5 i. Soe Biretle Cove Visteeeg tres. py | ay LE
WRC 2. 55 ees 55 28 INTE as fe eevawceekeeis tes | yy te
BWalow UR cectiaves sy April 8 Common swift! (i... ease. by Ver
RONCNOO s.r ec seehe Oy ukks Wood warbler .........065 55 ois
_ Ee Be Same ee ee he Spotted flycatcher......... 5, jy) 4
Sand martin ............ * » 19

—Alfred Newton ; Elveden, Thetford, July 26, 1848.
Nidification of Birds near Elveden.

1848. 1848.
Raven ...002.+.s00ee0se006. aVOUt March 12 |= Common pheasant...... about April 13
PENSE sists snaiasieratsons ss Th 95 % tbo OY FAP cn anne tim gutavkien M Sy Cua
PPRACKUANG |. cvsiksiiccses aces. 193 giv sghe Long-tailed tit ......... * “91 18
POOK COVE vos oe5.cedvoreas), (5s mil Common partridge...... ” PEPE i:
Bhissel thr Shy ou6 is ssccnery 45 wees Great plover) o.05.c0g2 005" 5) 35 ea
Robin redbreast ......... is ¥ 120 Red-legged partridge... ,, MBE
COWIE. vaste diialsserstcl oie wat, 20 LUG EU ois nahand cha ade tes _ joni)
Py Mae basis sad ounces ‘s April 2 Pied wagtail ............ iy ae
Hedge sparrow ....0% 4, pal? Common creepe?......... = ita
IMIS SWADL. - snccnsice snes... 99 EO Wlkeatear: sssccsesdaen dae . ee
MY OOEGCOOK. ones o.050,0065000if 99 Ra sig Gi ag ANCE OTE # on.5 BSN dC Sah iaemic Atti ee os a
Hiemged -plover.s...<.s2000, 55 shicenD House sparrow ....e.e F os Legs
BOE ANNE Ss aiesidds bon na sce ay hin be Lesser redpole.....s..s00 5 55 wie

* This bird did not arrive to stay until March 14. Last year (Zool. 1871), the
date given was that of permanent arrival.

+ In the “ Dates of Nidification ” for 1842 (Zool. 722), the month in which this
bird laid its first egg should have been March, not May.

+ In a semi-domesticated state.

2228 Birds.

1848. 1848.

Common linnet. ......... about April 26 Redstart * 1.2 4.0.00 Jn.v about Miay 13
Greenfinch:) -jiicaeien.,/iy bs De Stonechatoucd sank atenys yo 44
Oole tH ...3 ccnmate man aseys, peter? Sand martinis: s208. sk. bog yy ind
Ping Ove is. Kae: eke 2 ino Mays Golden-crested regulus... ,, » 2s
Chafiteli: 5.2.04 aioe. i gotiy. ¥ WayMmek 09.5 aes WOE ince; 4 AP
little @rebe 4... 2 005..008 0 wie s Swallowsiiuis. osc, by 53 aa?
GOldRmehe i. bs. RING iin Marina % oe t Vee). Peal 0s
Gwent tits: uA ae ay Tvg Common swift .........66+ 55 Wee |
Yellow hammer..........55 55 gtd 6 Common whitethroat ... ,, 320
Nightingale’ .2.tc nies a ne Red-backed shrike......... 5 3) at
BSCE Sockencsavemiestisns) op ae Turtle Gove. « sidsascnses sd Ue ee
NS tact ies dagsts svete sy AHO Spotted flycatcher......... . 95 ee
MSG UNCH Sie secccccesesescs’ 5 ord Reed warbler........+0+ deo 1 SMES
WY WOW WATDIET jcccseccsnse 55 Per | CUCKOO © valisven eave oehcetes igs a
Green Hioapaaer: Shenstues as 13

The dates are those on which the birds respectively laid their first eggs.—Id.
Arrivals of Migratory Birds at Everton, Bedfordshire.

1848. 1848.
Pied wagtail ......... about February 14 Wryneck..........0+0+.0000. about April 12
ECW Ab ai isin.ns cissinisains vs f March 17 Blkcicap. ....sss<nwasceseutes ho ik8
GHB COAT yes coccsnien 0255 April 1 MWALLOW onisinsesieisupennanrty ep ji al9
Willow warbler ...... 5, Eg) CKO Kass sspenarbanucaenanils dd
Redstart . hile Sen pi 10 Nightingale wii.ci ch .05 cas 5 5). 20

The es of cara and nidification of birds at Elveden were recorded by my
brother.—Jd.

Occurrence of the Melodious Willow Wren (Sylvia Hippolais) in Britain.—Those
interested in Natural History, more particularly in Ornithology, will be pleased to hear
of the capture, for the first time in the British Isles, of the melodious willow wren
(Sylvia Hippolais of Temminck), which was killed at Eythorne, near Dover, on the
15th of June. It is a beautiful specimen and in the most perfect plumage, and the
person who shot it was attracted by its extraordinary lond and melodious song. It is
a species which has hitherto never been found in England; and Gould states, in his
‘Birds of Europe, that it is somewhat singular that this species, so familiar to every
naturalist on the Continent, and which inhabits the gardens and hedgerows of those
portions of the coasts of France and Holland that are immediately opposite our own,
should not, like the rest of its immediate congeners, more diminutive in size, and ~
consequently less capable of performing extensive flights, have occasionally strayed
across the Channel and enlivened our glens and groves with its rich and charming
song, which is far superior to that of either of the three other species of the group, and
only equalled by those of the blackeap and nightingale. The bird, beautifully pre-

* At Tetworth, Huntingdonshire, I this year obtained some eggs of this bird
spotted with rust colour, and much like those of the whinchat.

+ The early nidification of this bird is somewhat remarkable: it arrived only
May 6th.

Birds. 2229

served by Mr. Gordon, of the Dover Museum, is in the possession of Mr. John
Chaffey, of Dodington, whose collection of rare British birds is unrivalled —F. Plom-
ley, M.D., F.L.S.; Maidstone, Kent, July 6, 1848.

Occurrence of the White Wagtail (Motacilla alba) near York.—On the 13th of
July last I observed, on the banks of the river Ouse, about one mile above York, what
I take to be a rather unusual visitor so far north,—the white wagtail. I noticed the
bird several times during an hour or two I spent about there (the sandy beach at
Clifton), and certified to myself that I had made no mistake. This was confirmed to
my mind by observing a specimen of the bird in the Yorkshire Museum there a day
or two after. Perhaps this fact may be accounted for on the score of the exceedingly
hot weather at that time, which any one visiting the Agricultural Exhibition on that
day cannot but remember.—J. S. Webb ; Huddersfield, August 12, 1848.

Occurrence of the Cirl Bunting (Emberiza cirlus), §c., near Worcester.—A gentle-
man in this county (Worcestershire) has shot lately three specimens of the cirl bunting
at Malvern: all of them are males, but I should not forget to mention that the fe-
males were seen there with them. A Virginian nightingale was also shot within three
miles of Worcester last week ; but, although I cannot hear of one having escaped from
confinement in the neighbourhood, I presume it must have been a tame bird.—M.
Curtler ; Bevere House, Worcester, July 20, 1848.

Occurrence of a White Starling (Sturnus vulgaris) near Bicester.—A white starling
was shot early in June, and another seen in the neighbourhood of Bicester, Oxon.—
Thomas Prater ; Bicester, August 17, 1848.

Remarkable Variety of Colour in the Egg of the Green Woodpecker.—I send you
the drawing of a green woodpecker’s egg, which was taken here last spring. The
nest, which consisted as usual of a hole made in a tree, had four other eggs in it, all
more or less like the one from which the drawing was taken ; the hen bird was in the
hole when it was cut open, so that there can be no mistake as to the species to which
they belong, since, as you will see, that, except in size, shape and the high polish
(which last, however, cannot be shown in a sketch), they do not at all resemble
the eggs commonly laid by that bird, being blotched and spotted with reddish brown
and tawny yellow, so as to be something like those of the common quail, or that of
the Baillon’s crake, as figured in Hewitson’s Illustrations. The drawing was taken
from the most strongly-marked specimen of the five: it is entirely at your disposal,
and if you wish it, I shall be happy to send you one of the eggs themselves. — Alfred
Newion ; Elvedon, Thetford, July 26, 1848.

[Probably this paper was not intended for publication, but the information is too in-
teresting to be suppressed: I shall be happy to forward to any of my readers the
drawing of the egg for inspection. — Edward Newman].

Occurrence of the White Stork (Ciconia alba) near York. —On Friday, the 18th
inst., a fine adult male Ciconia alba was shot in the neighbourhood of York. It was
in good condition, the stomach filled with remains of Ditisci and other Coleoptera.
I saw the bird a few hours after it had been shot. — Edmund T. Higgins ; 25, Spur-
rier Gate, York, July, 1848.

[Is not this the bird already noticed, Zool. 2191 ?—E. N.]

Occurrence of the White Spoonbill (Platalea leucorodia) at Aldborough.— A spoon-
bill, apparently adult, was seen at Aldborough, in July last, by Mr. W. H. Haward, ©
who pursued it for some time, but without being able to get ashot atit. It was
feeding in company with herons, and seemed by no means shy, taking wing only for

VI 2N

2230 | Birds.

short distances at a time, till the tide drove it from the river altogether. Unlike the
herons, it flew with its neck extended the full length.—#. W. Johnson, Surgeon ;
Ipswich, August 18, 1848.

Egg of the Greenshank (Totanus glottis). — As some of your readers in the ‘ Zoolo-
gist’ were interested in the egg of the greenshank which was taken out of a female
shot by my brother last summer, it is perhaps worth notice that I have had three eggs
sent to me this year from which the female was shot when rising from the nest. The
locality was Sutherlandshire, and the time the first week in June. The eggs, of
course, in size are the same as the egg we took last year, but considerably more co-
loured, being nearly the same as the lapwing, but in shape very different, being pyri-
form.— W. M. FE. Milner ; 75, Eaton Place.

Note respecting the Gray Phalarope (Phalaropus lobatus), the Red-necked Phalarope
(P. hyperboreus), and the Great Northern Diver (Colymbus septentrionalis).—I have
just returned home from a tour through the Orkney Isles, where I have been collecting
the red-necked phalaropes and their eggs, bridled guillemots, dunlins, &c. The red-
necked phalarope is a very rare British bird, and very local even in Orkney: it is
much rarer than when I visited those islands in 1832 and 1833. I am not aware that
any naturalist has mentioned that the female is the handsomest bird, the bay colour
on the neck being much deeper, and the rest of the plumage being much finer and
brighter than in the male. The female is also a little larger than the male. This is
a curious fact; and the species differs in this respect from all others that I know of.
To make certain of it, I have dissected all the birds that I have skinned, and noted
the sex, and found it to be invariably the case. During the time of incubation the
male is bare of feathers on each side of the belly: it would seem that he takes the
most active part in sitting, for his plumage altogether looks duller. Although some
of the females had not such a large portion of the bay colour on the sides of their
necks and breasts as others, yet I was able to distinguish the sex before I skinned
them. Capt. Drummond, of the 42nd Royal Highlanders, has also observed this dif-
ference in the plumage. I know of three Orkney naturalists who say that the gray
phalarope is to be found breeding in North Ronaldshay and Sanday. On the 28th of
June I had the good fortune to shoot a northern diver in summer plumage.—Robert
Dunn ; Helister, near Weesdale, Shetland Islands, July 19, 1848.

Capture of the Velvet and Common Scoters (Anas fusca and A. nigra) on Winder--
mere.—A male specimen of the velvet scoter was shot on the 23rd of May, by Luther
Watson, Esq., of Ecclerigg. The bird was seen to alight upon the lake, when he was
pursued and killed. The female was also observed about the same time. In the first
week of July not less than fourteen common scoters were met with on the same part of
the lake, opposite Wray Castle: two were killed, and a third wounded. This species
occurs every year upon the lake, about the same time of the season, but never stays
more than a day or two. My friend Mr. Clowes, of Bowness, to whom I am indebted
for the above notices, and who is in possession of the velvet duck, informs me that one
of the common scoters killed had the appearance of a young bird.— Thomas Gough ;
Kendal, August 2, 1848.

Occurrence of the Ferruginous Duck (Fuligula nyroca) in Suffolk. — A fine speci-
men of this rare species was sent me from Leadenhall Market early in April,
which I am assured by the dealer who supplied it, was killed on the Suffolk coast.—
F’, W. Johnson, Surgeon ; Ipswich, August 18, 1848.

Occurrence of the Roseate Tern (Sterna Dougallii) near Bicester. — A fine specimen

Reptiles. 2231

of the roseate tern was shot on a large piece of water adjoining the mansion at Tus-
more Park. It is now in the hands of Mr. Osman, bird-stuffer, Oxford. — Thomas

_ Prater ; Bicester, August 17, 1848.

Occurrence of the Masked Gull (Larus capistratus) at Aldborough.—A beautifully
marked specimen of this doubtful species was killed at Aldborough in the early part
of April, and came immediately into the possession of Mr. H. Haward, by whom the
following measurements were made. Mr. Gould, who does not admit the so-called
masked gull to the rank of a species, chanced to be in Ipswich, and had an opportu-
nity of examining the specimen in question soon after it had been set up. Mr.
Gould acknowledged he had never before seen so small an example, and I think I
may say he is inclined to doubt if this can be a mere variety of L. ridibundus.

Weight a as es 6 oz.
Whole length ie ie area (|
From tip to tip of wings... 35 in.
Tarsus de aa i. 16;
Middle toe ... Be i 14
Beak to front feathers ro 1};

—F’. W. Johnson, Surgeon ; Ipswich, August 18, 1848.

Note on Triton palmipes. By Jutian Desy, Esq.

Triton punctatus male, in spring. Triton palmipes male, in spring.

Havine just read in the ‘ Zoologist ’ (Zool. 2149) a note about a species of newt,
by Mr. Wolley, I take the liberty of sending you a few lines on the animal mentioned,
which is not an uncommon species with us, having been found in the running streams
of the mountainous part of our country, as well as in the great marshes of the Cam-
pine. It is the Triton (Lissotriton) palmipes of Daudin, the Salamandra palmata of
Latreille and Cuvier, the Molge palmata of Merrem.

The first author who mentions this reptile is Razoumowsky, in his ‘ Histoire Na- .
turelle du Jorat et de ses Environs: Lausanne, 1789, p.111:’ his description is a very
good one, and leaves no doubt as to the species he meant. He named it “ Lacerta
paradoxas. Helvetica, ou Salamandre Suisse,” from a supposed analogy between it and
the Rana paradoxa of Linneus. He discovered this animal in 1788, in the fountain
of Vernens, in the canton of Vaud, where it lived in common with the Triton punc-
tatus.

2232 Reptiles.

The T. palmipes has been found in the Department de la Moselle by Fournel, by
Sturm in Germany, by Razoumowsky in Switzerland, by Latreille, &c., in France, by
De Selys, Von Haesendonck and myself in Belgium. Prince Charles Bonaparte’s
thinking it may be a variety of T. punctatus, makes me believe that the species is un-
known in Italy.

Ihave kept this newt for more than six months in a glass bowl, feeding it with
flies and small earth-worms. 4

The species of Triton as yet discovered in Belgium are the following :

1. T. cristatus, Latr.—Lacert. palustris, Linn. Molge palustris, Merrem.

2. T. alpestris, Laur. Syn.—S. cincta, Latr. S. Wurfbani, Laur. Rubriven-
tris, Daud.

3. T. punctatus, Daud. Syn.—S. elegans, Daud. Lacert. vulgaris and aquatica,
Linn.

4. T. palmipes, Daud.

The T. cristatus and alpestris are very distinct. The T. punctatus and palmipes,
especially the females, are more difficult to distinguish; but the males during the
spring months are very different, as the following characters will show.

TRITON PUNCTATUS. TRITON PALMIPES.

1. Tail gradually tapering to a point. 1. Tail suddenly truncate before the apex,
and terminating in a slender filament
3 lines in length.

2. Hind feet having the toes free, only 2. Hind feet perfectly palmate, all the

edged by a membrane. toes united by a membrane.

3. Back with a very large, festooned, un- 3. Back flattened, with two elevated late-
dulating crest, which extends from ral lines passing above the eyes and
the nape of the head to the end of extending to the base of the tail.
the tail. No lateral elevated ridges. . The dorsal crest small and simple.

4. Length much greater than palmipes. 4. Size much smaller than punctatus.

I have penned this short note hecause I believe that facts relating to the geographi-
cal distribution of British animals on the Continent may be agreeable to some of the
readers of the ‘ Zoologist.’

JULIAN DEBY.
Laeken, July 11, 1848.

Crag Mollusca.*

I HAvE ever upheld the publication of monographs as a great and lasting boon to
Natural History. However limited the subject, we glean from a monograph all that
is known respecting it: hence a monograph may be compared to a lens that collects

* Paleontological Society. The Crag Mollusca, by Seartes V. Woop, F.G.S.

Mollusks. 2233

the scattered rays of light into a single point. Much, however, of the value of a mo-
nograph must depend on the author: he is not merely a describer, but a compiler, and
_it is most essential that he possess an intimate acquaintance with his subject ; for to
describe, however accurately, without a knowledge of prior descriptions (if such exist),
is mere waste of time, and to compile without a knowledge of the species intended by
the authors cited is mere dishonesty ; for guess-work is thus put forth in the garb of
fact. Mr. Wood’s volume is free from these errors: he is evidently master of his sub-
ject ; and although he seems to find a difficulty in expressing himself clearly, there is
sterling’ good sense at the bottom of all his observations.

It has lately become fashionable to deride all attempts at the classification of Mol-
lusca by means of their shells ; but I incline in this, as in many other instances, rather
to side with the derided than the deriders, simply because the figure and structure of
the shell may always be ascertained as a fact, while the figure and structure of the
animal must often remain a matter of speculation. I am aware that it is much easier
to attain a superficial knowledge of the animal than an intimate knowledge of the
shell: in the one case a few vague descriptions have to be perused ; in the other, a
multitude of individuals must be carefully and critically examined.

Mr. Wood observes that “ considerable difficulty has been experienced in selecting
an order of arrangement for the shells described. An immense: mass of information
regarding the soft parts of Mollusca has been obtained within the Jast few years ; and
the animal inhabitants of no less than five thousand species are now known and have
been examined; yet notwithstanding this additional information, we are still without
a natural classification to which anything like a general concurrence appears to have
been given ; and it is only necessary to compare such as have been most recently pub-
lished on the Continent with those of our own naturalists in England, to observe the
great dissimilarity between them. It has therefore been thought most advisable to em-
ploy the old artificial arrangement, with some slight modifications.” This shows
plainly enough that the knowledge of the animal is not yet sufficiently advanced to be
available even to a practical naturalist like Mr. Wood.

In speaking of the tendency to evade the labours of science as fashionable, I must
admit that we have many honorable exceptions: there are men now living and
working who know of no short cut to proficiency in knowledge,—who labour with a
zeal and earnestness of purpose that has rarely been equalled, never surpassed :
these, the working bees of science, stand out in happy contrast to the sybaritic
mass, the show-philosophers, who annually perambulate the country with parade
and feasting. Mr. Wood is one of the working bees, and his volume is evidently the
result of great labour and research,—a fact that will be sufficiently manifest to my
readers, when I state that one hundred and fifty works are referred to, more than six
hundred figures given, and the species which they represent carefully and minutely
described: of course the number of figures considerably exceeds that of species, as in
many instances the same shell is given in different positions and under different con-
ditions of age and size. The figures are by G. B. Sowerby, whose name alone is a
voucher for their excellence.

The following quotations set forth the plan of the work :—

“ The first portion of the present work contains descriptions of univalve shells, or
the calcareous remains of Gasteropodous Molluscs. The great variety of forms pre-
sented by the testaceous coverings of this class of animals depends upon the height or
length of the cone. This ranges through every degree of angularity, from the nearly

2234 Mollusks.

discoidal form exhibited by some of the Patelliform species, in which the cone is so
depressed as to form an angle, from the vertex tv the margin, of 170 degrees, to that
of an elongated tube, extended in some cases so much as to become nearly cylindrical,
and twisted into almost every conceivable form of spiral, for the convenience, or rather
according to the necessities, of the animal. Among the spiral shells these varying
forms are the result of an obliquity in the mode of growth, caused by a greater deve-
lopment or increase of one side of the opening, whereby an heliciform direction is
given to the shell in the process of enlargement. It is, perhaps, needless to say, that
the mode of increase or growth of the shell is by the successive deposition of calcareous
matter secreted by the mantle, and deposited on the margin of the aperture, and
moulded as it were upon the soft body of the animal, by which means the impress of
every peculiarity is formed, and permanently fixed in the calcareous covering. It
may, however, be observed, that some of the exterior ornaments of these shells are
formed by an extension or protrusion of the mantle, whereby a fimbriated, and some-
times a spinose, varix is formed upon the margin of the outer lip, producing many
varied and beautiful ornaments upon the spiral shell, which, however, have no cor-
responding characters upon the soft body of the animal. It is from these appearances
alone that presumed specific distinctions can be determined; and the characters
drawn from them, although they may be considered as somewhat extrinsic to the ani-
mal, are the only means afforded to the paleontologist for the determination of species.
From the recent researches of Mr. Bowerbank and Dr. Carpenter, in their microscopic
examinations into the structure of shells, it would appear that there is a more inti-
mate connexion between the animal and its envelope during its lifetime than could be
imagined by the supposition of a simple addition of earthy matter deposited upon its
cuticle; and that this strong covering is an organized body, and part and parcel of
the animal itself.

“ Important as are those observations and suggestions which bear considerably on
generic groups, and by which, perhaps, even minor distinctions may hereafter be
pointed out, the specific determinations referred to in the present Monograph have
not been submitted to such tests, but are merely drawn from the various external dif-
ferences existing in the shells, and which variations in structure are generally consi-
dered as resulting from some internal economy of the animal.

“ This mode of determination may, perhaps, be correctly applicable only to shells
in perfect condition ; whereas, some of those figured in this work have undergone con-
siderable alteration, either by the loss of colour and animal matter or by decomposition
of the outer coating, while many of them have sustained mutilation by the mechanical
action of the waves. These accumulated difficulties are serious impediments to accu-
rate comparisons ; and the identifications in many cases must be looked upon only as
approximations: a correct Marine Fauna of this period will, it is to be feared, be for
many years to come a desideratum.

“ In regard to the admeasurement of shells in the present work, minute fractional
descriptions have not been very particularly attended to, but a general approximation
only has been given, from a belief that a comparison of the dimensions of the aperture
and the axis of a shell is a test of fallacious dependence. In many instances, speci-
mens of the same species have a much greater range in variation than, as a general
character, would be exhibited between two proximate species; the aperture in some
individuals being equal to two thirds of the length of axis, while in others of the same |
species it does not exceed one third. In an elevated or cylindrically formed shell,

Mollusks. 2235

with numerous volutions, the aperture of a young individual bears a greater proportion
to the axis of the shell than it does when the animal is fully grown; and it is not al-
ways possible to ascertain when an individual has reached a state of maturity. The

form of the aperture is nearly the same at all ages or states of the individual, but the

lengthening or shortening of the convoluted cone, which may be the result of external
causes, will materially affect any mathematical proportion that may be assumed as a
standard for specific determination ; and the spiral angle, or angle of volution,* upon
which some continental conchologists have placed so great reliance, is a test, in my
opinion, equally illusory and deceptive. In Littorina littorea, for example, the varia-
tions extend, in what I firmly believe to be individuals of the same species, from a
subulate or tapering form of volution, denoting an angle of scarcely twenty degrees, to
another form which, by the application of the same rule, would show an angle of
ninety degrees; this may be seen in Plate X., where the figures are by no means ex-
aggerated, but rather fall short of the two extremes. A like want of permanent regu-
larity in proportionate dimensions is equally exhibited in the Acephala or bivalve
mollusks; and minute attention to accurate detail or mathematical proportions is
rarely to be depended upon, even in that class. In some species, of which the general
form may be considered as transverse, the character may be traced through trifling and
almost imperceptible gradations until it is decidedly elongate, so that mathematical
proportions in such cases are of no determinate value. This is more particularly evi-
dent in some of the species in the Crag formations, where, perhaps, a rather more
than ordinary degree of variation may be seen; and such are the extraordinary varie-
ties in many of the species, that no reliance can be placed, for specific determination,
upon minute proportionate dimensions, although, as an auxiliary, they may in some
cases be usefully referred to.”

The mode in which the author has executed his task appears to me highly credit-
able, and the work must at once take rank as one of the most valuable contributions
science has received during the year. I would, however, extend a word of advice to
the publishers, if by that name I may call the managers of the Society, in whose name
the volume is issued: they appear to be at present very raw in all the details of getting
out a book, and the result is that the present volume is half-spoiled in the issuing :
the binding is a flimsy piece of pasted paper, and yet the edges are cut down as though
the book were bound in calf and gilt; the paper for the plates is not large enough ;
and again, the letter-press of such a costly work should have been hot-pressed: these
rather important faults arise partially from a false economy, a sort of penny-wise-
pound-foolish system, and partly from the absolute want of the requisite trade-know-
ledge of these secondary but still essential details. I trust that in future publications
they will be reformed.— Edward Newman.

“* The angle formed by a line drawn from the vertex on each side of the shell,
which varies, of course, upon the greater or less depression of the volution, the sutural
angle, also, depending upon the same cause.”

2236 Insects.

Occurrence of Colias Hyale near Wolverton.—I observed a single specimen of this
butterfly on the bank of a cutting, near Wolverton, on the London and North-Western
Railway, on the 10th of August. Next year the lustrum of this insect will be again
complete, and it will be interesting to watch for its appearance as in 1828, 1835 and
1842.— Edward Newman.

Occurrence of Vanessa Antiopa near Battel.—A friend of mine saw this butterfly
yesterday, settled on a wall: he threw his cap at it, but missed it—J. B. Ellman ;
Battel, August, 1848.

Occurrence of the Females of Zeuzera Arundinis.—1I discovered a male specimen
of this singular species floating in a ditch in Holme Fen, some years since: till the
present season no others have occurred. In June last two females were taken near
the same spot: one of these is in my possession, the other in that of my friend
Thomas Henry Allis.— Henry Doubleday ; E'ppiny, July 15, 1848.

Occurrence of Cerura latifascia near Leeds—I have this summer bred a specimen
of the rare and elegant Cerura latifascia of Curtis, from a caterpillar found in this
neighbourhood, on the common sallow, last 8th month. It emerged from the chry-
salis about five weeks since.—A. Shipley ; Headingley, near Leeds, 7th mo. 27th, 1848.

Occurrence of Harpalyce sagittaria near Peterborough.—A single example of this
pretty species was obtained last season near Peterborough, but I believe it was not in
very good condition. A splendid female was sent to me from the same neighbourhood
this week. It is a rare species on the Continent, and occurs principally in Hungary.
I believe it has never been captured in France.—Henry Doubleday ; Epping, July 15,
1848.

Capture of Pterophorus pulveridactylus (Haworth) at Battel.—I took one specimen
of this insect about the 20th of June last, by sweeping water-grasses here, and had
another in my net, which escaped. The former is in the possession of my cousin, Mr.
W. Thomson.—J. B. Ellman ; Battel, August, 1848. ;

Capture of Lepidoptera at Battel, Sussew.—In the ‘ Zoologist’ for March last
(Zool. 2032), I have recorded some captures made by me. This season I have taken
a few more rarities, which will show the richness of my entirely neglected locality.

Orthosia munda and miniosa. March, on sallows.

Dasystoma salicella. March, on sallows.

Brepha Parthenias. April, on birch trees.

Chaonia roboris. May, on grass.

Argyromiges roborella and tenella. May, by beating.

Diaphora mendica. May, on grass.

Heliodes heliaca. May, on grass.

Cleora cinctaria. May, by beating.

Erastria fuscula. May, by beating.

Euthalia impluviaria. May, by beating.

Ephyra omicronaria. May, by beating.

Agrotis putris. June, at sugar.

Apatela leporina. June, at sugar.

Dipthera Orion. June, at sugar. ‘

Hemithea cythisaria. June, bred.

Pterophorus calodactylus, leucodactylus and fuscodactylus, June, by sweeping.

Cleoceris viminalis. July, at sugar,

Phycita roborella and consociella. July, at sugar.

a
.

Insects. | 2237

Callimorpha miniata. July, on heath.

Miana arcuosa. July, at sugar.

Harpagus albistrigella. July, on water grasses.

Cybosia mesomella. July, flying.

Chersotis porphyrea. July, at sugar.

Nola monachalis and strigulalis. July, by beating.

Ilythia soctella. July, at sugar. :

Ilythia roborella. July, by beating.

Clediobia albistrigalis. . July, at sugar.

Acidalia inornata. July, flying.

Hipparchus papilionarius. July, flying.—J. B. Ellman ; Battel, August, 1848.

Remarks on the Stinging of Gnats—Baron Humboldt, in his ‘ Personal Narrative,’
p. 114, observes, with regard to a species of gnat called in South America, the ‘ zanendo,’
that “if left to suck to satiety undisturbed, no swelling takes place, and no pain is
left behind.” He also says, “ that on presenting quietly the back of the hand to the
Culex cyanopterus, I observed that the pain, very violent in the beginning, diminishes
in proportion as the insect continues to suck ; and ceases altogether when it voluntarily
flies away.” These passages are quoted by Mr. Jenyns, in his ‘ Observations on Na-
tural History,’ with the remark that he had never noticed anything like it in the case
of our English Culices. I think I have, as the following fact will show. Some years
ago, when sitting in conversation with a friend, a gnat—or gnat-like insect if not a
gnat—settled upon my left hand, close to where the bones from the fore-finger and
thumb unite ; and where—in my own left hand, at least, if not in others—the pulsa-
tions of the blood can be at all times distinctly seen. As soon as the insect had
alighted, and almost, indeed, while alighting, it introduced its proboscis or sucker into
the skin, just where the pulsations were most visible. My friend being, like myself,
a lover of Natural History, begged me to let it stay—which I very willingly did. The
insect thus undisturbed remained sucking till it was satiated, and till its abdomen had
become quite red with the blood it had imbibed ; after which it flew away. But nei-
ther then nor during the operation did I experience the least pain; nor did any
swelling follow ; nor was any sign left in the way of discoloration or perceptible punc-
ture to show that such an insect had been at work. That it was a gnat I have no
doubt in my own mind; inasmuch as, so far as I could judge, it was precisely like
many others which I have so often bred, when a boy, from the singular comma-like
pupe so abundant in stagnant waters, If so, there appear to me to be only two ways
of accounting for the entire absence of pain. One is, by supposing that the insect in
this case was a male, and that the female alone has the power of inflicting a sting :
this is somewhat countenanced by an observation Mr. Jenyns has made himself, that
“ the gnats which bite appear to him to be almost all females ;”— a fact, he says, also
noticed by Humboldt with regard to the Culices of South America: moreover, it is
in strict analogy with what we know of other insects,—the bees, for instance, where
the queen bee, or perfect female, and neuters, or imperfect females, have the power of
stinging, whereas the drones or male bees are without it. Or if this theory is untena-
ble, I have another. Possibly there are some constitutions so framed as to be un-
stingable, at least by gnats; and mine may be one of them. Otherwise I know not
how to account for the fact, that though I have frequently been where such insects
abounded, and where many other persons have been stung, I myself have always
escaped. I used to attribute this either to my being very unsavoury, or to some

VI 20

2238 Insects.

instinctive knowledge on the part of the gnats as to my being somewhat indigestible for
them ; but both these suppusitions were overturned by the fact of this one having once
condescended to try my tap. These, however, are guesses, and I should not have sent
them, therefore, to a journal for recording facts, were it not for a hope that they may
elicit other facts either in disproof or confirmation of my theories, and may posssibly
serve as hints to future observers on this interesting subject as to how and what to ob-
serve.—W. S. Lewis ; Trinity College, Cambridge, August 19, 1848.

Complexity in the Condition of Animals, by Jonathan Couch, Esq., F.L.S., &¢e.*—
In studying the ordinary condition of living creatures, it appears obvious, that how-
ever numerous their natural endowments may be, no single one of them is capable of
attaining the highest excellence of its nature by its own unaided powers; and that
mentally, as well as bodily, it is not to the advantage of the race that they should pur-
sue the end of their existence in a solitary state.

In the highest class of beings, whatever be the advantage which the mind sighs
after, the want is felt to belong more to the mental than to the physical nature ; and
by a sacrifice of some conveniences on the one hand, and by industry on the other, it
is possible that man may advance through the stages of growth, from youth to age,
unaided and alone. But such is not the case, with regard even to the bodily facul-
ties, in several classes of animals of a lower rank in the scale of existence; there are
some that, to cursory examination, appear to occupy an anomalous position, forming
exceptions to the regular course of ‘Nature. _ And yet a deeper inquiry shows that by
such a conclusion we give proof of our imperfect apprehension of the order manifest
in creation. We suppose the variation to be an interruption of a determined scheme ;
and, by this misapprehension, presume to conclude that the departure from what we
judge the proper line of proceeding is a defect in Nature.

These observations apply, in an especial manner, to some remarkable circumstances
which occur in the changes that take place in the course of transition of some families
of insects from one of their forms to another. These phenomena are so different from
the ordinary course of Nature in kindred classes, that they excite doubts as to the
truth of facts which observers teach us; and when the accuracy of the observations
are established beyond question, it produces the inquiry,—what reason can be assigned
why such caprice has been manifested in creatures which, to our views, might have
fulfilled the little duties of their existence in a much simpler manner ?

In the latter question there is a tendency to an inquiry after final causes. This,
however excellent in itself, would, in our present state of knowledge, more frequently
mislead or disappoint than instruct the student of Nature. And therefore, without
attempting to pronounce that there is an intentional conformity between the natural
or bodily deficiencies of these lower creatures, and the modes of supplying them in
those of the higher orders; it yet appears justifiable to adduce them as instances of an
analogy which creatures of one family, however remote in the order of existence, are
found to bear to those of other families. And these links, even when the closer bands
of affinity cannot reach them, yet assimilate the apparent discord into an harmonious
whole.

Our idea of an animal may be taken from man himself; who in his passage from

* Reprinted from the Report for 1847 of the Penzance Natural-History and An-
tiquarian Society,

a

Insects. 2239

the condition of infancy to age, has separate duties to perform in every stage :—joys
that are congenial to each period, and separate dangers to escape. The proportions
of these may differ ; for man varies from other animals, in passing through a longer

‘state of pupilage; and there is also assigned to him the period of old age, which is a

valuable condition in the system of human life, but which wild animals would find a
state of unmixed suffering. But, setting aside these exceptions, his animal life does
not differ more from that of other creatures than theirs from each other. So different
are the ideas, wishes, and modes of action, of one stage of existence from that of ano-
ther, that if consciousness could be withdrawn but for an instant, the comparison
would scarcely leave him to suppose himself to be the same person. It is one of the
analogies in Nature to which we have referred. The changes which thus pass over
man and many other creatures in the ordinary mutations of their lives, and which are
comprised in the successive development of organs, with their subsequent inactivity
and decay, are in others, of a lower rank, brought about by a process almost resem-
bling a new creation; and which condition, because it appears more perfect, and
sometimes lasts for an exceedingly short portion of time, has caused it to be said that
their lives are reduced to the very shortest span. Such is the case with the Epheme-
ra fly ; and, as many insects enjoy a sportive existence for many weeks or months in
the summer, pity has been expressed for the frail condition of a creature which in a
very few hours must die either from exhaustion or old age. But it should be remem-
bered that a much longer period of its life has been passed in a state which, to the
creature, was not less a condition of enjoyment; and that the short-lived winged con-
dition is assumed only for a brief space in order to accomplish a specific object not
otherwise within its powers. The suddenness with which the change is begun and
ended, and not the greatness of the mutation, is the chief subject of our surprise and
admiration.

The insect genus Aphis includes many species, but they resemble each other in
their most curious particulars. The Aphis is a little obscure fly which would escape

attention if it did not sometimes appear in enormous numbers, and show itself capa-

ble of inflicting injury on some valuable vegetables, by piercing the skin and sucking
the sap. Curiosity could scarcely fail to be excited by the manner of their appear-
ance; for they are commonly found suddenly congregated in situations to which they
could not have ascended from the ground; and it is difficult to imagine how they
could have arrived through the air, for few, perhaps none that are visible, are furnished
with wings. Their habits are inert, and they are as incapable, as they are indisposed,
to wander from their situation.

The researches which explained the mystery of the first appearance of this insect
developed a series of circumstances still more unaccountable. It was found that, un-
like the Ephemera, which assumes its winged condition for the purpose of depositing
its eggs, for in this state only is it capable of continuing its race, the Aphis multiplies
its kind only in the wingless or penultimate state; the young ones being produced
alive, in a form that differs from the parent only in size. But while through the
summer all the parents, for nine ‘successive generations, are fertile females, yet when
winter is near the final brood is constituted of both sexes, and eggs are deposited,
which endure the cold, and, in spring, produce the broods that again pass through this
remarkable process.

There are insects which deposit eggs when in the condition of larve or maggots,
which is a degree considerably short of the full development of their perfect type, and

s

2240 Insects.

from which therefore the females never emerge. Mr. Guilding discovered this in a
moth of the West Indies, where the female never joined her winged mate in his flight.
Mr. Newman has shown the same in the British insect Stylops ; and the reason must
be, that this immediate condition is not only equal to, but best fitted for, the duty.

In the Aphis, it appears that the freshness of perpetual youth is necessary to the
production of a continual succession of fertile young. And as this condition is soon
passed in each individual, the advantage is secured, by imparting to each one the
power of replacing the required condition in a new generation; and thus time at least
is inultiplied, by compelling a succession of generations to perform the duties of what
otherwise might belong to a single individual.

But while Aphides require a definite stage of existence for each one to perform
this great duty of existence, there are creatures which, beside passing through some
changes, in each of which peculiar functions are displayed, divide in their organiza-
tion the separate portions of what may be termed their perfect condition; and, by this
separation of function, are better qualified to fulfil the complex character which con-
stitutes the completeness of their being. The common honey bee is a familiar exam-
ple of this. The utility and existence of the males are confined to a short period ; and
it is probable that the masculine organization will not admit of their fulfilling any
other function which can be of advantage to the community. But their case affords
a singular exception to the ordinary course of Nature, which usually closes by natural
decay the life that is no longer required for the public benefit. The surviving orders
in this regal state are so distinct, that they might be thought to be of a different genera
of insects; and yet a similar law pervades their nature. The workers are only par-
tially developed, because this condition is sufficiently perfect to qualify them for all
their duties ; and any additional organization might stand in the way of the uniformity
of their proceedings. Of this fact they seem themselves to be conscious, and even ap-
pear to appreciate the influences that lead to, or annul it; for when it is judged by
the community that their female sovereignty is in danger of being lost, they are able
to procure by appropriate nourishment the development from an inferior condition, of
what at first sight might be pronounced a distinct species.

A solitary creature must possess the power of supplying all its wants; but the ca-
pacity for this is more frequently obtained by limiting the wants than by enlarging
the powers. Gregarious animals have more necessities,—beyond the reach of the
powers of an individual to supply ; they are therefore compelled to divide their efforts,
in order that their combined means may secure the advantages of provision and de-
fence, otherwise out of their reach. Faculties become thus increased by division, and
time by the distribution of effort; a few organs, by a difference of direction, being
trained to perform work which, under another system, would demand the labour of
many. In man, an arrangement like this obtains efficiency in intellectual effort as
well as in mechanical dexterity ; and it is the converse of the same principle which
shows itself in creatures of the lowest level; in some classes of which the individual
literally ceases to be a separate being, and its actions are so fused into those of ano-
ther, as not to be entitled to even the possession of a separate share of vitality. It
forms the principle of vegetation, but is common, also, in the lower marine animals,
which consist of agglutinated individuals, that thus form a mechanical analogy with
the most lofty attainment of intellectual existence.

Insects. 2241

Description of the Genus Dasypoda, belonging to the Fumily Andre-
nide. By Freperick Smit, Esq., Curator to the Entomological
Society.

Dasypona, Fab., Latr., Curtis.
Apis, Fab. Andrena, Panzer. Trachusa, Jurine. Melitta, Kirby.

Generic characters.—Antenne filiform, geniculated; 12-jointed in
the female, 13-jointed in the male. The labrum transverse, the an-
terior margin ciliated. The mandibles arcuate, bidentate at their
apex, pubescent beneath towards their base ; the stemmata placed in
a slight curve on the vertex ; the maxille elongate, ciliated with long
hair at their base; the terminal lobe lanceolate, slightly pubescent at
the extreme apex. The maxillary palpi 6-jointed, the labial palpi
4-jointed. The tongue inflexed. The wings with two submarginal
cells.

Female.—DasyrPoDA HIRTIPES, Fab.

Dasypoda Swammerdamella, Curtis.
Andrena plumipes, Panzer.
succincta, Panzer ?

Melitta Swammerdamella, Kirby.

Male.—Dasypopa HIRTA, Fab.

Apis farfarisequa, Panz., not Scopoli.

Female.— (Length 7 lines). Black; the pubescence on the face
cinereous, very pale fulvous on the cheeks, and black on the vertex.
Thorax, the pubescence fulvous above, intermixed with black be-
tween the wings; on the sides and beneath it is pale fulvous; the
tegule nigro-piceous; the wings hyaline, slightly clouded at their
apical margins, the nervures rufo-piceous; all the femora beneath are
fringed with very pale fulvous hair; on the anterior tibie and tarsi
above, as well as on the intermediate tarsi above, it is fuscous ; on
the intermediate tibiz above it is fulvous; on the anterior and inter-
mediate tarsi beneath it is rufous; the posterior tibiz and basal joint
of the tarsi clothed with long fulvous pubescence; the calcaria and
apical joint of the tarsi testaceous. Abdomen subovate, clothed with

2242 Insects.

short black pubescence; the base has a thin clothing of pale pu-
bescence, and on the apical margins (which are piceous) of the
second, third and fourth segments, is a fascia of white pubescence,
the first generally interrupted ; the apical fimbria sooty black.

Male.—(Length 6 lines). Black; the pubescence above is long,
and of a pale fulvous, rather darker on the thorax; beneath it is
nearly white; the face clothed with white pubescence; the antennz
filiform, nigro-piceous beneath, not so long as the head and thorax ;
the wings as in the female; the basal joint of the posterior tarsi
elongate, clothed beneath with fulvous pubescence; the calcarie and
apical joint of the tarsi testaceous. Abdomen ovate-lanceolate, the
apical margins of the segments testaceous; the second, third, fourth
and fifth segments have a fascia of white pubescence, the two first
generally interrupted. |

This very elegant insect is rather local. I have taken it at Birch
Wood, Paul’s Cray, Charlton and Gravesend, Kent; at Weybridge,
Surrey; and at Hawley, Hants. At Southend it occurs in great
profusion ; also at Budleigh-Salterton, Devon, as I am informed by
Mr. Walcott. Mr. Kirby captured it at Barham, Suffolk; and Mr.
Curtis in the Isle of Wight: so that it is met with in many localities
in the West of England, but I have not heard of its having been
observed in the North. I have frequently met with the burrows
which they form in banks of a light sandy soil; and have dug them
out at the beginning of August in their perfect beauty of colouring,
which in the male soon fades from a pale orange or fulvous to an
uniform gray. This genus appears to form a connecting link between
Macropis and Panurgus. Dasypoda usually appears about the be-
ginning of August; but this depends in some degree upon the
weather, which has considerable influence upon the appearance of
all the aculeate Hymenoptera, sometimes retarding their appearance
three or four weeks, or causing them to be as much earlier. I
have taken the female of Dasypoda as late as the 6th of Sep-
tember.

FREDERICK SMITH.

5, High Street, Newington,
August, 1848.

z Physical Atlas. 2243

The Physical Atlas.*

Tus elaborate work, which is just finished, conveys to the mind a greater quantity
of information than could be gained in any manner equally expeditious. As a glance
at a map gives a more complete and correct idea of the figure of a continent or island
than could be expressed in words, so do the maps of facts in this Atlas give a more
thorough insight into physical phenomena than could be gained by any amount of
reading. Where the body of facts is so immense, and the description of information
so diversified, it follows almost as a matter of course that errors should occasionally
creep in and omissions now and then occur. <A few such might perhaps be detected ;
but I notice this simply for the sake of asserting that a careful and critical examina-
tion of several of the maps in detail has convinced me that the greatest care has been
taken in making them as perfect as possible: and I have great pleasure in pro-
nouncing the ‘ Physical Atlas’ an inestimable treasure to the man of science; and in
recommending it most cordially to the readers of the ‘ Zoologist.’

I quote the prospectus in order to give a better idea of the undertaking than any
description I could draw up for the occasion, and I advisedly pronounce that the
work itself fully bears out all that the publishers say in its favour.

“ For imparting information, or for retaining what may already be possessed, those
means are calculated to be most successful which readily commend themselves to the
eye. Hence ordinary Geographical Maps convey more rapid and accurate knowledge
regarding the positions of places, and their relative distances from each other, than
can be done by the most elaborate verbal description; but the inventive genius of
Professor Berghaus has imparted a significance to symbolical representation, transcend-
ing all the anticipations which have been formed regarding the capabilities of the art.
The contents of the many volumes which formerly were the sole depositories of infor-
mation regarding the different kingdoms of nature, have been condensed and repro-
duced in a graphic shape, in his ‘ Physical Atlas, with a conciseness, precision, com-
pleteness, and promptitude of expression altogether unattainable by any agency
previously employed. And not only has this been the case in the reproduction of the
reading matter contained in books, but the process has been extended to the transmu-
tation of the masses of statistical data expressed in the Tabular enumerations of works
of reference. The elegant substitute of Linear Delineation registers the most com-
plicated results in a perspicuous form, and affords inexhaustible facilities for recording
the continued advances of science. In the emphatic language of the late President
of the Royal Geographical Society, ‘ Professor Berghaus has made the progress of
science visible ’—he has mapped out the length and breadth of philosophic research,
and shown what it has done, and what it has left undone, in expounding the physical
constitution of the Globe.

“ The Physical Atlas has been the labour of many years; and in addition to sci-
entific qualifications of the highest order, and an intimate acquaintance with the
writings and discoveries of Brewster, Sabine, Jameson, Whewell, Greenough, Hum-
boldt, Von Buch, Arago, and other distinguished names in modern research, Professor

* ‘The Physical Atlas, a Series of Maps illustrating the Geographical Distribu-
tion of Natural Phenomena. »By Henry Berenavs, LL.D., and ALEXANDER
Keitn Jounston, F.R.G.S. Edinburgh: Johnston. London: Saunders. Glas-
gow : Lumsden.’ :

2244 Physical Atlas.

Berghaus has had facilities for the accnrate and extensive execution of the under-
taking beyond what any other individual could be expected to possess. Geography
forms a part of the course of education to all persons preparing for public service in
Prussia’; and with that sedulous attention to the cultivation of physical philosophy,
which characterizes the German mind, the whole of the military force and mercantile
marine of the Prussian Government are expected to report minutely on the geographi-
cal condition of every country which they visit; and from his position as Principal of
the National Geographical Institute, the most valuable reports and surveys have been
made under the special direction of Professor Berghaus, and with reference to the
completion of his arduous task.

‘In the ‘ National Atlas,’ Mr. Johnston presented the British public with some
specimens of this meritorious work, which had the effect of eliciting earnest requests
from members of the Geographical Society, and other learned bodies, to publish an
English edition of the whole; and in compliance with their wishes, this important
publication is now about to be commenced. The documents, which will be found in
another part of this prospectus, will evince the interest excited by the work, as well as
authoritatively indicate the superior manner in which the present edition will be pro-
duced. :

“ A liberal selection from the designs and copious MS. and letter-press descriptions
of Professor Berghaus will constitute the basis of the new Atlas—a copyright arrange-
ment having been made with him for the purpose ; but instead of being a reprint from
the original plates, the Maps will not only be larger in size, and more complete, but
will contain the latest corrections from his own hand; and in addition to this, Maps
on subjects not treated of by Professor Berghaus will be constructed by Mr. Johnston,
under the superintendence of competent writers, in order that the whole may be in
unison with the state of science in Britain up to the period of publication.

‘No theories founded on mere hypothesis will be introduced. All the Maps, so
far as can be ascertained, will embody the results of actual observation and experiment.
Indeed, the plan of linear delineation provides, to some extent, a guarantee against
crude speculation, as it compels all systems io assume a definite shape, readily suscep-
tible of direct examination as separate truths, or relatively, as they are in consonance
with cosmical laws universally admitted. There will, however, be introduced on all
snitable occasions, such inductive data as seem to point at the solution of unexplained
phenomena—a course which, it is presumed, is not beyond the proper sphere of the
work, and which may not be unattended with advantage to scientific inquiry.

“ But the predominating rule, both in the selection and treatment of subjects, will
be utility, in the widest sense of the term. The projectors do not wish to deal with
science for abstract purposes ; they wish to deal with it as developing the resources of
Nature, and as guiding art in adapting these to the exigencies of Man. They, there-
fore, solicit attention to this Atlas, as a repertory of ascertained facts and principles,
bearing directly on many of the most important departments of human occupation.
To the political economist, man of letters, merchant, fhanufacturer, navigator, and
tradesman, the work will be of great practical advantage ; while to the professor and
teacher it cannot fail to be of inestimable service, in materially facilitating the im-
portant business of education.”.-—Edward Newman.

Insects. 2245

Killing Insects by Heat—As Mr. Duff’s method may not be entirely practicable
to all entomologists, from the want of suitable apparatus, permit me to offer the plan
I follow, which is most simple. It is this:—Having returned from collecting, I lay
aside all my pill-boxes containing specimens of Micro-Lepidoptera until morning, if
inconvenient to kill them the same night. During the summer season, I place a small
tin stand (a tripod, the legs of wire or small iron) over a lighted candle, and place my
pill-boxes upon the stand. A second or two will cause life to be extinct. I then turn
out the insects upon a sheet of white paper, and either set them at once or pin them
and relax them at leisure. There is no necessity whatever to pin the insects before
killing them. My other method of killing specimens taken at sugar, is, next morning
to turn them out of the boxes upon a dark piece of paper, pin them, and immediately
prick them in the throat with a fine-pointed steel pen dipped in oxalic acid dissolved
in water: this acid does not act upon the pin or injure the insect.—J. Johnson ; 27,
Kensington Square, September 8, 1848.

Nest of Honey-bees in a blank Window.—Among my manuscript notes on Natural
History in 1842 I find the following: “ September 6, 1842. Adwick Hall, near Don-
caster. Took bees’ nest, formed in a blank window in one of the attic bed-rooms.
Weight of comb and honey [60 tbs.” A swarm of bees had been noticed some years
previous to have taken up their quarters within the casement of this window; but as
it was at a considerable height from the ground, they were left unmolested. The
swarms yearly thrown off appropriated other compartments in the same old mullioned
window, and at each new emigration the humming became more and more audible
within the room, which was separated from the scene of their labours by a very narrow
partition. The nest was taken from within; and it required a considerable removal
of laths and mortar to enable the captor to secure the combs, which were literally tier
above tier to the height of some feet.—Peter Inchbald ; Storthes Hall, Huddersfield,
September 5, 1848.

Singular Monstrosity in the Antenna of Lamia textor—A specimen of Lamia textor
was captured near Bristol, by Mr. F. V. Jacques of that city, having the basal joint
of the left antenna much enlarged, and exhibiting a socket whence one or more joints
had been broken. The insect was captured on the 18th of July, 1848.—Frederick
Smith ; Newington, August, 1848.

Note on the Capture of Lamia textor.—I have been extremely fortunate in cap-
turing eleven specimens. of this rare and noble insect. I took them late in the evening
in a willow-bed in this neighbourhood, some feeding on the young shoots and others
crawling up. I am inclined to think it is a nocturnal species, as I have often been in
the same locality in the day-time, and earlier in the evening, but never saw a speci-
men before. I kept some of them alive for several days, and in confinement one or
two of them fed by day as well as in the evening: they eat the leaves and bark of the
young branches, and require to be kept in large or strong boxes, or they will eat their
way out: I had one eat its way through a chip box, and another through a pill-box,
but I had taken the precaution of enclosing those boxes in a larger one, or I should
have lost both specimens. The following are the dates of the captures :—August 7,
four specimens ; August 8, one specimen; August 12, three specimens; August 17,
two specimens; August 19, one specimen.—Stephen Barton ; Upper Maudlin Street,
Bristol, August 23, 1848.

NS)
ao]

VI

2246 ‘Insects.

Descriptions of Aphides. By F. Watxer, Esq.
(Continued from page 2221).

Aphides on the Corn Marigold (Chrysanthemum segetum).
Apuis SoNcHI, var. ?

The wingless viviparous female. This is a pale brown variety of Aphis Centauree.
The body is oval, convex, smooth, shining, and has a metallic tinge above: there is a
rim on each side of the abdomen ; its back is sometimes tinged with green, and its tip
beneath is black: the antenne are black and as long as the body: the rostrum is
black: the tip of the abdomen and the tubes are pale yellow; the latter are black at
the base and at the tips, and are rather more than one-fourth of the length of the
body : the legs are long and pale yellow; the coxe, the tarsi, and the tips of the thighs
and of the tibia, are black.

Apruis DIANTHI ?

The wingless viviparous female. The body is small, pale green, oval, convex,
shining: the antenne are pale yellow and much longer than the body; the tips of the
joints are black: the rostrum is pale yellow ; its tip and the eyes are black: the tubes
are also pale yellow, with black tips, and as long as one-third of the body : the legs
are long and pale yellow; the knees, the tarsi and the tips of the tibiz are black.

The winged viviparous female. This, while a pupa, is grass-green and nearly
linear: the head is pale green.

It feeds also on the scarlet pimpernel (Anagallis arvensis).

APHIS PERSOLA.

The winged viviparous female. While a pupa the body is small, elliptical, rather
flat, pale green, and slightly mottled with darker green: the antenne are black, pale
yellowish green towards the base, and nearly as long as the body: the rostrum is pale
yellow; its tip and the eyes are black: the tubes are pale green, with black tips,
slightly spindle-shaped, and as long as one-sixth of the body : the legs are pale green ;
the tarsi and the tips of the tibie are black.

It feeds also on the scarlet pimpernel (Anagallis arvensis).

Arnis DIANTHI?

The winged viviparous female. While a pupa it is pale, sometimes streaked with
black, and slightly tinged with green: the antenne are black, yellow at the base, and
as long as the body: the rostrum is yellow; its tip and the eyes are black: the tubes
are yellow, with black tips, and about one-fifth of the length of the body: the legs are
yellow; the knees, the tarsi and the tips of the tibia are black. In the winged state
it is black: the abdomen is dark yellowish green; its disk is almost, and it has
a row of black dots on each side: the antenne are a little longer than the body; the
base of the third joint is pale yellow: the rostrum is pale yellow, with a black tip:

Insects. 2247

the tubes are dull yellow, with black tips, and about one-fifth of the length of the
body: the legs are pale yellow; the tarsi, the tips of the tibie, and the thighs from
the middle to the tips, are black: the wings are colourless; the squamule and the
costal veins are yellow; the stigmata and the other veins are brown.

These species were found near Fleetwood in the beginning of October.

Aphides on the Scarlet Pimpernel (Anagallis arvensis).
APHIS NIGRO-RUFA.

The wingless viviparous female. The body is black, narrow, linear, and rather flat :
the prothorax is dull red; the fore border, the hind border and the under-side are
pale red: the abdomen is dark red: the antenne are black and very much longer
than the body: the rostrum is yellow; its tip and the eyes are black: the tubes are
dull yellow, with black tips, and as long as one-fourth of the body: the legs are yellow
and very long; the thighs from the middle to the tips, the tarsi and the tips of the
tibiz are black.

Apuis Rumicis?

The wingless viviparous female. The body is small, black, oval, convex, slightly
shining, dull brown beneath: the rostrum is dull yellow, with a black tip: the tubes
are yellow and as long as one-fourth of the body: the legs are long and dull yellow;
the tarsi, and the tips of the thighs and of the tibix, are black.

Aphides on the Cedar of Lebanon (Larix Cedrus).
APHIS SEJUNCTA.

The wingless viviparous female. The body is greenish yellow, mottled with bright
red, rather large, oval, plump, smooth, shining: the antennz are black, dull red at the
base, and a little longer than the body: the eyes are bright red:.the mouth is pale
red ; its tip is black: the tubes are black, yellow at the base, and as long as one-fourth
of the body: the legs are yellow, long and hairy; the tarsi, and the tips of the thighs
and of the tibie, are black.

Near London, before the middle of June.

Aphides on the Ground Ivy (Glechoma hederacea).
ApHis GLECHOMA.

The wingless viviparous female. The body is pale green, oval, convex, smooth,
shining: the head is almost white: the antenne are brown, longer than the body,
pale green at the base: the eyes are dark brown: the rostrum is pale green ; its tip is
brown: the tubes are also pale green, with brown tips, and hardly one-sixth’ of the
length of the body: the legs are slender and very pale green ; the tarsi are brown.

Near London, at the end of April.

2248 Insects.

Aphides on the Sea Lavender (Statice Limonium).
Apuis Soncui, var.?

The wingless viviparous female. The body is oval, convex, dull olive-green, not
shining, of moderate size: the antenne are yellow, black at the base and towards the
tips, and as long as the body: the rostrum is dull yellow; its tip and the eyes are
black: the tubes are dull yellow, with black tips, and about one-sixth of the length of
the body: the legs are dull yellow and rather long; the tarsi, and the tips of the
thighs and of the tibie, are black ; the hind shanks are slightly dilated from the base
to the middle.

Near Fleetwood, in the beginning of October.

Aphides on the Woodruff (Asperula odorata).
Aputs ASPERULZ.

The wingless viviparous female. The body is reddish brown, pale red beneath,
oval, convex, shining, rather broad and shallow: the antenne are brown, slender, se-
taceous, shorter than the body, dull buff towards the base, which is dark brown: the
eyes are dark brown: the rostrum is brown; its base is pale red: there is a rim anda
row of impressions on each side of the back: the tubes are brown, and between one-
fourth and one-fifth of the length of the body: the legs are pale buff, slender and
moderately long; the tarsi and the tips of the tibie are brown. When young the
body is linear and pale red: the head, antennz, rostrum, tubes and legs are somewhat
darker.

Near London, in the beginning of May.

The winged viviparous female. While a pupa the body is red: the antenne are
pale red and as long as the body ; their tips are brown: the tubes are as long as one-
fourth of the body ; their tips are brown: the legs are pale red and moderately long ;
the tarsi are brown: the rudimentary wings are pale red. The wings are unfolded in
the beginning of June, and the body is then dark reddish brown and shining: the an-
tenne are black and as long as the body: the eyes are black: the rostrum is pale
yellow; its tip is brown: the tubes are black, and as long as one-sixth of the body:
the legs are long and pale yellow; the hind thighs except the base, the tarsi, and the
tips of the thighs and of the tibie, are brown: the wings are colourless and much
longer than the body; the squamule are pale yellow; the stigmata are dull yellow ;
the veins are pale brown.

It disappears before the beginning of July.

Aphides on the Germander (Veronica Chamedrys).
ApuHIs VERONICE.

The wingless viviparous female. The body is very small, oval, convex, smooth,
shining, and of a very dark olive colour or almost black: there is a rim on each
side of the body: the antenne are black, slender, setaceous, and more than half
the length of the body: the eyes are dark brown: the rostrum is black: the tubes are

Insects. 2249

also black and nearly one-fourth of the length of the body: the legs are dark green
and of moderate length. The young ones are like their mothers, but more dull, flat
and linear; their colour, when very young, is dark green.

Near London, in the spring; it disappears soon after the beginning of summer.

Aphides on the Meadow Flea-wort (Pulicaria dysenterica).
Apuis Rumicis.

The winged viviparous female. While a pupa it is of moderate size, elliptical,
black, dull, with a row of white spots on each side of the abdomen: the under-side of
the thorax is covered with a white bloom: the antenne are black, dirty white towards
the base, and as long as the body: the tubes are as long as one-eighth of the body:
the legs are dull white; the tarsi, the knees and the tips of the tibi# are black: the
rudimentary wings are dark green.

Near Lancaster, in September.

Aphides on the Knot Grass (Polygonum aviculare).
Apnis Potycont.

The wingless oviparous female. Sluggish, small, dull brown, brownish yellow on
each side, fusiform, granulated, narrow, rather flat: the front of the head is notched :
the antenne are pale yellow, brown at the base, black towards the tips, and nearly
one-fourth of the length of the body ; the first and the second joints are brown; the
third and the fourth are white ; the seventh is fully as long as the sixth: the rostrum
is pale yellow ; its tip and the eyes are black: the abdomen is shorter than the tho-
rax, which is much developed; the legs are short and pale yellow; the tips of the
tarsi are black; the hind tibize are brown.

The wingless male. It is smaller and more depressed than the female; the anten-
nz are black and about half the length of the body.

Found near Newcastle, in the beginning of October, by Mr. Hardy, to whom I
am much indebted for his kindness in forwarding me a great variety of Aphides, with
notes of their habits in relation to the plants whereon they feed.

Aphides on the Plum (Prunus domestica).
APHIS SIMILIS.

The wingless viviparous female. The body is grass-green, with a darker green line
down the back, elliptical, convex, not shining : the antennz are pale green, brown to-
wards the tips, and nearly one-fourth of the length of the body: the rostrum is pale
green ; its tip and the eyes are brown: the tubes are also pale green, with brown tips,
and about one-twentieth of the length of the body: the legs are short and pale green;
the tarsi are brown. :

Towards the end of April.

2250 Insects.

“ApHis PRUNARIA.

The wingless viviparous female. The body is dark red and covered with a white
bloom, short, elliptical, and very plump: the antenne are black and nearly half the
length of the body: the eyes and the rostrum are also black: the legs and the tubes
are of the same colour, and the latter are as long as one-tenth of the body.

The winged viviparous female. While a pupa it resembles the wingless insect in
colour, but is much more flat.

- In the beginning of June.

APHIS PRUNINA.

The wingless viviparous female. The body is grass-green, elliptical, and slightly
convex: the antenne are dull yellow and hardly more than half the length of the
body: the eyes are dark brown: the rostrum is dull yellow, with a brown tip: the
tubes are about one-twelfth of the length of the body: the legs are pale yellow ; the
tarsi and the tips of the tibie are brown.

At the end of April.

APHIS P

The winged viviparous female. The body is black: the fore border, the hind bor-
der and the under-side of the prothorax are reddish yellow, as is also the abdomen, ©
which has a black disk and a row of black spots on each side: the antenne are much
longer than the body: the rostrum is yellow, with a black tip: the tubes are dull yel-
low, slightly spindle-shaped, and nearly one-fourth of the length of the body: the
thighs are pale yellow, black from the middle to the tips; the tibie are dark yellow ;
their tips and the tarsi are black ; the squamule and the costal veins are pale yellow;
the stigmata are pale brown ; the other veins are brown.

Abundant near Lancaster, in the middle of October.

APHIS P

The winged viviparous female. While a pupa the body is nearly elliptical, grass-
green, sometimes varied with red: the antenne are dull yellow and hardly more than
half the length of the body: the eyes are dark brown: the rostrum is dull yellow,
with a brown tip: the tubes are about one-twelfth of the length of the body: the legs
are pale yellow; the tarsi and the tips of the tibie are brown. When the wings are
unfolded the body is small, black and shining: the abdomen is dark green, with a
row of black spots on each side ; these spots are sometimes confluent, and spread over
the whole back, whose disk is always black: the antenne are shorter than the body:
the rostrum is dull green, with a black tip: the tubes are black and as long as one-
eighth of the body: the legs are dull yellow; the thighs except the base, the tarsi and
the tips of the tibie are black: the wings are colourless and very much longer than
the body ; the squamule are pale green or pale yellow; the stigmata are pale brown ;
the veins are brown. The legs are sometimes quite black, with the exception of the
dull pale yellow base of the fore thighs. Perhaps this is the winged state of Aphis
prunina.

During May.

“ Insects. S254

Apuis Mati?

The winged viviparous female. The body is grass-green and rather small: the disk
of the head, and of the thorax above and below, brown: the abdomen has a row of
black spots on each side: the antenne are black and nearly as long as the body: the
eyes are also black: the rostrum is pale green, with a black tip: the tubes are green
and nearly one-fifth of the length of the body: the legs are long and pale green; the
_ tarsi, and the tips of the thighs and of the tibiz, are brown; the wings are colourless ;
the squamulz are very pale green; the stigmata are very pale brown; the other veins
are brown.

APHIS DIVERSA.

The wingless viviparous female. The body is small, oval, yellow, velvet-like, rather
flat, slightly tinged with green: the antenne are pale yellow, black towards the tips,
and a little more than one-fourth of the length of the body: the eyes are bright red:
the rostrum is pale yellow, with a black tip: the tubes are pale yellow, with black tips,
and as long as one-sixth of the body: the legs are pale yellow; the thighs are pale
green; the tips of the tarsi are black.

Found with the following species on Eryngo, near Fleetwood, in the beginning of
October.

APHIS DISPAR.

The wingless viviparous female. The body is small, yellow, velvet-like, nearly li-
near or a little broader towards the tip of the abdomen, which is tinged with brown:
the prothorax and the mesothorax are well developed: the antenne are yellow, black
towards the tips, and as long as the body: the eyes are red: the rostrum is pale yel-
low, with a black tip, and reaches the hind coxe: the tubes are pale yellow, with
black tips, and nearly one-fourth of the length of the body: the legs are pale yellow
and very long ; the thighs are pale green ; the knees, the tarsi and the tips of the tibie
are black.

APHIS LATERALIS.

The wingless viviparous female. The body is rather small, black, shining, smooth,
convex, pale greenish yellow along each side: there is a row of impressions on each
side of the back of the abdomen, the sutures of whose segments are indistinct : the
body beneath is dull green, reddish towards the thorax and the head: the antenne
are black, pale yellow towards the base, and little more than half the length of the
body: the tubes are black and about one-eighth of the length of the body: the legs —
are pale yellow and moderately long; the four hinder thighs except at the base, the
knees, the tarsi and the tips of the tibie are black.

Found with Aphis Rumicis on the groundsel (Senecio vulgaris), near Lancaster, at
the end of September.

Apuis GALEOPSIDIS?

The wingless viviparous female. The body is small, oval, pale whitish green, ra-
ther flat, not shining: the sutures of the segments are pale and distinct: the antenne
are pale yellow, pale green at the base, brown at the tips, and shorter than the body:

2252 Quadrupeds.

the eyes are red: the rostrum is pale yellow, with a black tip: there is a darker green
spot on each side of the abdomen, at the base of the tubes, which are pale yellow, with
black tips, and about one-sixth of the length of the body: the legs are igh green and
rather long; the tarsi and the tips of the tibie are black.
Found by Mr. Hardy near Newcastle, on Potentilla anserina, in the autumn.
F. WALKER.
September, 1848.

(To be continued).

Bats flying by Daylight.—I find one or two notices in the ‘ Zoologist ’ (see, for in-
stance, Zool. 6 and 35) of bats having been observed flying about in the day. I have
myself witnessed such an occurrence twice, and both times, I think, during the present
year; viz., once at Clifton about May, and once at Weston-super-Mare in June. In
each case the bat was apparently large, and flew in circles, with considerable power of
wing, at a very great height from the ground. The days were peculiarly bright and
still, and the hour of observation, in the first instance, about two or three,—in the
other about one. Occasionally both individuals made short erratic swoops, or dodges
rather, in the air; and the Clifton one, I observed, was annoyed and “ mobbed”. (if
we can use such a term where the mob consisted only of one), for a short time, by a
small bird. The particular species of the bird I could not at that distance determine,
but I could see that it was very weak-winged and incapable of continued flight; and
was not at, all surprised, therefore, to find it very speedily descending again to the
ground. As for the bat, who seemed utterly unconcerned about the hostile attentions
paid him, I continued watching his movements against the bright blue sky till my eyes
ached, and I finally left him careering about seemingly as fresh as ever. His conge-
ner at Weston I watched in the same way, till he flew so high as to be absolutely out
of sight—W. S. Lewis ; Trinity College, Cambridge, August 19, 1848.

Fondness of the Cat for Nemophila insignis.—It is a fact which has been known for
a long time that the cat is very fond of some plants, such as the valerian and cat-mint,
but I am not aware that the Nemophila insignis has yet been noticed as one for which
puss has great favour. In my garden this season I had a fine clump of the Nemo-
phila, and I contemplated a fine display of its lovely cerulean flowers when the sea-
son came round; but one morning when I paid my accustomed visit to my floral
favourites, I found the Nemophila beaten very much into the ground, and its leaves
covered with hairs that had undoubtedly been left there by puss, as her foot-prints
were most distinct in the soft ground around the beaten circle where the Nemophila
grew. I could not at all understand the reason of puss having abused my favourite
annual so much; and so I softened the ground with a trowel, hoping that it would
not be again interfered with by the feline gentry. Next morning, however, they had
paid another visit, and again the ground was hard beaten, and the leaves of the plants
bore a profusion of hairs. I then began to think that there was something peculiar
about the roots of the plants, and dug round and round them in the hope of finding a
valerian root, or something of that kind; but nothing to the purpose could be found.
I again dressed the border, and, for the protection of the plants, stuck in a garden-reel

~ Quadrupeds. 2253

and line, with several flower-supports and flower-pots amongst them. On the follow-
ing morning all these were rolled away, and things were as before. Puss had been
there. I then tried watering of the plants, and several other plans; but all to no’ pur-
pose: they were every morning found to have been visited by Felis Catus during the
preceding night. With the view of proving whether it was the Nemophila itself or
theparticular spot of ground on which it happened to grow, that puss liked to gambol
upon, I dug up all the plant and smoothed tlie ground; but it has never been revisited
since in the same manner, although on the first morning after that operation a few
paw-prints were traced, showing, perhaps, that puss had come to seek her favourite
flower, but found it not. I likewise had a plant of the Nemophila removed to another
part of the garden, and it had not been long there when it was attacked and destroyed
by the cats rolling upon it. I still have a plant of this beautiful flower in full bloom
in another border, but i¢ has escaped all feline molestation. For my own part I can-
not detect any peculiar scent in the leaves (or flowers either) of the Nemophilla, but it
must surely have such to the cat. We are well aware that many odours that are pow-
erfully felt by some persons are often but very faintly, and sometimes not at all, felt
by others;* and if such differences obtain in the’ olfactory organs of the different
members of the human family, is it not quite reasonable to suppose that differences in
these of an equal degree may exist in the different animaxs, of which class man ranks
himself as No. 1?—George Lawson ; 212, Perth Road, Dundee, August, 1848.
P.S.—Subsequently to writing the above I procured a small quantity of the dried
roots of valerian, which I offered to our house cat, but she showed no symptoms of
concern about it at all. I have been told that cats are equally fond of the dried root
as of the fresh plant, but owr puss seems to care nothing for it. May it only be some
cats whose olfactory organs are excited by the valerian; and is this excitement pecu-
liar to any age or sex? The particular individual 'I have referred to is a female, and
not as yet full grown.—G. L.
Carnivorous Propensity of the Hedgehog.—About six weeks ago a female hedgehog
was brought to me, with four young ones. One only of the latter I kept. It was
placed in a closet in the kitchen, from which it rambled at will through the offices:
these were much infested by Blatt, and their numbers were visibly thinned. On
Friday night, as the servant was going to bed, she started a mouse in the scullery,
which escaped her efforts to catch it: the cat was out on night rambles. On the fol-
lowing morning, the servant, on entering the kitchen, found Hoggy on the hearth,
making a sucking noise, with a mouse in his grasp, the legs of the mouse still
struggling. ‘The servant says the hedgehog appeared to have sucked the blood through
a small hole in the neck, that being the only visible injury to the mouse. | Hoggy is
quite tame, often gnaws a bone, and shows great intelligence.—Thos. F. Reynolds ;
Wallington, Surrey, August 24, 1848. :
Escape of a Rhinoceros at Galaway, in America.—* The peaceful village. of Gala-
way was on Sunday (23rd inst.) thrown into great excitement by a report that a huge

* T have just been reading an article in Loudon’s ‘ Magazine of Natural History,’
by the Rev. W. T. Bree, of Allesley Rectory, which contains some interesting remarks
“ On the peculiarities in the Scent of some Flowers.” For those readers who take in-
terest in the subject, I may mention that the article will be found in vol. 5, p. 758.

VI 2e

2254 Quadrupeds.

rhinoceros, belonging to Raymond and Waring’s menagerie, had broken loose from
his cage, and was committing terrible havoc among the cattle in that vicinity.

“ It seems that some time during Saturday night the elephant, Columbus, who is
not one of the most amiable disposition, amused himself by tearing off the strong iron
bars from the cage in which the rhinoceros was secured. Finding himself menaced
the rhinoceros came from his cage and showed fight. He was no sooner on the ground
than he received two or three heavy blows from the trunk of the elephant upon his
back, which beat him to the earth, where he lay for some time as if dead.

“ The elephant then endeavoured to finish him by trampling upon him, which the
rhinoceros evaded by jumping under the body of his powerful antagonist, in which
position he gave the elephant several upward thrusts with his prodigious horn that
projects from his head, which put his elephantship hors du combat. The keepers
finding it impossible to secure the infuriated beast alone, called upon the neighbours
for assistance, which was promptly given, and every effort made to prevent him doing
further mischief.

“In the meanwhile the rhinoceros had got into the open fields, where he confined
his operations to the frightening of horses and cows that were in the pasture, and
then took to a neighbouring swamp, where he luxuriated in his favourite’recreation of
bathing, with the same unconcern as if he had been wallowing among his own native
marshes in Japan.

“‘ Finding it impossible to capture him by means of traps and meshes, the propri-
etors at length came to the conclusion of despatching him, and for this purpose pro-
cured a number of muskets.. They might as well have fired against the side of a
stone wall, as his hide resisted the balls as if he had been encased in iron. Up toa
late hour last evening they had not succeeded in taking him, although more than five
hundred persons were engaged in the pursuit, and a large reward offered for his cap-
ture alive. The elephant is so badly wounded that he is not expected to recover.” —
Western Friend, Eighth Month ( August) 3, 1848.

Russian Field Sports.

[The following extract is from a clever and entertaining little book, intituled ‘ Life
in Russia, or the Discipline of Despotism. By Epwarp P. Tuompson, Esq.’* I feel
confident that the readers of the ‘ Zoologist’ will be pleased with the passages I have
cited, and I hope they may be induced to peruse the volume.—Edward Newman. ]|

“The wolf is destroyed in a variety of ways: sometimes he is ridden down by two
horsemen, whose horses, passing with ease and rapidity over the hard-frozen surface of
the snow, soon bring them abreast of him, when he is brought down by a pistol shot ;
and at other times he is enticed within gun-shot, by men driving in a sledge in the
neighbourhood of his haunts, and dragging a bundle of hay behind them with a long

—_—__ eee
a

* London: Smith, Elder and Co., Cornhill. 1848.

Quadrupeds. 2255

cord, while a pig, which they have with them, is made to squeal. The wolf, attracted
by the cries, and ravenous from hunger, pursues the object trailing behind, and is
despatched by a rifle-shot from the sledge. This sport can only be followed out on
moonlight nights, and is particularly dangerous when several wolves join in pursuit of
the sledge.

“‘ The elk and bear are ‘ rung,’ as it is technically termed. The peasants take great
pleasure in this process, and the more so as they obtain a handsome gratuity if they
succeed in accomplishing the operation; which they will travel a hundred miles to
communicate to any sportsman willing to avail himself of it; and there is no lack of
them. Engaged, probably, in their daily vocation of felling wood, in.places approach-
able only under the influence of the frost, they first perceive the track of the beast in
the snow, and tracing it till it is lost in some wood or cover, they encircle the spot at
some distance, to be satisfied that the game is safely lodged. This task is repeated for
several successive days, with the most watchful eye for any fresh traces which might
- announce its escape ; and if there be none, a messenger mounts his sledge and starts
for St. Petersburg to sell his discovery (if of a bear, for one hundred roubles), and re-
turns with the party of sportsmen to indicate the spot.

** A crowd of peasants surround the place, and among them, at proper intervals,
the marksmen take their stand. The dogs are turned in, and, if it be a bear, it is
soon roused, and attempts to break the ring; an unsuccessful shot turns him back, to
appear at another place, and if he be not fortunate enough to get clear, which seldom
occurs, his doom is soon fixed. Sometimes there is a difficulty in dislodging him, and
the hunters are compelled to enter the wood to face him in his own fastnesses ; which
is an affair of some danger, as he then often turns, and becomes the attacking party.
A gentleman of my acquaintance had a very narrow escape of his life in one of these |
encounters ; and, indeed, but for his strong nerve and high courage, he must have pe-
rished. In following up a wounded elk, he came most unexpectedly on a she bear,
with two cubs of the previous summer by her side; he fired and missed, and, before
he had time to defend himself, she rose at him and struck him down, but left him in
her anxiety for her cubs ; he immediately got on his legs, and, firing again, wounded
the beast, which again ran at him, threw him down in the struggle, tore his thigh with
_ her hind claws, bit him severely through the arm and wrist, and, without relinquish-
ing her grasp, stood over him, holding him down. Notwithstanding the acute agony
he was suffering, and his almost powerless condition, he contrived to draw his hunting
knife, and to inflict a deep wound in the region of the heart of the beast ; which he,
however, just missed, as I saw afterwards on dissection. After this effort it appears he
sank exhausted ; but his friend, who had heard the shots from a little distance, having
providentially hurried up, though fearfully alarmed at the state of his companion,
went up to the head of the bear, and discharged his rifle into its brain. The animal
fell dead on the body of her unconscious antagonist, who was immediately extricated
and restored, and had nerve enough to travel home at speed, a distance of upwards of
one hundred miles, to get the assistance there which it would have been in vain to
have sought for in the wilds of the interior.

“ Single-handed pursuit is seldom ventured on; but an English gentleman in the
Russian military service, who is a perfect ‘ Leather-Stocking’ in his habits and
tastes, is said to prefer this mode, and will spend weeks alone in the woods. In the
winter of 1841 I saw an immense bear of six hundredweight, which he had kept in
pursuit of for two days. It is impossible to estimate the distance he traversed in that

2256 Quadrupeds.

time; but the feet of the bear were rubbed raw by the continuance of its exertions.
On another occasion, and when less experienced in the sport, he was shown a bear
sleeping in an exposed place under the fallen trunk of a tree. In order to approach
the beast without disturbing it, and to prevent the sharp crackling sound of the snow,
he took off his shoes and stockings, regardless of the intense cold ; and on coming up
to it, he found the animal so coiled up, and with its paws so drawn over its head, that
a decisive shot was impossible. He unhesitatingly poked it with the muzzle of his
piece, and on.its arousing, destroyed it by a well-directed shot in the head. His bar-
rack-room at a Gatchina is no baronial hall, but trophies and weapons of the chase
ornament its walls most characteristically.

“The elk is a timid animal, and difficult of approach, frequenting the he and
swampy spots in the woods; generally in small herds of seven or eight individuals.
The same process of ‘ ringing’ and surrounding it is observed as with the bear; but
the sport requires greater quickness and watchfulness. The speed of the elk is tre-
mendous; and it is as much by the ear as by the eye that its progress is ascertained ; —
the crashing of the branches, as he plunges through them, giving intimation of his
approach. It is extremely difficult on that account to hit him mortally, if at all; for
a shot to hit him must be fired at least.a yard ahead of him, and almost in anticipa-
tion of his appearance, as. he crosses the narrow openings in the woods ; and if the
wound be not mortal at once, his great strength will enable him to cover an immense
distance before he falls, or, perhaps, to escape entirely; but if struck on the head or
shoulder he rears his giant height in the air and falls backwards. A full-grown elk
will measure seventeen hands high. In the summer of 1839 one was caught alive, by
some boatmen, within two miles of St. Petersburg, as it was swimming across the
Neva to gain the Finnish side.

“The extraordinary speed and powers of endurance of the elk led to its being used
for purposes of draught; but, as criminals availed themselves of these advantages to
elude justice, either by positive escape, or by evading suspicion by transporting them-
selves, in an incredibly short space of time, to a distant part (like Turpin in his ride to
York), the employment of this animal is strictly prohibited both in Russia and
Sweden.

“Of late years some small herds of the roebuck have been met with; but my in- .
formant tells me they have as yet been unmolested.

*« The lynx is not uncommon ; but, from its extreme cunning, it is rarely captured.
The only specimen I have seen was caught in a steel trap buried beneath the snow;
but I have heard of their having been seen, during the severity of winter, in the gar-
dens of the suburbs of the city. It is the true Felis Lynx, and measures about three —
feet in length; the tail being from six to seven inches, and the tuft of hair at the tips
of the ears being very strongly defined.

“ The white fox (Vulpes arcticus) of the arctic regions has been found once only ;
and Dr. Brandt of the Imperial Museum has told me that he considers that fact as
the most extraordinary one in natural history which has ever come within his know-
ledge ; as they have never been known so far south, and their nearest habitat—where
they are rare, even—is full one thousand miles from the place where this individual
was shot; namely, in 68° or 70° of latitude. The animal in question was shot by a
peasant at Pilna, about thirty miles from St. Petersburg, in the depth of winter; and
in the subsequent summer another perfectly black animal was seen, which, being the
colour of the young, proves that the one killed was not a solitary specimen.

Quadrupeds, &c. 2257

“The common fox is very abundant; and its fur, from its great length and thick-
ness, is much prized as a lining for ladies’ cloaks,— fifty pounds being the usual price
for a set of skins. It is not followed as a beast of chase, excepting in the neighbour-
hood of St. Petersburg, where a subscription pack of hounds is kept up by some of
the English merchants ; but their success has been very partial, and the only good run
which I believe.they have on record is one they had with a wolf, which was fairly run
into the open country, after a two hours’ burst without a check. _ The shortness of the
season, and the abominable marshy country which they have to traverse, readily ac-
counts for the short register of deaths.

** The white hare, and a large variety of the common species, are very abundant.
The former, which is, during the summer months, of a whitish gray, does not assume
its winter garb till the end of October; and even then some few specimens which
came under my notice retained some shade of their summer coat: it is, however, pro-
perly speaking, of a pure white, with a little black spot at the extremity of each ear.
The other variety I have alluded to stands remarkably high on its legs, which are
very fine and slender, and weighs as much as fifteen pounds.

“ The capercali, the hazel (Tetrao bonasia), and the willow grouse (Teétrao salicet?)
are extremely abundant; but the first is difficult of approach, and is rarely procured
except at the first dawn of day. The shooting season begins on the Ist of July, long
before the young broods are strong enough to afford legitimate sport. .

“Ducks and other water fowl afford some sport in the early spring, on their return
from the south ; but they do not form a prominent feature in the catalogue of sports.

“ To the naturalist, taking it in its full extent, this country is the richest field in
Europe in every branch of natural history ; but its very extent is a difficulty not to be
overcome. Specimens are not easily procured, excepting in ornithology; and these
may be found in considerable variety in the bird market of St. Petersburg. I often
visit the spot for that purpose, and have picked up specimens which are remarkably
searce in England; but, though they are often sufficiently abundant, they are rarely
in a fit state to preserve. The great black woodpecker (Picus martius) is by no means
uncommon ; but it is invariably deprived of its bill, from some superstitious feeling of
the people; and the long-tailed duck (Anas glacialis) is always imperfect in its tail
feathers. The pine grosbeak (Loxia enucleator) I have bought, both alive and dead,
for two-pence, and I occasionally see the snowy owl (Stria nyctea), the passerine
(Strix passerina), the great-eared owl (Strix bubo), the hawk owl (Strix funerea), the
crossbill (Lowia pityopsittacus), snow bunting (Emberiza nivalis), shore lark (Alauda
alpestris), blue-throated warbler (Sylvia suecica), and the Tetrao medius, a bird which
has been erroneously supposed to be a hybrid between the capercali and the black-cock.

“ At the commencement of the winter, I have found dead bullfinches and waxen
chatterers (I can never get this latter alive) exposed for sale in vast profusion as an
article of food much esteemed. The season makes no difference in the exposure of
birds in cages for sale; and as a substitute for water, the drinking-troughs are kept
filled with snow. The Russians are particularly fond of birds, and having so few na-
tural songsters of their own in the northern districts, they are supplied by the Germans,
who bring, in the first ships on the opening of the navigation, myriads of larks and
canaries, which fill the air with their melody in the garden of the custom-house, where
they are exposed for sale.”—p. 232.

2258 Birds.

Provincial Names of Birds, Nottinghamshire.—I have forwarded to you a list of the
names which are given to the commoner birds in this neighbourhood : most of the
names were the only ones by which I knew the birds in my bird-nesting boy’s days.
The long-eared ow] is called the ‘ long-horned owl,’ ‘ wood owl.’ The barn or white
owl is called a ‘ padge owl, ‘screech owl.’ The red-backed shrike is a ‘ butcher
bird.” The crow (Corvus corone, Linn.) is called the ‘ carrion crow. The hooded
crow is the ‘ Norway crow. The rook is generally called a ‘crow.’ The missel
thrush is the ‘ storm-cock. The redwing is a ‘pop.’ The wryneck is a ‘ cuckoo’s
maiden, ‘ cuckoo’s mate.’ The green woodpecker is a ‘ nick-a-pecker. The green-
finch is known only by the name of ‘ green linnet.’ The bunting is called a ‘ bunting
lark.’ The yellow bunting is the ‘ yellow hammer.’ The black-headed bunting is a
‘reed sparrow.’ ‘The chaffinch is the ‘ spink,’ sometimes ‘pink. The goldfinch is
called a ‘ red-cap,’ a ‘ sweet William,’ a ‘ proud tailor,’ all the names equally com-
mon. ‘The linnet is a ‘ gorse linnet,’ a ‘ gray linnet.’ The lesser redpole is known
only by the name of ‘ French linnet,’ or ‘ averdevine. The lark is a ‘ sky-lark.’ The
tree pipit is a ‘ ground-lark. The meadow pipit is a ‘ pipit lark.’ The redstart is
always a ‘ fire-tail.’ The sedge warbler is called a ‘reed wren.’ Our summer war-
blers go by the name of ‘ peggies;’ for instance, the whitethroat is known by the
name of ‘ peggy whitethroat :’ the black-capped warbler is a ‘ black-headed peggy :’
the willow wren or warbler is a ‘ bank peggy,’ from its building in banks. The com-
mon wren is a ‘jenny wren. The hedge warbler is a ‘ hedge sparrow.’ The whin-
chat is never anything else than an ‘utick.’ The great titmouse is a ‘ black-cap.’
The blue titmouse is a ‘blue-cap, or more commonly still a ‘ willow-biter.’ The
long-tailed titmouse is a ‘ featherpoke.’ ‘The swift is here also a ‘ deviling.’ The
ring dove is a ‘ wood pigeon.’ The heron is a ‘ long-necked crane,’ a ‘ heron-sewgh.’
A labouring man called one day to tell me a friend of his had shot a ‘ butter-bum :’
the bird proved to be a bittern. The lapwing is here always called a ‘ peewit. The
common sandpiper is a ‘summer snipe.’ The landrail is a ‘ meadow drake.’ The
little grebe is a ‘ dipper,’ a ‘ puffin.’ The terns are ‘ sea swallows. —W. F. Foottit,
Surgeon ; Newark, Notts, August, 1848.

Thievish Propensity of the Jackdaw (Corvus Monedula).—In looking over my
journal for the month of March, 1846, I found a note on the thievish propensity of a

‘jackdaw in our neighbourhood, and as I consider it highly illustrative of the character
of that tribe of birds, I here extract it for the “ Zoologist.? “I was very much
amused this evening in witnessing the wnprincipled conduct of a jackdaw. <A house
sparrow in his peregrinations had suceeeded in picking up a large piece of bread :
this he was not allowed to enjoy in peace, for Jack, who had cast his longing eyes
upon the delicate morsel, immediately gave chase, and very soon deprived the sparrow
of his hard-earned bit, with which he flew to an elevated station, where his mate, who
was awaiting his return, shared with him the fvod so fraudulently acquired.”—E. J.
R. Hughes; St. Bees, August 30, 1848.

Discoloured Egg of the Green Woodpecker (Picus viridis).—On reading the account
of the variety of the egg of the green woodpecker (Zool. 2229), it struck me that the
reddish brown and tawny yellow colour of the egg might have been occasioned by the
juice of a fungus, or the rain soaking through a rotten part of the tree in which the
bird had laid its eggs, similar to the eggs of the lesser or little grebe, which, after they
have been laid two or three days, become of a dark brown colour mixed with yellow,
on account of the rushes on which the eggs are deposited being wet and rotten ; but

Birds. | : 2259

these eggs are easily brought to their original colour by being laid in hot water and
then rubbed with a cloth, so that it could be easily proved by trying one of these eggs ;
but Mr. Newton says, that “ except in size, shape and the high polish, they do not at
all resemble the eggs commonly laid by that bird, being blotched and spotted with
reddish brown and tawny yellow, so as to be something like those of the common quail,
or that of the Baillon’s crake, as figured in Hewitson’s Illustrations.” Now if this
variety had been occasioned by the way I supposed, the polish would have been very
much diminished. I should much like to know whether the eggs were originally the
same colour as that mentioned ; if so, there must be something as yet unknown which
should cause the eggs of this bird and others very often to differ from their original
colour.—P. EF. Hansell ; Thorpe, near Norwich, Norfolk, September 4, 1848.

Occurrence of Temminck’s Stint (Tringa Temminckii) near Penzance.—A speci-
men of this small Tringa was shot in a marsh between Marazion and Penzance, on
Monday, the 28th ultimo, by Mr. W. H. Vingoe. Independently of the shorter tar-
sus, the winter plumage of this bird is distinguished from that of the Tringa minuta
by a more general prevalence of dusky brown on the upper parts, the centres of the
dorsal feathers being lighter, with the borders having a narrower and darker circle of
paler colour than the little stint. The habits of the bird are also much wilder and
more shy than its congener. Several redshanks and a green sandpiper were also ob-
served in the same locality, together with about ten couple of snipes — Edward Hearle
Rodd ; Penzance, September 7, 1848.

The Dodo and its Kindred.*

In years that are gone we used to believe most devoutly in the existence of the
dodo ; we used to read, with unquestioning faith, in the ‘ Encyclopedia Britannica ’
and other works of like authority, full descriptions of the shape, weight and colour of
various species of Didus,t detailed particulars of the materials of which their nests
were constructed, of the size and colour and number of their egos, and of the number
of days required for incubation. By degrees, however, certain naturalists, who want
to know the rights of everything, pried somewhat inquisitively into dodo-history, and
the result was, that nest, eggs, colours, and all, fell away one by one, and we were left
with marvellously little information concerning these marvellous birds ; in fact some
naturalists even went so far as to assert that the dodo itself was a sham and a cheat,
and that the only existing fragments said to have been once the property of a living
dodo—namely, the head and fvot in the Ashmolean Museum at Oxford, and the foot
in the British Museum—belonged respectively to different birds; the head to a vul-
ture, the feet to some gallinaceous bird. The pertinaciously inquisitive spirit to which

* ‘The Dodo and its Kindred, or the History, Affinities and Osteology of the
Dodo, Solitaire, and other Extinct Birds of the Islands of Mauritius, Rodriguez and
Bourbon. By H. E.Srricxtanp, M.A., F.G.S., F.R.G.S, and A. G. MELVILLE,
M.D. Edin., M.R.C.S.’ London: Reeve, Benham & Reeve. 1848.

+ The dodo is the Didus ineptus of authors.

2260 | Birds.

I have alluded as tending to the demolition of all fictitious histories, would perhaps
very shortly have driven the dodo completely into the realm of fiction, had not the
learned professor C. Reinhardt discovered a second skull amongst a heap of rubbish
at Gottorf, and on carefully examining its structure pronounced it to be that of
a pigeon and not that of a vulture.* To this suggestion of Reinhardt I called the at-
tention of naturalists last year, when a like theory was started by Mr. Strickland at
the meeting of the British Association.

It is now clear that there exist two skulls and two feet which belong to no species
of bird now known to naturalists, and although the positive evidence connecting the
head and feet is not complete, yet there is no good reason for disputing that the heads
and feet belonged to the same species of bird. - Such is the absolute evidence of the
existence of the dodo; and Mr. Broderip, in an admirable paper published in the
Penny Cyclopedia,* has collected a mass of corroborative evidence from the ac-
counts of voyages, from paintings, and from engravings, and thus we have a very tole-
rably authentic history of the bird to supply the place of that fictitious history which
we are compelled to abandon.

Such, then, is the state of our knowledge of this interesting member of the animal
kingdom, and the whole has been re-arranged, the quotations given at full length, the
engravings and paintings accurately copied, the remains carefully examined, minutely
described and beautifully figured, and the pigeon theory adopted, defended, and, some
think, satisfactorily established, in the admirable work whose title I have given over-
leaf. There can no longer be a rational doubt that these birds, together with the
solitaire and one or two other cognate species, formerly inhabited the islands of
Mauritius, Rodriguez and Bourbon, and owe their utter extinction to the hand
of man. It is supposed that these islands were discovered during the first half
of the sixteenth century, but we have no precise date. The passages cited from the
old voyagers are most interesting, and I cannot help regretting that so large a portion
of them are in the Latin, antiquated French or Dutch languages, and only translated in
an Appendix to which no reference is made; in fact, the insertion of the translation
is confessedly an after-thought. The following is from a very rare Dutch tract in the
British Museum. It is the journal of Willem van West-Zanen, one of the captains
who sailed in the fleet of Heemskerk and Harmansz, in the years 1601-3: it was
printed in 1648, under the editorial care of H. Soeteboom.

“ The birds, of which the island t is full, are of all kinds: doves, parrots, Indian
crows, sparrows, hawks, thrushes, owls, swallows, and many small birds; white and
black herons, geese, ducks, dodos, tortoises, seacows.

“ The sailors were out every day to hunt for birds and other game, such as they ~
could find on the land, while they became less active with their nets, hooks, and other
fishing-tackle. No quadrupeds occur there except cats, though our countrymen have
subsequently introduced goats and swine. The herons were less tame than the other
birds, and were difficult to procure, owing to their flying amongst the thick branches
of the trees. They also caught birds which some name dod-aarsen, others dronten ;
when Jacob van Neck was here, these birds were called wallich-vogels, because even a
long boiling would scarcely make them tender, but they remained tough and hard,

* Kyoyer’s Tidskrift, iv. 71. Lehman in Nov. Act. Ac. Leop. Car, xxi. 491,
+ Penny Cyclopedia, ix. 47. t Mauritius.

Birds. 2261

with the exception of the breast and belly, which were very good; and also, because,
from the abundance of turtle-doves which the men procured, they became disgusted
with the dodos. The figure of these birds is given in the accompanying plate; they
have great heads, with hoods thereon; they are without wings or tail, and have only
little winglets on their sides, and four or five feathers behind, more elevated than the
rest. They have beaks and feet, and commonly in the stomach a stone the size of a
fist.

“ The dodos, with their round sterns (for they were well fattened), were also obliged
to turn tail; everything that could move was in a bustle; the fish, which had lived in
peace for many a year, were pursued into the deepest water-pools.

“On the 25th July, Willem and his sailors brought some dodos which were very
fat; the whole crew made an ample meal from three or four of them, and a portion
remained over. ..... They sent on board smoked fish, salted dodos, land-tortoises,
and other game, which supply was very acceptable. They were busy for some days
bringing provisions to the ship. On the 4th of August Willem’s men brought 50 large
birds on board the Bruyn-Vis ; among them were 24 or 25 dodus, so large and heavy
that they could not eat any two of them for dinner, and all that remained over was
salted. .

“ Another day, Hogeveen (Willem’s supercargo) set out from the tent with four
seamen, provided with sticks, nets, muskets, and other necessaries for hunting. They
climbed up mountain and hill, roamed through forest and valley, and during the three
days that they were out they captured another half-hundred of birds, including a mat-
ter of 20 dodos, all which they brought on board and salted. Thus were they, and
the other crews in the fleet, occupied in fowling and fishing.”—p. 15.

In 1627 Sir Thomas Herbert visited Mauritius, and found it still uninhabited by
man. He met with the dodo, and thus describes it in his work intituled ‘Some yeares
Travels into divers parts of Asia and Afrique, describing especially the two famous
empires, the Persian and Great Mogull. Revised and enlarged by the Author.’
Fo]. London, 1638.

“‘ The Dodo comes first to our description: here and in Dygarrois (and nowhere
else that ever I could see or heare of ) is generated the dodo, (a Portuguize name itis and
has reference to her simplenes), a bird which for shape and rarenesse might be called
a phoenix (wer’t in Arabia): her body is round and extreame fat, her slow pace begets
that corpulencie; few of them weigh lesse than fifty pound: better to the eye than
stomack: greasie appetites may perhaps commend them, but to the indifferently
curious, nourishment, but prove offensive. Let’s take her picture: her visage darts
forth melancholy, as sensible of Nature’s injurie in framing so great and massie a
body to be directed by such small and complementall wings as are unable to hoise her
from the ground, serving ouly to prove her a bird; which otherwise might be doubted
of: her head is variously drest, the one half hooded with downy blackish feathers ;
the other perfectly naked ; of a whitish hue as if a transparent lawne had covered it:
her bill is very howked and bends downwards, the thrill or breathing place is in the midst
of it; from which part to the end, the colour is of lightish green mixed with a pale yellow :
her eyes be round and small and bright as diamonds: her clothing is of finest downe,
_ such as you see in goslins: her trayne is (like a China beard) of three or foure short
feathers ; her legs thick and black and strong; her talons or pounces sharp ; her sto-
mack fiery hot, so as stones and iron are easily digested in it; in that and shape not

VI 2

2262 Birds.

a little resembling the Africk ostriches; but so much as for their more certain dif-
ference I dare to give thee (with two others) her representation.”—p. 19.

This appears to be the evidence of an eye-witness; but what will our readers say
to the evidence of another eye-witness, Sir Hamon Lestrange, who saw a dodo exhi-
bited in the streets of London. The original MSS. from which the following passage
is extracted may be seen in the British Museum (Sloane MSS. 1839, 5, p. 9).

“‘ About 1638, as I walked London streets, I saw the picture of a strange fowle
hong out upon a cloth, [hiatus in MS.] and myselfe with one or two more then in
company went in to see it. It was kept in a chamber, and was a great fowle some-
what bigger than the largest Turky cock, and so legged and footed, but stouter and
thicker and of a more erect shape, coloured before like the breast of a young cock
fesan, and on the back of dun or deare coulour. The keeper called it a dodo, and in
the ende of a chimney in the chamber there laya heape of large pebble stones, where-
of hee gave it many in our sight, some as bigg as nutmegs, and the keeper told us
shee eats them (conducing to digestion), and though I remember not how farr the
keeper was questioned therein, yet I am confident that afterwards shee cast them all
againe.”—p. 22.

This is indeed a choice morsel, and one that immediately follows is also of great
interest: it is copied from Tradescant’s Catalogue of his ‘ Collection of Rarities pre-
served at South Lambeth near London, and is dated 1656. Here is the entry:
“‘ Dodar from the island Mauritius; it is not able to flie being so big.” Willughby,
in his ‘ Ornithologia, states that he saw this specimen in Tradescant’s Museum : two
other writers also speak of it, Llhwyd in 1684 and Hyde in 1700. It passed, with
the rest of the collection, to Oxford, and there formed part of the Ashmolean Museum,
until ordered to be destroyed by the authorities, on the 8th of January, 1755. Mr.
Strickland suggests, with great show of reason, that this specimen was the one seen
alive by Sir Hamon Lestrange. Notwithstanding the fiat of the big-wigs of Oxford
for the destruction of the only dodo then in the world, some underling seems to have
secreted its head and foot; and these have afforded Dr. Melville the materials for the
elaborate essay which forms the second part of the volume before me.

I must now take a glance at the solitaire, a bird formerly inhabiting the island of
Rodriguez, and one which Mr. Strickland describes as an homologous representative
of the dodo. It is introduced to us in the following quaint translation from Frangois
Leguat’s ‘ Voyages et Avantures,’ published in London in 1708.

“ Of all the birds in the island the most remarkable is that which goes by the name
of the solitary, because it is very seldom seen in company, tho’ there are abundance
of them. The feathears of the males are of a brown grey colour: the feet and beak
are like a turkey’s, but a little more crooked. They have scarce any tail, but their
hind-part covered with feathers is roundish, like the crupper of a horse ; they are taller
than turkeys. Their neck is straight, and a little longer in proportion than a turkey’s
when it lifts up his head. Its eye is black and lively, and its head without comb or
cop. They never fly, their wings are too little to support the weight of their bodies ;
they serve only to beat themselves, and flutter when they call one another. They will
whirl about for twenty or thirty times together on the same side, during the space of
four or five minutes. The motion of their wings makes then a noise very like that of
a rattle; and one may hear it two hundred paces off. The bone of their wing grows
greater towards the extremity, and forms a little round mass under the feathers, as big

Birds. 2263

as a musket ball. That and its beak are the chief defence of this bird. *Tis very hard
to catch it in the woods, but easie in open places, because we run faster than they, and
- sometimes we approach them without much trouble. From March to September they
are extremely fat, and tast admirably well, especially while they are young ; some of
the males weigh forty-five pounds.

“The femals are wonderfully beautiful, some fair, some brown; I call them fair,
because they are of the colour of fair hair. They have a sort of peak, like a widow’s
upon their breasts [lege beaks], which is of a dun colour. No one feather is straggling
from the other all over their bodies, they being very careful to adjust themselves, and
make them all even with their beaks. The feathers on their thighs are round like
shells at the end, and being there very thick, have an agreeable effect. They have two
risings on their craws, and the feathers are whiter there than the rest, which livelily
represents the fine neck of a beautiful woman. They walk with so much stateliness
and good grace, that one cannot help admiring and loving them; by which means
their fine mien often saves their lives.

“‘ Tho’ these birds will sometimes very familiarly come up near enough to one,
when we do not run after them, yet they will never grow tame. As soon as they are
caught they shed tears without crying, and refuse all manner of sustenance till they
die.

“We tind in the gizzards of both male and female, a brown stone of the bigness
of a hen’s egg; ’tis somewhat rough, flat on one side and round on the other, heavy
and hard. We believe this stone was there when they were hatched, for let them be
never so young you meet with it always. They have never but one of ’em, and be-
sides, the passage from the craw to the gizard is so narrow that a like mass of half
the bigness cou’d not pass. It serv’d to whet our knifes better than any other stone
whatsoever. When these birds build their nests they choose a clean place, gather to-
gether some palm leaves for that purpose, and heap up them a foot and a half high from
the ground, on which they sit. They never lay but one egg, which is much bigger than
that of a goose. The male and female both cover it in their turns, and the egg is not
hatch’d till at seven weeks end. All the while they are sitting upon it, or are bringing
up their young one, which is not able to provide for itself in several months, they will
not suffer any other bird of their species to come within two hundred yards round of
the place; but what is very singular, is, the males will never drive away the females,
only when he perceives one he makes a noise with his wings to call the female, and
she drives the unwelcome stranger away, not leaving it ’till ’tis without her bounds.
The females do’s the same as to the males, whom she leaves to the male, and he
drives them away. We have observ’d this several times, and I affirm it to be true.

“The combats between them on this occasion last sometimes pretty long, because
the stranger only turns about and do’s not fly directly from the nest. However the
others do not forsake it till they have driven it quite out of their limits. After these
birds have rais’d their young one and left it to itself, they are always together, which the
other birds are not, and tho’ they happen to mingle with other birds of the same spe-
cies, these two companions never disunite. We have often remark’d that some days
after the young one leaves the nest, a company of thirty or forty brings another young
one to it, and the new fledg’d bird, with its father and mother joyning with the band,
march to some bye place. We frequently followd them, and found that afterwards
the old ones went each their way alone, or in couples, and left the two young ones to-
gether, which we call a marriage.”—p. 47.

2264 7 Birds.

Lest this narrative should be received with doubt the writer adds, “ This particu-
larity has something in it which looks a little fabulous, nevertheless what I say is sin-
cere truth, and what I have more than once observed with care and pleasure.” For my
own part I consider the entire passage written with a force and simplicity that carries
conviction to the mind. It appears from another passage by the same author that the
solitaires fed on dates. Leguat’s work contains no less than twenty-eight representa-
tions of this bird, and the great similarity that prevails amongst them is tolerably good
evidence of their general faithfulness.

The remains of the solitaire appear to me far less satisfactory than those of the
dodo: they consist of certain bones found in caves in the Island of Rodriguez, and
their connexion with the bird described and figured by Leguat is not obvious. Our
authors regard this bird also as allied to the pigeons.

The Isle of Bourbon, like its neighbours, appears to have had its brevipennate
birds, but of these the records are peculiarly scanty and unsatisfactory. I will not,
therefore, cite them, but conclude with a few words on the affinities of the dodo. In
the first place, then, I would remark that there appears to me no absolute necessity
for placing it with any known family of birds: almost all writers have fallen into what
I regard as an error on this point. Mr. Vigors has certain fives that constitute what
he considers the natural system in birds, and therefore the dodo must range with some
established group : he fixes on the ostriches, and having done so works out a case. De
Blainville, Gould and others declare it to be a vulture. Professor Owen coincides with
this opinion. Reinhardt and the authors of the work before me place it in the family Co-
lumbide, although considering it an aberrant member; and Professor Brandt pronounces
it a cursorial bird in the vicinity of the plovers. Mr. Gray has expressed an opinion
that the head and foot do not belong to the same bird: he regards the head as that of
a bird of prey, and the foot as that of a gallinaceous bird. I would humbly suggest
that all these authors are in error, and that it enters into no family as now constituted.
Although I do not expect professed naturalists who have invented ornithological sys-
tems of their own to adopt my views, yet there are points on which I think we can all
agree. In the first place, I think it will be admitted by all who read ‘ The Dodo and its
Kindred,’ that the vulture hypothesis is demolished. I therefore dismiss that question
altogether. It then remains in evidence that the dodo has certain affinities to both
the gallinaceous and grallatorial birds; that in many points, as well exhibited by Mr.
Vigors, it resembles the ostriches; that in other points, equally well exhibited by Pro-
fessor Brandt, it resembles the plovers ; and finally, that in many points, still better
exhibited by Mr. Strickland, it approaches the pigeons. Now, I would ask, is it not
illogical, under such circumstanees, to place the dodo in a group that shall have either
Struthio, Charadrius or Columba for its type? But if, on the other hand, we admit
that these three genera are respectively the types of groups, and that Didus is the type
of a fourth group, then we can place Didus in such a situation as shall exhibit its
affinities with the three others, for instance thus :—

Columba. Charadrius.

Didus.

Struthio.

Birds—Reptiles. 2265

I should like to pursue the inquiry still a step further: there are two groups of
birds greatly resembling each other, and which contain the following families, taken

from Gray’s ‘ Genera of Birds.’

First Group, Galline, contains—1. Cracide. 2. Megapodide. 3. Phasianide.
4. Tetraonide. 5. Chionide. 6. Tinamide.

Second Group, Gralle, contains—1. Charadride. 2. Ardeide. 3. Scolopacide.
4. Palamedeide. 5. Rallide.

Then we have two minor groups, Columbide and Struthionidez, excluded by most
authors from all the primary groups: the first of these has most affinities with the
Gallinz, the second with the Gralle. I would therefore propose to associate the pi-
geons with the gallinaceous, the ostriches with the grallatorial birds. These two pri-
mary groups thus constituted seem to me to approach each other in the manner
expressed below, supposing each group to occupy the superficies of a circle.

GALLINZ. GRALLZ.
Tetraonide. Charadride.
(4 others). Columbide. ne (4 others).
Megapodide. \\Struthionide,
ll

It seems to me that a seventh group is wanting to fill the hiatus I have left blank,
- and that Didus possesses all the.characters which the missing group requires.

' As regards the number seven, which in these instances falls in so aptly with
opinions I have elsewhere expressed, I may observe that I cannot give any opinion of
Mr. Gray’s groups, since in many instances I am unacquainted with the birds which
they contain. Still, as Mr. Gray has deeply studied the subject, and as his study, like
that of Lindley on plants, and our best zoologists on insects, has resulted in a similar
number, I do not think myself called on to say that I believe the coincidence purely
accidental.

Epwarp NEwMAN.

Note on the Triton palmipes of Daudin. By Joun Wo ttey, Esq.

I Have to report the existence of our recently ascertained newt in the extreme
north of the island. On the Ist of August I found several females and one male in a
little fresh-water peaty pool, a few hundred yards from high-water mark, on the side
of the hills which rise from Loch Eribol, and on the west side of the loch. It is an

— 2266 Reptiles.

inlet of the sea, about sixteen miles to the east of Cape Wrath, in the north coast of
Sutherland, celebrated for the grandeur and wildness of its scenery. The heather
which clothes the hills that slope down to its banks, conceals, for the most part, the
grooves and scratches made by the last of the icebergs that rounded them to their pre-
sent shape; steep mounds of broken fragments may still mark the spots where they
grounded, and as their soft parts shrunk and disappeared, left only their skeletons to
the present day, whilst the distant head of the loch is crowned by perpendicular cliffs,
backed by lofty mountains—the birthright of the red deer and the eagle. Of the
newts I found in this interesting locality, the male had still his spring dress, though
it seemed in a retrograde state. In that far north latitude the tadpoles of the frog
were still in the water, though some of them had acquired their four legs. A month
later I found some very young newts, which are probably of this species, under stones
by the side of ponds, within a mile or two of John 0’ Groat’s house or its site, accom-
panied as usual by young frogs. In Orkney I learnt nothing of it, but it may be
there. In Shetland I was assured no reptiles exist.

It has been a great pleasure to me to find my notice in the ‘ Zoologist’ (Zool.
2149) followed up by such interesting papers as those of Mr. Baker, Mr. Newman, and
M. Deby. Mr. Baker has established his claim to the prior discovery in this country ;
Mr. Newman showed the probable state of the case with respect to nomenclature,*

* My somewhat hasty remarks were only printed on the wrapper, and I had no in-
tention of reprinting them, seeing that M. Deby has treated the matter in so much
ablera manner. Mr. Wolley, however, having done me the honour of mentioning
my conjectures with approbation, I venture to repeat them here, in order to make the
matter more intelligible when the volume is bound and the wrappers consequently
destroyed.

“ Description of a Species of Newt.—Papers thus headed have lately appeared in
the ‘ Zoologist’ (Zool. 2149 and 2198). On reading the first of these, and various ~
memoranda also sent me by Mr. Wolley, I felt convinced that a new species of newt
had been discovered. Mr. Baker’s observation that a friend of his entertains the
opinion that “ Lissotriton punctatus and L. palmipes are one species”? (Zool. 2198),
has induced me to consider the subject more carefully: I have also duly weighed Mr.
Bell’s opinion, that Mr. Baker’s newt is a “ species undoubtedly distinct, and abso-
lutely new not only to this country but to science.” The result of my inquiry leads
me to dissent from Mr. Wolley’s opinion, that the newt is in any respect a novelty ;
from the opinion of Mr. Bakev’s friend, that Lissotriton punctatus and L. palmipes
are one species ; and from Mr. Bell’s opinion, that Mr. Baker’s newt is new to science.
I rather incline to believe, first, that Mr. Wolley’s newt, as well as Mr. Bakev’s, is the
Triton palmipes of continental authors ; the very name seems to carry conviction with
it on this point: secondly, that palmipes and punctatus are perfectly and permanently
distinct, the first always having palmated feet, the last never: thirdly, that Mr. Bell
has unfortunately described and figured punctatus twice, 7. e. under its proper name
of punctatus (‘ British Reptiles,’ p. 132) and under that of palmipes (Id. 139), a cir-
cumstance which possibly may have led British naturalists to doubt the distinctness
of the species known on the Continent by these names. Mr. Bell’s figure of Mr.
Gray’s Triton vittatus exhibits a hind foot semi-palmate, and would lead to the sup-
position that it might have been drawn from an injured specimen of palmipes, had

Reptiles. 2267

whilst the sagacity of his conjectures was proved by M. Deby,—at least so far as to
the true name of the newt supposed to be new.

Not having seen specimens of Mr. Bell’s L. palmipes, I cannot presume to say it

‘is merely a form of L. punctatus; but I can state that from the characters given of it
in his work I had supposed that some newts I forwarded to Mr. Bell were his palmi-
pes, which upon examination he himself declared to be punctatus: this I believe I
mentioned to Mr. Newmar. But it is not only the Lissotriton palmipes of Mr. Bell
that he has to re-establish in the new edition of his ‘ Reptiles ;’ it is to be hoped that
he will give further characters of his Triton Bibronii and of Rana Scotica.

The specimens of the Triton palmipes of Daudin which Mr. Bell first received he
named “ provisionally” Lissotriton appendiculatus, believing them to be a new spe-
cies, until, in a consultation with Mr. Gray, he was induced to consider them a variety
of punctatus, an opinion which the gradual disappearance of the most obvious cha-
racters in confinement encouraged him to continue to indulge, and it was not until he
received a notice of my newts three years afterwards that the “ question was re-
opened” with him; but when he saw some of them he at once confirmed the opinion
I had ventured to express to him, that they were a species hitherto undescribed in
Britain, and by so doing he asserted the value of his first impressions as communi-
cated to Mr. Baker in 1845 (Zool. 2198).

Mr. Gray’s Triton vittatus (Bell’s Brit. Rept., p. 132) appears not to be the T.
palmipes of Daudin, yet the semi-palmation of the hind feet agrees with the condition
of T. palmipes, Daud., whilst the caudal filament is being absorbed. The “tail
pieces” (Zool. 2231) admirably illustrate the most striking differences of the two
kinds of newt.

In a full description there are many other points to be noticed than those hitherto
mentioned: one that might be overlooked I will name here, viz. the colour (as well as
certain of the proportions previously alluded to) of the bones; they are, I believe, more
yellow in palmipes than in punctatus. The difference in size of the two newts does
not appear to me so very marked as M. Deby would indicate, except in moor-land,
where, as far as I have observed, palmipes is smaller than elsewhere, and less bright
and distinct in colour and markings, and with its vernalia (we want a proper word)
less developed. M. Deby’s parallel tables are very useful, and put the matter ina
clear light; if he had added a description of T. alpestris it would have conferred an
additional obligation on those of us who have a difficulty in meeting with the works
of the continental erpetologists. The females of T. palmipes, Daud., have not yet
been described in the ‘ Zoologist.? When compared with the females of T. puncta-
tus, their heads seem broader and shorter, and the toes of their hind feet are for the
most part shorter; the males also have the former, but not so evidently the latter cha-
racter. As to the colour, if in a genial situation, the belly is usually a delicate milk-
and-water white, tinged more or less with yellow towards the middle line; the back
and sides of the body and tail are of a dark olive-green, and in some, particularly very

not Mr. Gray, in his description of vittatus, omitted all notice of the peculiarity of the
tail, which is so marked a feature in palmipes. I cannot for a moment suppose this
would have escaped a naturalist whose knowledge of species and ability to seize spe-
cific distinctions stands unrivalled. I therefore can only attribute the peculiar foot
given in the figure to inaccuracy on the part of the draughtsman.—Edward Newman.

2268 Reptiles.

large specimens, are beautifully mottled by a net-work of lighter colour. In moor-
land the skin becomes harsh, and coloured more like the females of the common newt,
sometimes even to the orange belly.

The several longitudinal bands of colour, and the bright and tesselated markings
of the full-dressed male, I leave to abler pens to describe; but I may record that I
found one specimen, the only one I had from the pond in which it was (and I mention
the last fact because, like other animals, especially aquatic, it seems subject to local
variety), whose tail is covered with minute spots between the two rows of larger spots
which are always present, as shown in M. Deby’s sketch: between these two rows
there are generally some other large spots, varying in number in different individuals.
The crests are never spotted or toothed as in punctatus; and though, as M. Deby
says, they are generally small, yet sometimes they are considerably developed, but less
so than in punctatus. The web of the hind foot, which seems sometimes to extend
almost beyond the end of the toes, is black when in perfection, but when not so it is
sometimes pale.

It is to be hoped that readers of the ‘ Zoologist’ will kindly report more localities.
In April and May newts may be caught by hundreds, with a landing net, in ponds

where frogs spawn.
J. WoLLEY.

3, Roxburgh Terrace, Edinburgh,
September 8, 1848.

[I shall feel extremely obliged to any correspondent who will transmit specimens
or deseriptions of any of our native salamanders, distinctly stating the locality, date,
and sex if known ; it seems most desirable to ascertain with greater precision than has
hitherto been attempted, the history, economy and synonomy of these very common
reptiles. May I venture to suggest that Mr. Bell’s Triton Bibronii may be the female
of T. palustris, Zinn., a name which I think should be restored, instead of cristatus
used by modern authors.—Edward Newman.]

Naturalization of Rana esculenta at Epping.—Mr. Henry Doubleday having re-
ceived from Foulmire Fen some living specimens of this truly beautiful frog, turned
them loose near a pond not far from his residence. They soon migrated to another
pond, and there have made themselves perfectly at home. Mr. Doubleday has never
seen them on land, but they may often be observed seated on the floating pond-weed,
watching the Agrions and other insects which fly over the water, and occasionally
leaping to catch them when within reach. A few days since I had the pleasure of
watching these frogs, and would gladly have captured one to bring home, but he dived
so nimbly as to elude the net. Mr. Doubleday describes their croaking in spring as
being very loud and remarkable: at this season they would sometimes sit on a rail
which overhung the water, and exercise their vocal powers in great style-—KHdward
Newman.

On Reptiles swallowing their Young.—A great deal of discussion has taken place
in the pages of the ‘ Gardener’s Chronicle, on the subject of the faculty said to be
possessed by vipers, of receiving into their stomachs, as into a place of refuge, their

Reptiles, &c. 2269

young ones when threatened with or fearing injury: the majority of the readers and
writers in such a journal are not naturalists ; they know neither what to observe or how
-to observe it; and consequently their statements and arguments melt into thin air be-
fore the cross-examination which the mind of a naturalist is sure to bestow on them :
nevertheless the discussion has not been confined to non-naturalists, and excellent re-
marks have been made by naturalists—remarks well worthy of being transferred to
these pages, but which I cannot readily so transfer on account of their obvious rela-
tion to other remarks which fall under the category of aberrant. The somewhat dog-
matical character of a naturalist’s mind has a tendency to pooh-pooh the statement in
question ; such is my own disposition : I don’t know how to believe that a young and
tender animal can remain in the strongly digestive stomach of a viper and receive no
injury ; neither can I imagine what kind of instinct can teach the young of any ani-
mal to seek so dangerous a refuge. But I wish my readers to peruse the following
statements. Ist. My late lamented friend William Christy, Jun., found a fine speci-
men of the common scaly lizard with two young ones: taking an interest in everything
relating to Natural History, he put them into a small pocket vasculum to bring home ;
but when he next opened the vasculum the young ones had disappeared, and the belly
of the parent was greatly distended : he concluded she had devoured her own offspring :
at night the vasculum was laid on a table, and the lizard was therefore at rest ; in the
morning the young ones had reappeared, and the mother was as lean as at first.
2nd. Mr. Henry Doubleday, of Epping, supplies the following information : a person
whose name is English, a good observer, and one as it were brought up in Natural
History, under Mr. Doubleday’s tuition, once happened to set his foot on a lizard in
the forest, and while the lizard was thus held down by his foot he distinctly saw three
young ones run out of her mouth : struck by such a phenomenon he killed and opened
the old one, and found two other young ones in her stomach, which had been injured
when he trod on her. In both these instances the narrators are of that class who do
know what to observe and how to observe it; and the facts, whatever explanation
they may admit, are not to be dismissed as the result of imagination or mistaken ob-
servation.—Id.

On killing Worms before using them as Bait for Fish.—Persons who employ worms
for angling, and who dislike using them for that purpose in a living state, may be glad
to know that a little common salt sprinkled on a worm will destroy life very quickly,
and without rendering the bait unsuitable for the fish, or at all events for the follow-
ing species of fish, which I have seen so caught, viz., common trout, perch, roach,
rudd, dace, gudgeon, minnow, and sharp-nosed eel.—J. H. Gurney; Easton, near
Norwich, September 1, 1848.

Productive Eggs of a Female of Smerinthus ocellatus taken from the Parent after
Death.— Having understood that it was a generally received opinion, that eggs taken
from a female insect after death would not hatch, I beg to state that having captured
a worn Smerinthus ocellatus, in May, I took a quantity of eggs from her two days af-
ter death, and that they all hatched in about forty hours after those she laid before

VI 258

2270 Insects.

death. I tried the experiment with a Ligustri and Tiliz, taken at the same time, but
did not succeed. They (the two latter) were beautiful specimens, and most probably
had not been in coitu.—J. Johnson ; 27, Kensington Square, August 26, 1848.

Hermaphrodite Specimen of Smerinthus Populi.—Between the 9th and 17th of
August of this year, we have bred twenty specimens of Smerinthus Populi, which had
remained only five weeks in chrysalis. One of these was a fine hermaphrodite speci-
men, which came forth on the 13th of August. The left side of this specimen has the
characters of the male, and the right those of the female; the left side of the body is
one-eighth of an inch longer than the right, which, however, is of the greatest size ;
the left wing is of a dark colour, and is one quarter of an inch shorter than the right,
which is of a light colour ;-the antenne also are different. We have also obtained
two broods of caterpillars from the above specimens. These were hatched on the 21st
of August.— W. H. and C. H. Longley ; 1, Eaton Place, Park Street, Oxford Street,
September 6, 1848.

On the diseased Larve of Plusia Iota.—In my observations on the diseased larve
of Plusia Iota (Zool. 2033), I assumed that all I had met with belonged to this spe-
cies, which further experience has shown may not have been the case. Last autumn
I had twenty-one young larve of Iota; ten I sent to Mr. Henry Doubleday, and re-
tained the rest: of these, eight survived the winter, and recommenced feeding about
the beginning of April; and to my surprise and delight, before the end of June each
had produced a perfect moth, never having exhibited the slightest symptoms of
disease. I had great numbers of young larve of P. percontationis, and though many
were alive in spring, yet they looked very sickly, and only twenty ever fed at all—again
showing that comparatively Iota is the more hardy. I have several times bred per-
contationis, and never knew it diseased before this year, when two out of the twenty
were affected in apparently the same manner as [ota had previously been. Not caring
about percontationis I did not separate the diseased from the healthy, in order to as-
certain if the disease (whatever it might be) was infectious, which did not appear to
be the case, for the two that were attacked died, and the rest produced moths. A fur-
ther motive for keeping the diseased larve was to watch the appearance they might
afterwards assume ; and this was so exactly like that of the diseased Iota, that no one, _
I think, could have distinguished them; so that, as I have before intimated, the
diseased larve I had met with in previous years were not, probably, all of the same
species. Perhaps I ought to say that the larve of the two species, in their healthy
state, are very much alike: the only difference I could perceive was, that Iota is a
somewhat deeper green, and has the lateral lines pure white, which in percontationis
are yellowish. I had a larva of chrysitis this year affected in precisely the same man-
ner, and it died like the rest; so that three out of the four Plusie that occur here ap-
pear subject to the same disease. I have not yet noticed it in Gamma. I saw
numbers of the diseased larve again this summer, but the moths of this genus were
rare. I did not see a single Iota, only three or four chrysitis, and seven or eight per-
contationis. I thought it strange that, of so many larve of Plusie as I had previously
met with, not one should have proved healthy, though in numbers of them there
was no appearance of disease at the time. I was therefore curious to know some-
thing of their habits, and, with this view, planted such weeds as I found them upon,
and over these placed a large cage of gauze wire, into which I put my larve; and
though I knew there were so many in that limited space, I scarcely ever saw one;
which leads me to suppose that they do not, in their natural state, expose themselves

Insects. 2271

until they have become diseased. When the larve spun up they invariably placed
themselves under a leaf, and slightly drew down the edges in such a manner as to re-
quire a well-practised eye to detect thein in a state of liberty, which may account for
their being so seldom found. As the object of this note is tv prevent any erroneous
conclusions being drawn from my former communication, it may not perhaps be
deemed unworthy of a place in the ‘ Zoologist.— W. Turner, M.A.; Uppingham,
September 1, 1848.

Occurrence of Peronea permutana at New Brighton.—On the 13th ult. I took three
specimens of this insect on the wing, at dawn of day, at New Brighton, flying in com-
pany with Acleris aspersana over a species of wild rose, which grows there in profu-
sion. I sent a specimen to my friend H. Doubleday, Esq., supposing it to be an
extraordinary variety of variegana, when he kindly informed me that it was not that
insect, but permutana, that it is local but common on the Continent, and that it has
never been recorded as British before, though doubtless it has been overlooked, being
so much like variegana in the markings. Mr. Doubleday says that it is always larger
than variegana, but varies even more than the latter species. The ground colour of
my specimens is yellow or brownish yellow.—Nicholas Cooke ; Warrington, September
11, 1848.

Capture of Micro-Lepidoptera—I have ventured to send you an account of some
captures of Micro-Lepidoptera, chiefly belonging to the genus Argyromiges, of which
I have taken this year three species new to Britain ; two of them, I believe, unknown
on the Continent: these I have named salicicolella and viminiella. The third spe-
cies, Mr. Stainton informs me, is the Amyotella of Duponchel: my specimen, taken
on August 18th, is singularly beautiful. Subjoined is a figure of a wing of each. I

Argyromiges Salicicolella. A. viminiella. A. Amyotella.

must leave the description to abler hands, and may, perhaps, prevail on Mr. Stainton
or Mr. Douglas to supply the deficiency. I also captured a pretty Microsetia, the in-
timella of Zeller, easily distinguished by its white spot in the centre of the inner mar-
gin of the primary wings, which are black, and by its yellow antenne: together with
this I took another species, also considered new, but about which I am not certain:
these two species rest on the higher branches of the sallow, and may be obtained by
brushing them with a net: I secured about sixteen of each. Argyrosetia semifasciella
rests on the lower leaves of the sallow: I captured upwards of a hundred by holding
my net just below the branches that I shook: they drop motionless. Argyromiges
spinolella flies out of the sallows when shaken, and is taken on the wing: I secured
a great many of this very lovely species, and have still a few remaining, which I shall
be most happy to send to any Micro-Lepidopterist who may not possess the species.
Eidophasia transversella flies late in the evening, very near the ground, and appears
much smaller than it is: kneel down and catch it as it flies. I was late in discovering
its habits; hence my specimens are worn: they appear to be all males. In some ex-
amples the bar is interrupted in the midlle; in others it does not extend much beyond
the centre; and I possess a specimen bearing only a small spot on the inner margin of
the wing: the antenne at once distinguish the species. The species which I found

2272 Insecis.

to frequent the oak are,—Argyromiges lautella, Messaniella (found also on the elm),
Heegeriella, Sircomella, and Gracillaria substriga (Coriscium quercetellum, Zeller) ;
this I also reared from the larve. Off whitethorn hedges I took Emberizepennella
(one), tristrigella, trifasciella, Boyerella, crategifoliella ; one elatella (?) and one cory-
lifoliella I beat out of a hazel; one hortella out of a beech; and alnifoliella I cap-
tured on the wing. I need scarcely add that most of the Argyromiges appear in
May, and are double-brooded.—John Strcom, Jun. ; Brislington, August 30, 1848.

Note respecting Yponomeuta sedella.—This insect, sedella (Tis.) Tr. Z., differs es-
sentially from all its congeners in being double-brooded: the first brood appears in
April or May, and the second in August. The larva feeds on the orpine (Sedum tele-
phium), a fleshy-leaved plant, which grows on chalky and gravelly soils. In the first
week of October, 1836, I met with a brood of larve of Yponomeuta on the Sedum
telephium ; and being rather surprised to see these larve at that time of year, and on
such curious food, I took them, in hopes of rearing something strange, but was rather
disappointed on breeding, early in February, some dirty gray ermines, which to my
inexperienced eyes appeared to be only the common padella; and I consequently
threw them away. I have now not the slightest doubt that the insects thus con-
temptuously thrown away were actually sedella, the distinguishing character of which
—the black patch in the cilia—being a mark which would then readily escape my no-
tice. My object in writing this is to call attention to the right time to look for the
larve, the first week in October (the larve were then very nearly full grown); as I
make no doubt if those who have any S. telephium growing near them would only
search at the right periods (the other period being most probably June or July), the
insect would be readily obtained, and become an inmate of all our cabinets.—ZH. T.
Stainton ; Mountsfield, Lewisham, September 4, 1848.

Note on Gracillaria substriga, Haw. (Coriscitum quercetellum, Zeller).—This spe-
cies, rarely met with elsewhere, is not uncommon among the oaks at Brislington, ap-
pearing in April and May, July and September. I have not yet discovered the pupe
in their natural state, probably owing to the larve quitting the leaves prior to their
undergoing this change. This I infer from the fact that the caterpillars of those
which I reared formed their delicate webs in the corners of the box. I took the larve
of my July brood at the end of May, and the first perfect insect appeared July Ist;
those of the September brood at the end of July, the fly appearing September 7. Al-
lowing the larve to have been hatched some time before I took them, we may calcu-
late six weeks as the period they take from this state to that of the perfect moth. My
first brood I supplied occasionally with fresh leaves; my second not, and I perceived
no difference in the size of the specimens; indeed my September brood is singularly
fine. Subjoined are the several days on which I took specimens.

First Brood. April 23, May 2, 5; 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, (23, 24, 29, June 2, worn).

Second Brood. July 1, 8, 10, (25, 27, 30, August 15.*)

Third Brood. September 7, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13.—John Sircom, Jun. ; Brislington,
September 21, 1848.

Insects. - 2273

Additional Remarks on the Genus Argyromiges. By H. T.Statnton, Esq.

Two of Zeller’s species of Lithocolletis have been added to our list as British

during the past season,—Amyotella, Dup. (see Zool. 2080, note, A, No. 4) and scopa-
riella, Heyden (see Zool. 2080, note, B, No. 24); and besides these, two others, not
noticed by Zeller, have been detected by the untiring energy of Mr. Sircom: full
dscriptions of these shall appear as a supplementary paper ere long; but as it is very
probable it may not be ready to be published in the ‘ Zoologist ’ this year, I send this
notice, with a few remarks on sundry errors in my Monograph, and also notices of such
species as I have myself met with.

i

2.

lautella. J beat a single specimen out of an oak at Lewisham, August 6th: it is a
variety, the first pair of opposite spots being united and forming a fascia.

Schreberella. I took a single specimen at Lewisham on the 12th of August, beat-
ing it out of oak.

. ulmifoliella. I took two specimens on the Dartford Heath fence, April 19th; I

beat one out of hedges at Lewisham, May 8th; one (probably from birches) at
Wickham, May 9th; and took a wasted one on the Beckenham fence, on the
18th of May.

. Emberizepennella. I have taken only two specimens; one on the 11th, the other

on the 30th of May; both beaten out of honeysuckle at Lewisham.

. tristrigella. I took two specimens on the Beckenham fence, on the 18th of May.
. Frelichiella. I beat one out of a hedge at Lewisham, May 25th.
. trifasciella. I beat one out of honeysuckle, on the 30th of May, at Lewisham;

and took a wasted one on the Beckenham fence, on the 9th of June.

11, 12. Messaniella and quercifoliella. Abundant throughout the summer, principally

on oaks; but I have often beaten them out of very dissimilar food, where no oak
was near. I beat two specimens of Messaniella out of buckthorn, in May. I
have bred both these species from oak leaves.

15, 16. pomonella and pomifoliella. Every specimen of these species that I have seen

18.

19.

20.
21.

I have taken ; and hope, by careful examination of them, to throw more certain
light on their specific distinctness: among them are some which are probably
new species.

Junoniella. Of this species I have taken four; one flying near an oak, May 5th;
one beat out of hawthorn, May 6th; another on the 8th; and the fourth on the
10th of May, likewise out of hawthorn.

alnifoliella. Of this species I beat about twenty out of some alders overhanging
a small stream near Maltby, Yorkshire, July 21st.

Cramerella. Abundant in May and June, on oaks; in August more sparingly.

tenellc. The insect figured and described is not the tenella of Zeller, but his
Heegeriella. Its synonymy should therefore stand thus :—

Heegeriella, Zeller, Linn. Ent. i. 233, f. 28.
tenella, Stainton (non Z.), Zool. 2152.

It has a dark basal streak, and the apical spot is oval. Of this species I have

2274 Insects.

taken eight specimens; four in the spring and four in August; all off oaks at
Lewisham.

tenella, Zeller, Linn. Ent. i. 236, f. 30.
hortella, Bent. Mus.

has no dark basal streak, and the apical mark is a line or streak, not a spot.
This species I have not met with: one has been taken by Mr. Ellman at Bat-
tel (I saw his specimen).

24. sylvella. Common on maple in May, and sparingly in August. I bred several
specimens from the leaves of the maple.

25. comparella. I beat a single specimen out of a hawthorn hedge at Lewisham, on
the 3rd of May: there was no poplar near.

26. corylifoliella. I have taken several specimens of this species in May, June and
August, principally from oaks.

28. scitella. I beat several specimens from hawthorn, at the end of June and begin-
ning of July.

29. spartifoliella. This species swarmed on broom (Spartiwm scopartum) near
Airthrey, where I had the pleasure of taking Lithocolletis scopariella, Tri-
furcula immundella and Depressaria assimilella, on the 15th and 16th of
July.

30. cerasifoliella. Here again we have two closely allied species confounded, and
most of the descriptions and figures of the insects are so unsatisfactory, that it
is almost impossible to say to which species they belong. The synonymy as
corrected will stand thus :—

suffusella, Zeller, Linn. Ent. iii. 266, Pl. 2, f. 32.
tremulella, Fischer von Roslerstamm.
cerasifoliella, Dup. ?

unipunctella, St. ?

Frequents poplars ; has no basal dark lines. Of this species, which I did not
previously possess, though I observe it is in most collections, I took a specimen
off a Lombardy poplar on the 25th of June, and a second off the same tree on
the 17th of September.

saligna, Z., Linn. Ent. iii. 270.
cerasifoltella, Sta. (Zool. 2158), Hub. ?
unipunctella, Wood's fig. 1335.

Frequents willows ; has two dark lines proceeding from the base, and meeting
rather beyond the middle of the wing. This is the species I have been in the
habit of taking in April; I have not met with it this year.

31. Clerchella. Of this species I beat one out of firs at Lewisham, June 15th ; a se-
cond out of a mixed hedge on the 24th of August; and a third out of a fir tree

at Wickham, on the 30th of August.

34. Boyerella. Not uncommon at Lewisham, on elms, at the end of May.

35. cratagifoliella. Sparingly, at the end of May, on oaks, elm and hawthorn.

36. Sircomella. 'This name must sink, the species being described by Zeller under the
name of ulmella, in the third volume of the ‘ Linnea Entomologica,’ which was

Insects. 2275

in this country before the appearance of the July number of the ‘ Zoologist.’
The synonymy will therefore stand thus :-—

ulmella (Mann), Zeller, Linn. Ent. iii. 288.
ulmella,. Bent. Mus.

Sircomella, Sta. (Zool. 2162).
cuculipennella, var. 5, Haw.

ulmifoliella, Sircom in lit.

This species has been very common with me this year, in May, June and Au-
gust, on oaks and hawthorn (not on elm),

40. quercetella. This name also must drop, the insect being described by Haworth
under the name of substriga, as mentioned by Mr. Stephens (Zool. 2078). The
synonymy will then stand thus:

substriga, Haw., St.
quercetella, Z. (non Dup.), Sta. (Zool. 2164).
Curtisella, Dup.

I beat a single specimen out of a low oak at Lewisham, August 12th. This in-
sect certainly belongs to the Gracillaria group, though its possession of an apical
hook distinguishes it from all other species of that genus hitherto detected in
this country. Three other species with this peculiarity are known on the Con-

tinent.
H. T. Stainton.

Mountsfield, Lewisham,
September 21, 1848.

Capture of Lixus bicolor, Hypera fasciculata, §c.—Extending for six or seven
miles on the north of the town of Deal from Sandown Castle, and bordering on the
sea, from which it is protected by a high ridge of shingle, is a sandy tract of unculti-
vated land, covered with herbage and plants of variotis kinds, which—as respects the
nature of the soil, its ridges and pits of sand, its plants, and the general character of
the insects found there—reminds me somewhat of the Chesil Bank in the Isle of
Portland. Nor is it inferior (while it is more extensive) in its Coleopterous produc-
tions to that famed locality ; for not only several species, which have hitherto been
found only near the Chesil Bank, occur here,—as Masoreus luxatus and Limobius
mixtus,— but others also, which have been considered of great rarity, may be taken in
abundance. During the first few hours I spent in this locality, on the 7th of August,
I captured on the Erodium cicutarium, or rather, I should say, half-buried in the
sand beneath the plant, numerous specimens of Hypera fasciculata, a species which I
understand had not been taken for many years ; and on the same occasion, as well as
during subsequent visits, I had the good fortune to discover, under the same plant—
reposing on the surface of the sand, in a seemingly inert state—that very rare and
highly-prized Curculio, Lixus bicolor, which has hitherto been unique in the cabinet
of Mr. Stephens. Here, too, several species, which have heretofore been taken only
sparingly at a time, may be met with in considerable numbers, as Gronops lunatus,
Sarrotrium muticum, &c. On a dead hedge, which separates this wild sandy district

2276 Insects.

from the cultivated country, Acalles echinatus may be taken in abundance, and with
it, though less plentifully, that rarer species Roboris (Curtis), of which not more than
three or four specimens had previously been taken in this country. Here, also, Mr.
Walton (who, with the Rev. H. Clark, was induced to join me in exploring the riches
of this charming locality) detected, and will shortly describe, a new species of Tychius.
It occurs sparingly on a grassy bank. In the same spot Mr. Clark and myself each
captured a single specimen of a new Nedyus.

The following is a list of the more striking species which within this last month
have occurred in this rich locality ; and Coleopterists will admit that, though brief, it
is by no means meagre in point of interest, as regards the character of the insects
therein recorded.

Dromius fasciatus.
Dyschirius thoracicus.
politus.
Calathus crocopus.
Amara erythropa.
spreta, &c.
Bradytus consularis.
Harpalus serripes.
tardus.
anxius, &c.
Masoreus luxatus.
Notaphus ustulatus.
Lopha pusilla.
Nedyus Crux (Walt.), n. sp.
Echii.
ruficrus, &c.
Amalus scortillum.
Acalles Roboris.
echinatus.
Tychius nigrirostris (Walt.), n. Sp.
Gronops lunatus.
Hypera fasciculata.

Hypera murina, &c.
Limobius mixtus.
Lixus bicolor.
Apion minimum.
seniculus.
—— pubescens.
—— Curtisii.
vernale.
brevicolle.
nigritarse.
—— difforme.
dissimile.
Choragus Sheppardii.
Thyamis femoralis.
ochroleuca.
Sarrotrium muticum.
Crypticus quisquilius.
Platydema enea.
Salpingus ruficollis.
planirostris.
Spheriestes 4-pustulatus.

—J. F. Dawson, LL.B. ; Ramsgate, September 12, 1848.

Occurrence of Badister peltatus in England.—A single specimen of this beetle, taken
by Mr. Ingall near London, is in that gentleman’s cabinet. It has little similarity in
figure and none in colouring to the other British species of Badister, its habit and
figure being that of a Trimorphus. Believing it an undescribed species of that genus,
I described it as new in the fifth volume of the ‘ Entomological Magezine,’ as under:
“'Trimorphus Erro. The antennz are long, slender, and nearly black, the apical por-
tion paler and somewhat downy, as usual in the family; the basal joint is elongate,
and is nearly white both at its base and apex; the second joint is pale at the apex
only: the head is black and smooth : the prothorax is nigro-eneous, obcordate, nar-
row, and truncated posteriorly, having a deep longitudinal median line, and a large
and deep fovea in each posterior angle: the elytra are nigro-wneous, regularly and
somewhat deeply striated: the legs are piceous (Ent. Mag. v. 489).—H. Newman.

Insects. 2277

Occurrence of Badister peltatus in England.—Immediately after the publication of
the October number of the ‘ Zoologist, Mr. Samuel Stevens informed me, in allusion
to the paragraph on the preceding page, that he possesses two specimens of Badister
peltatus, taken by himself in the neighbourhood of Hammersmith. I hope entomo-
logists who find they possess this rare insect will announce the fact in future pages of
this work.— Edward Newman ; October 5, 1848.

Description of Leptinus testaceus, a recently-discovered British Coleopterous Insect.

Family—SCAPHIDIID.
Genus.—Leptinus, Muller.

Maxillary palpi filiform, third joint cylindric, fourth shorter, conic. Antenne in-
serted under the lateral margin of the head, subfiliform, basal joint almost double the
length and thickness of the rest; joints subcylindric, gradually longer from the second
to the sixth, four last gently thicker and shorter, ultimate subovate, laterally flattened.
Body oval, much depressed ; elytra soldered together; wings none.

Sp.—L. trEestacevs, Muller.*

Testaceous yellow, somewhat shining, very thickly and finely punctulate and waved
throughout, with a fine, short, appressed, shining pubescence. Antenne half as long
as the body. Head depressed, slightly transverse, closely inserted into the thorax ;
eyes apparently wanting. Thorax very much broader than the head, transverse, much
narrowed in front, depressed, very thickly and finely punctulate and waved, with some
irregular, obsolete, larger punctures, of which two or three are near the base; the sides
rounded ; the apex slightly bisinuate; the base slightly arcuate, truncate, its edge
somewhat paler; hinder angles acute. Scutellum rather large, triangular, thickly
and closely punctulate. Elytra closely applied to the thorax, of the breadth of its
base and scarcely twice its length, much depressed, sides straightish, rounded at the
apex, very thickly and finely punctulate and waved, with—in certain lights—faint in-
dications of regular, longitudinal, linear depressions, representing lines and interstices.
Tibi, anterior and intermediate, thicker at the apex than the elongate posterior; an-
terior tarsi slightly dilated.

In the specimen described there are two dark approximating points, resembling
ocelli, on the hinder lobe of the right side of the head, behind the antenne; but as
they appear on one side only, they may be accidental impressions.

For this interesting addition to the British Fauna naturalists are indebted to Mr.
E. W. Janson, who found it under chalk flints at Boxhill, near Dorking, on the 28th
of May of the present year.—James Hardy ; Penmanshiel, near Cockburnspath, Octo-
ber, 1848.

* L,. flavo-testaceus, subtilissimé creberrimé punctulatus ; elytris apice rotundatis.
Long. corp. 14 lin.

Mull. Germ. Mag. ii. 207. Germ. Faun. Ins. Europ. 4,9. Heer, Fn. Col. Helv.
i. 373.

VI PAG

2278 Quadrupeds.

A Fauna of Melbourne. By Joun Josery Briggs, Esq.

Tue parish of Melbourne is situated in the southern division of the county of
Derby, about eight miles from the county town, and is 3463 acres in extent. The
surface has little to distinguish it from the neighbouring parts, being of that undu-
lating, quiet character—half pastoral, half arable—which marks the landscapes of
South Derbyshire. Our larger woods occupy about 150 acres, but the surface is
pleasingly varied with small copses, holmes, and hedgerow timber. Our small valleys
generally cradle some rivulet or stream, which, after watering the pasture lands, falls
into the Trent. This river forms the northern boundary, and winds, like some
gigantic serpent, through our meadows, and owing to its noble breadth is very at-
tractive to wild fowl. Altogether the surface of this parish is most favourable for the
study of Natural History, and the lover of the beautiful cannot but be delighted with
the rich scenery which is everywhere presented to his eye. Our fauna, however, is
much more limited than formerly, owing to the drainage of marsh lands, the grabbing
up of gorse and fern, and the closer trimming of hedgerows; but still it is very ex-
tensive. The changes it has undergone will be noticed more particularly as the spe-
cies of animals to be described come under review. It will be necessary to state that
all individuals mentioned in the following list must be considered as having occurred
in this parish or on its borders, unless the contrary is distinctly pointed out, and that
the observations on their habits, manners and character, refer to them as observed
here.

Pipistrelle (Vespertilio —————). My journals record having noticed this bat
flying about at mid-day on the following days, October 21st, 1843, and December 8th,
1843, being very cold; but I find that they come forth during every month in the
year, when the air is mild and genial and the wind south or south-west. The bats in
Melbourne Church bring out their young about June 17th. “ April 14, 1844.—Bats
love to feed just on the verge of night. I have noticed one which has flitted about
every tolerably warm evening since last autumn. About the second week in Decem-
ber, when darkness came on about four o'clock, a.m., this animal appeared about
three o’clock. As the days lengthened he gradually made his appearance a little later,
and at the end of February five was his hour. Now (April 14th) the dusk falls about
eight, and he generally appears near seven o'clock. This I have ascertained by fre-
quently minuting him. The twilight seems his favourite hour; and either the small
nocturnal insects upon which he feeds appear just at that point of time, or his vi-
sion is peculiarly adapted for the dubious light, for he is rarely seen abroad in open
day, and generally retires as the air grows darker.”

Long-eared Bat (Plecotus auritus). Seen occasionally. I have observed that
when feeding the range which they take in the air is more elevated than that of the
pipistrelle, and that they sweep down at intervals (probably strike at an insect) as a
falcon stoops to a bird. In winter they have been found huddled together, four or five
in a lump, in crevices of the old trees, in Calke and Donnington Parks; and I was
once shown five individuals which had been taken from a barn-roof near Mickleover.

Hedgehog (Hrinuceus europeus). Hedgehogs lie dormant rather more than one-
fourth of the year, retiring the last week in November and appearing the first week in
March. When found in winter they are encased in a coat of dry leaves, about half

Quadrupeds. 2279

an inch thick, which adhere to the prickles in so firm a manner that the animals seem
to have rolled themselves amongst them: over this is another loose, warm covering of
leaves. When this outer covering is removed the animal looks exactly like a lump of
dried foliage. I have only once known a hedgehog killed in winter, out of his hyber-
naculum: the season was remarkably mild, and he had either never laid himself up
at all or was tempted out by the softness of the atmosphere (See Zool. 714).

Mole (Talpa europea). My journal has the following note. “ February 15, 1845.
The mole does not (as the great Linneus asserts) lie dormant during the winter, neither
in frosts does he cease to undermine the ground ; for I have observed, to my surprise,
that he can work in the severest weather, and push the soil through the frozen surface.
This proceeding I have noticed some dozens of times this winter, even when the wea-
ther has been so severe as to freeze over the Trent; but I find that when the surface
of the earth is very hard, the mole, in order to save himself labour, sometimes brings
the loose soil which he is working to the nearest hillock, and pushes it through an old
hole to the surface, rather than trouble himself to make a new one through the turf,
as he would do if the ground was soft. The mole also works in snows.” Moles do
not always abound in pastures where earth-worms are most plentiful, and their food
seems restricted to the smaller kinds. We have several fields here where large worm-
casts exist in such numbers as almost to destroy the herbage, yet no mole ever enters
them, although they work readily in the surrounding fields. These animals mine
with equal ease in either dry or swampy soils. The miry earth does not, as might be
supposed, retard the movements of the animal by clogging his skin, for he comes out
of such spots almost as sleek as from the drier grounds. They seem rather to avoid
our stiffest loams and clays. Mole-catchers say that the male is much more cunning
and difficult to take than the female. The mounds under which their nest is placed
are always large, and I have seen one eighteen inches high and nine feet in circum-
ference. Moles sometimes make their nests as early as February, but use them as
dormitories until towards May, when the young are deposited. They must occasion-
ally ascend above ground to procure blades of grasses for their nest, and to see them
engaged in this operation must be a curious spectacle. They probably collect them
in their mouths, in the same manner as a sow in a farm-yard does the litter for her
bed. They use their runs when filled with water, if necessary. I have known them
manifest peculiar obstinacy in not quitting a spot where the nest was situate, and when
it was destroyed in rebuilding it, even to the fourth time. As the word ‘ mole’ signifies
a ‘ spot or excrescence,’ probably the animal received its name from its habit of throw-
ing up its small round hillocks, which look like spots or disfiguring marks upon the
earth’s surface. When above ground moles have an awkward gait, but make progress
at considerable speed. When handled they make a shrill distressing noise. In water
they swim well and rapidly ; but if allowed to remain in that element for a very short
period, life becomes extinct. They have, when above ground, a curious and particu-
lar habit of scratching themselves with their hind legs, in order to get rid of a small
parasite, which proves very irksome to them. I have paid considerable attention
to the mole, and have ever admired his remarkable shape and his singular instinct,
and been interested in his extraordinary subterranean mode of life. I have ever found
him an animal of deep interest, but I am very far from attributing to him those mi-
raculous traits of character which are recorded by Geoffrey St. Hilaire and Mr. Jesse.
Is the mole injurious or beneficial in agriculture? This is a difficult question. I
have examined many moles, but never found anything in them but the remains of

2280 Quadrupeds.

insects and vegetables; and I have noticed, too, that they affect those fields most
which are most subject to wire-worms. The Rev. G. Wilkins, an Essex clergyman,
comes forward most ably as the champion of moles (Zool. 2009), and finds that they
entirely annihilate the wire-worm. Where there is little or no wire-worm on a farm,
it is difficult for a farmer to make up his mind whether to preserve or destroy them.
It is unpleasant to see them in your turnip-fields, undermining the drills for a hun-
dred yards together, and causing the plants to wither. It is unpleasant to see them
in your mangold-wurtzel, burrowing under the plants, and effecting the same destruc-
tion. It is unpleasant to find them in your corn, loosening the soil at the roots, and
causing it to be pulled up by the mower’s scythe. It is unpleasant to have them
working in your smooth pasture-lands, throwing up their unsightly hillocks, and per-
forating their surface like a honey-comb. It is unpleasant to have them in your irri-
gated fields, burrowing into the drains and embankments, and disturbing your earth-
works. In a word, although I shall run the risk of calling down upon me the anger
of the worthy clergyman of Essex, who says that “ farmers adopt nothing till driven
to it, and nothing that is new and good,” I must say, that much as I admire the mole,
I would, after all, rather have his “ room than his company” on my land.

Shrew (Sorex tetragonurus). I can throw no light upon the annual mortality of
the shrew. It takes place about March, when numbers are found dead in lanes and
hedgerows, but without any mark of violence upon them. These animals generally
make their nests in fields of mowing grass. Mowers constantly shave off the top of
one when cutting down the grass, but the animal does not usually forsake it; but I
have known her bestow considerable pains in shielding her young from danger. The
nest is a proof of this animal’s industry and skill, and worthy of admiration. It is
built on the ground in a tuft of herbage, round in shape, and apparently there is no
entrance to the interior (probably a fresh one is made as required, in different parts
of it, and closed when no longer needed). Their nest is, as Burns would truly
describe it,

‘‘ A wee bit heap o’ leaves and stibble,
Which costs it mony a weary nibble.”

In the autumn of 1842 I met with an incident relative to the character of this animal
worth recording. I was rambling by the margin of a patch of sedge, when I disco-
vered the nest of a shrew mouse close to my feet. It was about the size of a cricket-
ball, and contained five young ones. I took it up, and having satisfied my curiosity
replaced it in a careless manner; but going to it a few days afterwards, I observed
that the dam had closed up the aperture which I had broken, and drawn the blades
of long grass over the nest, so as to cover the minute habitation in a most admirable
manner. Whenever I passed that way I took a peep at the group, to watch their
growth; but was not a little surprised, after a few visits, to find the nest missing. I
examined the neighbourhood minutely, and found, to my surprise, that they were lo-
cated about fifty yards further. The dam, no doubt not liking my frequent interrup-
tions, had removed her charge to a more secure place,—an example of the care and
tenderness which these minute animals display towards their young.

Water Shrew (Sorex fodiens). I am not aware that this animal has been captured
in Derbyshire by any one except myself. Glover mentions it in his Mammalia of this
county, but records no capture. Three specimens have come under my notice in this
parish. One was taken alive, November 23rd, 1845, at some distance from water,

Quadrupeds.. 2281

when grubbing up an old hedge. It lay concealed in a very snug manner, nestled
amidst the sinaller fibrous roots, and, I imagine, had sought that place as a retreat
against the cold. It made little effort to escape, appearing half dormant; but when
handled, bit my finger very savagely, through a thick leather glove. When kept in
confinement it refused to eat, and died in a few days. December 27, 1845.—Noticed
one travelling over the snow. September 11, 1848.—A third specimen taken alive
amongst some stubble in a barley-field: bit very savagely: taken some distance from
water.

Oared Shrew (Sorex remifer). One captured alive March 30th, 1848, in a small
rivulet bordered with rank herbage. It dived with ease and rapidity into the water,
and ran with such nimbleness amongst the rushes as for a quarter of an hour to baffle
the endeavours of four persons to secure it. When caught it showed a most pugna-
cious spirit, biting through the skin of a labourer’s hand, which is hard and horny,
and drawing blood. When pursued it uttered a shrill cry, like the common shrew.
I am not aware of any other individual having been taken in this county.

Before concluding my account of the shrews, I think it advisable to mention a
specimen which was taken in September, 1848. It was smaller in size than the com-
mon shrew, similar in shape, but differed materially in having a light sandy-coloured
band or broad stripe on each side, shading down gradually to its belly, which was
darker than the common species. This band was so conspicuous as to arrest the at-
tention of a labourer who was engaged in husbandry, and to induce him to kill it.
When I saw it the flesh was in a state of decomposition, and after taking a descrip-
tion of the colour, &c., it was put away as useless. This description I submitted to
Wm. Yarrell, Esq. (to whom I have ever applied in cases of doubt, and always re-
ceived the most polite attention), who suggests that it “‘ perhaps was a species new to
the British Catalogue.” I have therefore thought well to mention the circumstance,
in order that other naturalists may look out for the species or throw some light
upon it.

Badger (Meles taxus). See Zool. 615.

Otter (Lutra vulgaris) See Zool. 714. I have never known this animal to breed
here, but it occasionally does so on the river Soar, about eight miles distant. A person
who has frequently taken the young describes the female as a revengeful animal
during the breeding season, and gave me an account of one which had wounded his
leg so severely with its teeth that he suffered some months from the effects.

Weasel (Mustela vulgaris). In weasel “ runs,” along hedgerows, I sometimes find
the remains of redwings and fieldfares, which I think are taken by these animals, as
they roost on the ground. June 11, 1844.—A small terrier killed a weasel with a
field-mouse in its mouth: being a doe, the animal was probably carrying the prize to
her young. It was a curious sight to see her trotting along the bank-side, carrying
her burden in as clever a manner as a cat would do in a similar situation. I imagine
that when a party of weasels is seen (as I have occasionally noticed them) in pursuit
of a hare or rabbit, it consists of the old pair and their young, the former of whom are
perfecting the latter in the art of taking their own food. January 29, 1845.—I no-
ticed an individual which had taken up his abode in an old barn, and made himself a
very snug retreat from the cold, by getting a mass of soft chaff for his bed. He came
out on most open days about the neighbouring stacks and buildings, or took short ex-
eursions through the orchards and gardens, at some hundred yards from his nest. He

2282 Quadrupeds.

seemed to live almost entirely on mice, and I considered him in that respect as ser-
viceable as a cat.

Stoat (Mustela erminea). February 4, 1844.—Noticed a most beautiful pied ani-
mal of this species, which was amusing himself on the bank of a brook by chasing a
water campagnol, which he lost near the spot where I stood. He was not daunted by
my appearance, but came up to me within a couple of yards, when he made a cast
like a fox-hound, and in the most brilliant style, but failed in hitting off the scent.
He then, with a bustle and activity truly astonishing, crossed the brook, not by swim-
ming nor by a bridge, but by ascending an alder-bush to the top twig, and then leap-
ing like a squirrel to another on the opposite bank, when he regained the scent, and
coursed away at wonderful speed. I have records of seeing pied individuals of the
weasel [? stoat, Hd.] on February 4th, February 7th, February 12th, 1845, and March
Ist, 1846. Are these merely varieties of the common species, or are they individuals
changing from their winter to their summer coats ?

Polecat (Mustela putorius). All but banished from our ‘ Fauna Melbournensis.’

Wild Cat (Felis catus). There are in our largest woods cats of large size and
brindled colour; but whether they are of domestic origin and strayed away, or bred
wild, is difficult to say, but I think the former.

Fox (Canis vulpes). Of all the wild animals that roam the forest or the field, none
have so much money expended upon their destruction as the fox. It has been ascer-
tained (I think by Nimrod) that within the circumference of twenty miles round Mel-
ton, £100,000 are expended annually upon the chase,—7. e. upon hounds and horses,
with men and grooms to manage and wait upon them. Upon the same tract of coun-
try, perhaps not more (but probably less) than fifty brace of foxes are killed in a sea-
son, so that, according to this calculation, it requires the enormous sum of £1000 to
kill a fox in a sportsman-like manner. As Melton, however, is the metropolis of Eng-
lish fox-hunting, this must not be taken as a sample of hunting expenditure in all
localities. When the Donnington covers have been drawn several times, the foxes
betake themselves to the hollow trees, and endeavour to secrete themselves by lying
curled round in the holes and crevices. I remember a brace once, in the same covers,
climbing a tree nearly twenty feet high, which grew in a slanting direction, and hiding
themselves amongst the thick branches, whilst the hounds were beating the brushwood
beneath. The bitch will display considerable affection for her young, and even—if
hard pressed by hounds—reluctantly leave the covert where they are situated. On
April 26th, 1842, the Marquis of Hastings’ hounds were drawing Staunton Springs,
—a large wood near Melbourne,—and found a fox, which for more than an hour de-
fied all effort to make it break. Several covers having been drawn blank, the hunts-
man was anxious to get it away, and at last got clear off, but only for the fox to
return again; and so, supposing it was a bitch that had cubs, the hounds were
whipped off. This proved to be correct; for some pedestrians, who had been follow-
ing the hounds, stumbled upon the nest by accident, and brought the cubs to show
the hunters, but afterwards took them back, and they were eventually reared in the
wood. The nest was placed at the bottom of a thick honeysuckle bush, through which
luxuriant herbage had crept, and afforded excellent concealment. A hole, about
three feet in circumference and three inches in depth, was scooped out of the bare
ground, and round the edges of the hollow were placed dead oak and beech leaves,
which served in some measure as a protective outwork. The young were seven in

Quadrupeds. 2283

number, shaggy and rough in appearance, and four of them had the ends of their
brushes ornamented with tufts of white fur. When a bitch has cubs, and becomes
aware that her nest is discovered, she takes them up one by one in her mouth, as a
cat does her kittens, and removes them to a more secure place. Foxes bark here about
February ; the bitch I think first, and is answered by the dog. Some bark so precisely
like a dog, that an ordinary person would suppose it was a terrier giving mouth at
game. A person who has been much about woods, tells me, that once perceiving a
fox in a field, he stole very cautiously up to him, and found that the animal was
playing with a live field-mouse, just as a kitten does, and was almost as playful and
nimble in his movements. One of the keepers at Donnington Park, hearing a very
unusual noise in the woods, went to ascertain the cause, when, to his astonishment, he
found it proceeding from two foxes, which were quarrelling over a pheasant. One of
the animals had evidently captured the prize, and his gluttonous rival was endeavour-
ing to rob him of it.

Squirrel (Sctwrus vulgaris). The squirrel is one of our hardiest animals; for not
only is he abroad on the sunny days of spring and summer, but also during the chilly
ones of autumn and the rigorous ones of winter. I have seen him on bushes and
trees even when their branches have been loaded with snow, and when at every foot-
step he has shaken a shower of snow under his feet. How come some naturalists to
state that this animal is dormant in winter? I do not find him so here, for I observe
him occasionally during every season. In 1835 I recorded his appearance particu-
larly, and find that he was abroad in the plantations of Calke and Donnington on
- November 12th, December 9th and February 18th. It is truly delightful to see what
cleverness this animal displays in every movement. At one time he glides with a
gentle, easy motion, amongst the most delicate twigs; at another he throws himself
from the extreme end of a bough, and alights on a tree perhaps a yard distant; and
although at every leap he might be supposed to miss his object, he invariably alights
in safety. He can run with the same ease in an horizontal, lateral or perpendicular
direction, up or down a tree, amongst its foliage or along its bark, and with consider-
able speed along the ground. In the autumn he is frequently seen on the ground,
busily banqueting upon the fallen fruits, such as acorns and beech mast; but if during
his feast he hears the slightest noise,—a human footstep, or even a rustling leaf,—he
darts off instantly, in a series of jumps and jerks, to the nearest tree, and, running
cleverly up the bole, is speedily hid among its branches. The squirrel is plentiful in
our woods, but rarely seen in the open country, except during autumn, when he ven-
tures to our gardens to feed upon the ripe nuts.

Dormouse (Myoxus avellanarius). Inhabits our larger woods.

Harvest Mouse (Mus messorius). I have never seen this animal here myself; but
the descriptions given of it by reapers and harvest people are so precisely correct, that
I cannot doubt its existence in this neighbourhood. An individual which I once saw
was so small that two of them would not have been so long as a moderately-sized ear
of wheat.

Long-tailed Field Mouse (Mus sylvaticus). This animal is so very shy in his
habits that during the winter months he is hardly ever seen abroad, and yet I imagine
that our fields are pretty well peopled with them. When breaking up clover roots, in
the autumn, many of these pretty animals are ploughed out of the ground; and I
have seen the ploughboy returning home on an afternoon with his hat stuck all round
with mice, which he had killed with his whip when driving the team, and inserted

2284 Quadrupeds.

there by way of ornament. About September, too, numbers are found in stubble-fields
(especially if of wheat and oats), which I think repair there to feed on the refuse ears
of corn that are left by the gleaners. Each individual appears to burrow himself a
hole in the light, soft earth, two or three feet long, for protection and concealment,
and issues forth from it to feed as opportunity serves. When clearing such stubbles,
I have known the ploughman to disturb a dozen in scuffling half an acre of ground.
During frosts they repair to the warm borders of horticultural grounds, and do serious
damage to winter-sown peas, by undermining the rows and nibbling the roots,—thus
destroying the crop. They are taken in traps, like the common mouse, if baited with
a little cheese. Their chief winter support, however, is the long red fruit of the field
rose (Rosa arvensis), and they feed chiefly in the night. They mount the twigs of the
rose-bushes, and bring away the fruit to sume old bird’s-nest placed midway in a
hedge, which they use as a feeding-station, or, if that be wanting, to the forked part of a
branch, and devour it. They reject the husk, and use the flesh and seeds. The lat-
ter, which are about twice the size of a common mustard seed, contain a soft white
kernel, very acceptable to them, and I have often admired the skill and adroitness
they show in extracting it. They have an uniform manner of proceeding, which is
by nibbling off the broad end of the shell, and then they clean out the inside very
neatly and skilfully, as any one may satisfy himself who will take the trouble to ex-
amine the refuse bits which are left on their feeding-stations. As winter approaches,
these mice are very partial to withdrawing themselves into a rough bank, overgrown
with hawthorn and wild rose-bushes. Here they lie concealed very snugly in holes in
the rough bank, lined with soft dry grass and rushes, and subsist as before described,
and also on the kernels of haws, to which they gain access as to those of the rose.
When labourers have been cutting up an old hedge, I think I have seen more than a
bushel of the refuse husks and stones of this fruit, which have been left by these mi-
nute avimals. In April they may sometimes be observed climbing hawthorn-bushes,
in hedgerows, in order to rasp off the young buds from the twigs, which are then ex-
panding: to these they seem very partial, and the animal is a pretty object as he eats
them on some thick bough or between the fork of a branch. These mice breed with
us in great numbers, making their nests chiefly in fields of long mowing grass, which
are consequently exposed when the grass is cut. I have met with them from May
until November, and the litters vary from five to ten individuals. Sometimes they
nest in turnip-fields and are drawn out of the ground with the horse-hoe, and in Sep-
tember they are dug up from potato-fields: the latter are favourite nesting-places,—
on account, no doubt, of having a good supply of food for the young ones near at
hand; and this is one of the numberless instances of the providence and forethought
with which animals are gifted.

A labourer was employed, one autumn, in getting up some mangold-wurtzel
(to pit for cows in the spring, as is here the custom). He had pulled one up, and was
cutting off the roots, when he perceived a hole, small and round, very neatly drilled
into the bulb, and whilst looking at it out jumped a mouse, and almost imme-
diately afterwards another. This excited his curiosity, and he cut off the top of the
mangold, and was not a little astonished to find in the interior a nest full of young
ones. The heart of the bulb was completely nibbled away, in the most regular man-
ner, and the hollow scooped out was rather larger than would have admitted an
orange. The nest was made of a few dried grasses, which gradually grew finer to-
wards the centre, where the young were secreted. ‘The little animals had either eaten

Quadrupeds. 2285

or carried away the pieces which came out of the plant, as none lay scattered about,
and the exterior of it bore no mark of having been used for so singular a purpose.

Common Mouse (Mus musculus). When mice have retained possession of a rick
for any length of time they increase very rapidly, and destroy an almost incredible
quantity of grain. They not only breed during the summer months, but at intervals
all through the winter ; and I have seen oat-ricks housed in January and February
which contained young ones, apparently of various ages. Cats when catching mice
almost invariably seize them by the back, perhaps to prevent themselves being bitten.
Mice will run for a considerable distance up a perpendicular wall. They seem more
partial to the oat than any other grain. When getting corn into a barn, I have seen
as many killed as would have filled a bushel: the rick being a protection against the
larger predatory animals, and the mice rarely venturing from it, they have plenty of
food, are shielded from harm, and multiply rapidly. As the stoat preys principally on
this mouse, and can insert his slender body into crevices which would not admit that
of a cat, I think his services are very valuable about rick-yards and buildings, and that he
ought on no account to be destroyed : I always witness with disgust that brutal feeling
so commonly exhibited by many country persons, in baiting to death this and similar
animals, and displaying such stupidity, ignorance and prejudice, as will not allow them
to inquire whether the object of their chase is an animal of harm or utility. Many
common mice are found in corn-fields in summer, where they breed, burrowing a small
hole in the light pulverized soil, and again returning to habitations as winter approaches.
Some never leave the latter at all. I have seen them in the fields so late as Septem-
ber 13th, October 4th and 12th.

Brown Rat (Mus rattus). Towards spring the common rat leaves our stacks and
buildings, and lives the summer through in the open fields, and many are trapped by
gamekeepers. They breed amongst the corn, burrowing—like the rabbit—a hole in
the ground, into which they draw a few bents and deposit their young. They are
very voracious at this period, and in lieu of corn will attack young leverets and game.
In the autumn they assemble together, and return to their former haunts. I was once
an eye-witness to an act of affection on the part of a female rat which I think worth
recording, more especially as this animal is considered to have little in its character to
recommend it. Some persons, who were cutting a field of standing barley, mowed over
a rat’s nest full of young ones, when the dam, who was suckling them, instead of re-
treating remained in the nest, and, in her anxiety for their preservation, actually laid
so fast hold of the scythe that she was obliged to be shaken off: this nest was made
in a slight depression of the ground, and not on the gygund as usually is the case. I
have known an individual, which had been caught in a trap by his leg, bite it off and
effect his escape; and another to pick out the eyes, and eat the softer parts of a dead
companion. Some few of these rats will betake themselves entirely to the woods,
poaching for their livelihood, and from their wilder mode of life soon alter in appear-
ance: their body grows longer and more weasel-like, their hair more shaggy, the hairs
on their mouth longer, and altogether they assume a more ferocious and determined
character. The feet of some I have noticed were red. An ordinary observer would
suppose they were of a different species.

Water Rat (Arvicola amphibia). There is a feature in the history of this animal
which I do not remember to have seen noticed by any natural historian, viz., his pro-
pensity to climb trees. When whitethorn bushes overhang the streams which they

VI BO

2286 Quadrupeds.

inhabit, these animals, during severe weather and scarcity of food, ascend them, and
crawling along the branches soon despoil them of their fruit; and when their bulk is
taken into consideration, it is astonishing with what agility and speed they accomplish
this operation. I have seen them poised amongst twigs so slender, that they were
seemingly unable to support a weight half so heavy as an arvicole’s, and at an altitude
of four or five yards from the water. When alarmed suddenly, they will drop from a
branch several feet into the stream, and, disappearing, dive with rapidity to the near-
est bank and bury themselves in the earth. Judging from the numerous fragments of
the seeds, which lie scattered near their haunts, it appears that they subsist through
the winter months almost entirely upon haws or fruit of the wild rose, and probably
such vegetable matter as the moistness of winter leaves unwithered and undecayed.
In frosts and snows they peel the bark off hawthorn-bushes, and I have seen whole
bushes laid bare by them, and the operation was performed in as neat a manner as
deer gnaw the bark off branches that are given to them in snows. This was the case
along the brook for miles during the severe frost which occurred in December, 1844,
and February, 1845. Water-rats peel the oziers in the beds [in] Donnington Park,
and do serious damage, and thus inflict great injury on the basket-makers. On
December 3rd, forty individuals were killed at one time. This animal is a great
favourite of mine, for he is quiet and unobtrusive, and devoid of those grosser
faults which have rendered the Hanoverian rat so obnoxious. He appears partial to
pools and stagnant waters, small running streams, &c., but exists in scanty numbers
along the Trent. He retreats during the day to his subterranean dormitory, and
issues from it during the early morning or towards the close of the day. He loves
those spots where the green rushes grow or the broad flags shade the water's surface :
beneath these he steals cautiously along, now stopping to nibble a blade of grass, and
now to examine the leaf of some water-plant which has attracted his notice; but if
during his ramble he hears the slightest noise, he instantly drops from the bank into
the stream, and, diving for a few yards, hurries on to a place of concealment. Some
grassy turf, slightly elevated above the water, is a most favourite spot with him, for
upon the slightest alarm he has a better opportunity of indulging in his amphibious
propensities. His food consists chiefly of vegetable matter, such as the leaves of
aquatic plants and tender flags, which I have observed him devour like a rabbit, sepa-
rating the blade near the root and nibbling it gradually to the other extremity. In
winter he is accused of resorting to turnip-fields which border upon his haunts, gnaw-
ing holes in the bulbs and thereby letting in rains, which decay and damage the crop.
He will also feed on fish whjigh has been left by floods near his haunts, and I am
pretty sure that in cases of emergency he can take them alive, as I have often seen
parts of fresh fish lying near his haunts when no floods had occurred ; and these he had
evidently been eating, as might be told from the droppings which he had left behind
him. I have seen this animal on one occasion evince considerable courage. Walking
by the Blackwell Brook one day, I saw a water-rat run past on the opposite bank in
great haste: almost immediately afterwards came a stoat hot in pursuit, but evidently
running by scent: backwards and forwards ran both animals, within a certain space,
for upwards of ten minutes, when both made a dead pause within a yard of each other,
and I expected to have scen the rat fall a prey every moment; but such was not the
case, for she ran forwards upon the stoat with great fury, and became in her turn the
pursuer, and was not content until she had driven her voracious enemy from the

Quadrupeds. 2287

neighbourhood. I have no doubt that the rat was a doe which had young, and was
prompted by maternal affection to take the measures she did: what surprised me was,
that she never retreated to a hole or dived under water, which would have been an al-
most certain mode of escaping danger.

Short-tailed Field Mouse (Arvicola agrestis). “This mouse is certainly much rarer
than Mus sylvaticus, but still not rare. They breed principally in mowing fields, and
prefer the meadow to the higher grounds. The nest is frequently mown over about
the middle of June, and sometimes contains as many as ten young ones: it.is situated
in the thickest tufts of herbage, and there is generally a hole near, into which the old
parents retreat in cases of emergency: it is round in shape, and composed entirely of
dried blades of grass, lined with finer grass nibbled into small pieces. This animal
does not lie dormant through the winter, but is very fond of laying himself up snugly
in a tuft of coarse herbage, from which he makes several avenues or runs, one of which
terminates in a hole under ground: into this he probably retreats as the weather in-
creases in severity or when an enemy is at hand. These mice appear to be most
numerous on the borders of marshy parts: they are very delicate and tender animals,
for I notice that they die upon receiving a very slight blow. The latest period
at which I have found a nest was August 12th, 1845: it contained seven young just
born. Having carefully examined this nest, I could not discover the least trace of an:
entrance-hole, nor even when I pulled it to pieces could I ascertain how the parents
entered their abode; and I believe that they must have made a fresh hole each time
they entered the interior, and closed it up:again when they departed.

Hare (Lepus timidus). I have little to add respecting the history of this dire enemy
to well-cultivated arable lands; for owing to the enlightened policy pursued by the
noble owner of this domain, the hare is here little more than a natural curiosity.
Hares appear sometimes to frequent the burrows of rabbits, for I have known several
during a coursing-day make for a particular hole, and thus elude the pursuit of the
greyhounds, and take as direct a line as though,they were accustomed to occupy it.
Hares are seen to cross the Trent occasionally when no hounds have been in pursuit
to oblige them to do so.

Rabbit (Zepus cuniculus). On September 20th, 1845, I put up from a field of tur-
nips a rabbit entirely black. This was distant two miles from any village, and there-
fore not likely to have escaped from confinement. The rabbit generally produces its
young about seven times in the year, but in open seasons oftener. I have seen young
rabbits during the months of January, February, March, April, May, June, Septem-
ber, October and November, but the spring is their busiest breeding-season. This
animal displays a considerable amount of industry and ingenuity. It loves high,
dry and sandy banks, or those where the soil is friable, and in these excavates a pas-
sage (I have found one seven yards long), at the end of which it makes the nest.
In nine or ten days after the young are dropped the entrance to the hole is completely
blocked up with a quantity of louse soil, so that it looks like common ground; and
each time the dam goes to suckle them she is obliged to scratch it away, and again
block it up when she leaves them. Whether this precaution is taken to protect them
against predatory animals, or to render the apartment warmer, it is difficult to say, but
probably the latter; for as they increase in size she gradually leaves the entrance a
little wider, until no soil remains there at all. The labour in mining their excava-
tions must be very considerable, as in many cases a new one is made upon the pro-
duction of a fresh litter. I cannot ascertain precisely what length of these tunnels

2288 Quadrupeds.

a pair will mine in a year, but probably from twenty-five to thirty yards,—a great
amount of labour, considering it is principally accomplished with their feet. When
the pair have fixed upon a place for breeding, the female takes possession of the hole,
whilst the male finds quarters elsewhere, generally in a neighbouring hedgerow not far
distant. When the breeding-season commences, the greater part of the males are
driven from or leave the warren, and occupy its outskirts. If a hole is burrowed
in a field it generally inclines downwards ; but on digging out their holes by the side
of a brook, I noticed that they direct them upwards (a precaution which I have often
admired), in order to prevent the waters washing into the cavity: this fact I have fre-
quently noticed.

Red Deer (Cervus elaphus). In Donnington Park is a small herd of these magni-
ficent and noble animals: they appear bounding away amongst oaks of a thousand
years growth, or standing majestically beneath some fine spreading elm. In
autumn they make a deep grunting or bellowing noise, which causes the woods to
echo; and although it is anything but agreeable in tone, it is nevertheless always
heard with pleasure, for it seems a suitable sound tobe produced by an animal haunt-
ing forests and chases, glens and old woods. Harsh sounds are sometimes agreeable
on account of the associations to which they give rise; and for this reason the noise
of this deer is always acceptable, for it invariably leads the mind to beautiful haunts,
—the smooth greensward over which the deer bounds, the still pool where he drinks,
and the venerable oak by which he is overshadowed. When pressed by hounds, the
leaps or bounds of this animal are beautiful: I knew one which—after four hours hard
running—crossed a brook by a bound of twenty-four feet.

In Donnington Park, too, there is a fine herd of fallow deer, numbering about five
hundred head. In the autumn they become bold and pugnacious, and fight like rams,
attacking each other with great spirit; and very amusing it is to see their curious ma-
neeuvres, and pleasing to hear the rattle of their antlers. These contests last often-
times for hours, until the defeated deer shrinks back to his companions or bounds away
amongst the oaks: occasionally he is so fatigued that he seems scarcely able to leave
the spot. At this period it is dangerous for persons to go through the park where they
are depastured. When does drop their fawns they sometimes cover them up with dead
leaves and pieces of fern, either for concealment or to make them warm and comfort-
able. Fallow deer have a pretty habit of raising themselves on their hind legs, in
order to crop the young shoots and leaves of trees that are just above their reach. In
order that their antlers may not become entangled amongst the branches, they show a
piece of adroitness worthy of note; they let them drop down backwards on their
shoulders, as a hare does her ears when squatted in her form. I have seen this deer,
in cases of emergency, resort to a cunning stratagem to avoid pursuit, 2. e. drop down
suddenly amongst the long fern, her hind legs bent beneath her body and her head
and neck laid flat on her fore feet: in this position the body lies in a wonderfully
small compass. Owing to the large herds of deer kept in Donnington Park, the turf
in the unwooded parts is beautifully soft and green, for of all our large wild animals
fallow deer are the closest grazers. In winter they nibble all the lower branches of
trees, and during frosts and snows are fed by the keepers with the branches of trees
and the thinnings of young plantations; and so adroitly do these animals peel off the
bark, to which they seem very partial, that the boughs appear to have been stripped
by woodmen or persons skilled in the operation. In a ramble over Kedleston Park, I
once beheld a novel and interesting spectacle: a herd of fallow deer, feeding in the

Quadrupeds. 2289

distance, suddenly took fright and came scampering across the greensward, when,
plunging into the lake opposite the mansion, they crossed to the opposite side: their
_ bodies were completely immersed, and it was a beautiful sight to see nearly a hundred
antler-garnished heads just above the level of the water.
Joun JosepH Brices.
King’s Newton, Melbourne, Derbyshire,
October, 1848.

(To be continued).

Bats flying by Day (Zool. 2252).—During the months of April, May and June,
this year, I constantly saw the common Vespertilio murinus flying about a ruin of
Battel Abbey, between 8 and 10 o’clock, a.m. I caught two or three with a net as
they swept the air, and these proved to be young ones. I had a tame jackdaw at the
time, and on giving him one he greedily ate it. The place where I saw the bats is
tenanted likewise by jackdaws; and I venture to suggest whether the said jackdaws
may not have taken a fancy for their winged companions, and therefore they (the bats)
were hunted by the jackdaws for food? Again, if all the bats were young ones, may
it not be a natural habit to them to fly by day ?—J. B. Ellman; Battel, October 3,
1848.

Cats and Nemophila insignis.—I can fully confirm Mr. Lawson’s account of the
destructive attention paid by cats to Nemophila insignis (Zool. 2252), having more
than once had several clumps of that pretty little plant completely annihilated by “ the
feline gentry,” and some of them soon after the appearance of the seedlings above
ground ; but whether from love or hatred, I do not pretend to say.—George Luaford ;
East Temple Chambers, October 4, 1848.

Occurrence of the Oared Shrew (Sorex remifer) in Lancashire.—I captured, about
three months since, in a hay-field, some distance from any water, a very fine specimen
of the oared shrew. The head and body, when rigid, soon after death, measured 33
inches ; and the day after, when flaccid (as the bodies of shrews and moles always be-
come), fully 4 inches in length. This is considerably more than the length given by
Mr. Bell, z. e. 3 inches 2 lines. I am sorry that I did not take the other dimensions
carefully. In the same field my little terrier caught about a dozen of the common
species (Sorex araneus), which, by the way, vary greatly in colour, from light grayish
brown to nearly black: he also caught a water-shrew (Sorex fodiens) with blackish
ciliz, instead of white, as in all other specimens that I have seen. I have thus spe-
cimens of all the three British Sorices taken in one field. The water-shrew is common
in ditches about here, but is not easily caught——George Wolley ; Huyton, near Pres-
cot, Lancashire, September 29, 1848.

2290 Birds.

Provincial Names of Birds in Gloucestershire and Worcestershive.—It being the
opinion of some of your correspondents that a record of the provincial names of birds
will not be without its use, I now send a list of the names of the common birds of this |
neighbourhood. I have collected them from bird-nesting boys, as they know much
more of birds than their fathers do, who seldom trouble themselves about such matters.
The names to which the letter G. is prefixed belong to the Forest of Dean, in Glou-
cestershire, where I resided when I was a boy. The hen harrier is called a ‘ faller.’
All the smaller birds of prey go under the name of ‘ hawks.’ The red-backed shrike
is in G. a ‘ French magpie’ ora ‘horse match,’ here it is a ‘butcher bird. The
white owl is the ‘ screech owl.’ The tawny owl is a‘ dun owl.’ The missel thrush is
a ‘bunting thrush.’ The fieldfare is called a ‘ blue-tail’ The redwing is in G.a
‘whin thrush:’ in the same locality the hedge sparrow is called a ‘ hayzuck’ (no
doubt a corruption of ‘ Isaac’): there also the redstart is a ‘ red firebrand-tail, here
it is simply the ‘ red-tail.. The stonechat is here called the ‘ black-a-top,’ in G. it is
the ‘ gorsechat.? The wheatear and whinchat are called here the ‘ horse match’ in-
discriminately. The common and lesser whitethroat are the ‘nettle creeper’ or
‘Isaac. The willow warbler is a ‘ grass mumruffin.’ All the kinds of wagtail are
‘ water wagtails. The tree pipit is the ‘ ground lark.’ The meadow pipit is a ‘ twit
lark.’ The common bunting is called the ‘ bunting lark.’ The chaflinch is a ‘ pea-’
or ‘ piefinch.’ The greenfinch is a ‘ green linnet.’ The common linnet is the ‘ brown
linnet.’ The bullfinch is in G.a ‘hoop. The carrion crow, rook and jackdaw are
indiscriminately ‘ crows,’ except at breeding-time, when the rook goes under its proper
name. The magpie is a ‘maggot.? The green woodpecker is called the ‘ ekel’
(meaning no doubt ‘ hukwall’). The wryneck is the ‘ cuckoo’s mate.’ The common
creeper is a ‘tomtit.’ The nuthatch is a ‘ creep tree.” The common swift is in G. a
‘screecher.’ All doves are here called ‘ wood pigeons.’ ‘The long-tailed tit is a ‘hedge
mumruffin.’ The common sandpiper is a‘ summer snipe.—John N. Beadles ; Broad-
way, Worcestershire, October '7, 1848.

Provincial Names of Birds in Yorkshire.—The following are the names of some
of the common birds of Yorkshire, as in general use among bird-nesters. The crow
or rook is always called a ‘crow.’ The magpie, a ‘mag’ or ‘maggy.’ The land-
rail, a ‘ corn crake’ or ‘ crake,’ and in the more western part a ‘ gurs’ or ‘ gors duck.’
All the warblers go by the name ‘ peggy’ or ‘ peggy whitethroat.’ The yellow ham-
mer, a ‘ youlring’ or ‘ gouldring. The chaffinch, a ‘spink. The little redpole, a
‘chevy lin.’ The hedge sparrow, a ‘dunnock. The missel thrush, a ‘ storm cock’
or ‘ hollin cock.’ The large titmouse, a ‘ black-cap.’ The blue titmouse, a ‘ blue-cap’
or ‘ Billy blue-cap.’? The starling, a ‘ shepstey’ or ‘ shepster.’ The redstart, a ‘ red-
ster. The long-tailed tit, a ‘ bottle tit’ or ‘ feather-poke. The whitethroat, a
‘winnel’ or ‘ windle straw.’ The whinchat, an ‘entick. ‘The wheatear, a ‘ stone-
chat. The black-headed bunting, a ‘ willow sparrow,’ sometimes a ‘ toad snatcher.’
The common tern, a ‘sea swallow. The nightjar, a ‘goat-sucker. The owl, a
‘hullat.’ The fly-catcher, a ‘ flea-catcher. The wagtail, a ‘wattertie. The little
grebe a ‘dipper’ or ‘dobber’ or ‘Tom pudding.’ The swift, a ‘devilling’ or
‘ Dicky devilling.’ The common wren, a ‘ jenny wren’ or ‘jenner-hen. The green
woodpecker, a ‘nickle.’ The heron, a ‘ herring shrew’ or ‘herring shaw.’ The
sedge warbler, a ‘leg bird.’ The sandpiper, a ‘sand snipe.’ The siskin, a ‘ haber-
de-vine’ or ‘ haver-de-vine.—J. Johnson ; 27, Kensington Square, October 9, 1848.

Birds. 2291

Nomenclature of Birds.—Will you allow me a few lines to set myself right, if I
can, with your able correspondent Mr. Fisher (Zool. 2134)? It appears to me that
_ Objections may be made to a specific name in Natural History, without any necessity
being implied of a new and more appropriate name having to be substituted in its
stead by the individual by whom the objections are brought forward. And, living in
a remote and obscure corner of the country, where the study of Natural History is
wholly unknown, and where there is access neither to museums nor to expensive pub-
lications, I should certainly consider it as great presumption on my part were I to
propose the adoption of a scientific name for any object in ornithology. Nor had I,
moreover, the slightest intention of infringing that excellent rule, priority in nomen-
clature, to which you yourself express your determination to adhere, and which, in-
deed, would appear to be absolutely necessary, if uncertainty and confusion are sought
to be avoided in Natural Science,—inasmuch as this science is at the present moment
advancing in all its branches with unusual rapidity, and is being almost daily enriched
by numerous and important discoveries. My complaint was, that a better selection
was not made when a name was being given for the first time to the bird in question ;
and although it would now be improper to change this name, such complaints may,
nevertheless, produce more satisfactory results in nomenclature yet to come. My ob-
jections are not yet weakened in any measure to names ending in ozdes ; and I cannot
help still thinking that a specific name is what it really ought to be, only when it al-
ludes to something which is peculiar to the object named, and which is not to be found
precisely the same—as to form, or colour, or habit, as the case may be—in any one
whatever of the other objects, however many, throughout the whole of that particular
genus, which, along with itself, they all make up. I can at the same time easily be-
lieve, with Mr. Fisher, that to construct a nomenclature on such a principle would be
exceedingly difficult, or rather, perhaps, impracticable; but I am humbly of opinion,
nevertheless, that the more this principle is carried into effect, the more clear and sa-
tisfactory will the science of Natural History become. I did not take upon me to say
that the white bar on the wing of the Fuligula ferinoides should have been the foun-
dation of its scientific specific name. I merely asked, if that, or some other peculiar
mark, might not have been selected at the time, instead of the word which was ac-
tually adopted. I had no opportunity of seeing a specimen of the new pochard, nor
of examining the different species of which the genus Fuligula is composed; and I
now find that such a name would not have answered, seeing that other species in the
genus Fuligula are, in this respect, marked in a greater degree even than the Fuligula
ferinoides. The observations made by Mr. Fisher on the name Regulus reguloides
would seem to have somewhat the appearance of implying his belief that no such name
has ever been given to any object in Natural History. It is but proper, therefore, to
refer him on this point to Sir William Jardine’s edition of ‘ Wilson’s American Or-
nithology, where he will find (vol. i. p. 127) that this identical name was conferred by
the editor on the American golden-crested wren, no fewer than sixteen years ago. Sir
William Jardine is acknowledged, on all hands, to be one of the most eminent of our
living ornithologists ; and, if the principle involved in such a name as Regulus regu-
loides is bad, it cannot but be evident that its adoption by so influential an authority
must have consequences injurious to the purity and the precision of science.—James
Smith ; Manse of Monquhitter by Turriff, Aberdeenshire, October 2, 1848.

Ornithological Observations in Norfolk for the months of June, July and August.—
About the 7th of June an adult female white stork was shot near Yarmouth; and on

2292 Birds.

the 30th a pair of hobbies were observed at Easton, one of which—a male, apparently
of the second year—was shot. On the 3rd of July, a pair of partridges with their
brood, having been attacked by a terrier dog, the latter was completely driven off by
the male bird. On the 7th, three avocets (all females) were shot at’Salthouse, and a
spotted redshank (female) was killed at the same place on the 2nd of August. On the
8th of the latter month an adult female hobby was shot at Whittingham ; on the 13th,
a flock, containing seven of the little stint, was observed on Yarmouth beach; and on
the 26th, a female quail with a young one (quite small) were captured at Drayton.—
J. H. Gurney, W. R. Fisher ; September, 1848.

Remarks on Birds visiting the River Dovern, near Banff. By the Rev. James SmiruH.

Tue river Dovern falls into the sea at Banff, the chief town of the shire of that
name. Having resided for many years in that town, I send you a few remarks on
some of the birds which are to be seen there, and which do not usually come under
the notice of your southern correspondents.

The bay is frequented by flocks of the long-tailed duck (Harelda glacialis). The
period at which they arrive depends, in no inconsiderable measure, upon the severity
of the weather, but may be stated in general terms as from Martinmas to Christmas.
Their operations, while here, are confined exclusively to the ocean. I have never ob-
served one of them enter the river, even for the most limited distance. They associate
in flocks, often consisting of twenty or thirty. Their food is obtained by diving, and
it is interesting to watch them while they are thus engaged: the whole number vanish
from the sight almost simultaneously : after a short space they again appear, the en-
tire flock having emerged in a few seconds after the first individual has presented him-
self to the view: they come up, one here and another there, like so many bubbles, till
they are all on the surface: having drawn their breath for a very limited period, one
of them is seen again to dive, and, in so doing, he appears to the spectator as if he
were rolling himself up into a ball; his example is instantly followed by the rest, and,
in a moment, the ocean flows once more’ unruffled, not one of the flock being any
longer visible. In this way they continue, with great animation and perseverance,
until their hunger is satisfied, when they remain at rest, floating upon the sea, and
seemingly allowing themselves to be carried along by its current. I have never seen
them in any instance on the shore, or even on the rocks, which rise here and there
above the water. They repose all night, it is presumed, upon the surface of the deep,
and are, therefore, sea-fow/ in the strictest sense of the term. As the season approaches
for their departure to more northerly regions, their plumage assumes more vivid,
glussy and decided markings; although, contrary to what is the case with birds in
general when they are in a state of nature, these markings, especially about the head,
are by no means the same in all the individuals, either in the form or the colour,—
some having more white than others, some more black, and the chocolate patches be-
ing of different sizes and of different shades of intensity. At this season they are
noisy and restless in their movements. There appear to be contentions among the
males; and they flutter along the surface, hurrying through each other’s ranks, and
splashing the water in all directions. Their flight, while here, is never long sustained,

Birds. 2293

nor at a great height above the surface of the ocean. It is marked by a greater flapping
of the wings than what is observable in the flight of the duck tribe in general, and is
not unlike the movements of the common pigeon. Their wings, also, appear broader
and extended more horizontally than those of most other species among the Anatide.
Their cries are of a singular character; and from these cries their own trivial name
has been formed, according to the manner in which they have struck the ear of the
different people among whom the birds have, at any time, their abode. Dr. Richard-
son, for example (‘ Fauna Boreali-Americana, vol. ii. p. 460), enumerates the names
by which they are known, in this way, among the inhabitants of the United States, the
Canadians, and the Cree Indians; and they are all of them, more or less, an exact
imitation of the sounds themselves as they are heard in Nature. The name, however,
given to them in the locality to which I am referring, would appear to be the most ac-
curate imitation of any: it is expressed by ‘coal an’ cannel licht,’ being the Scotch
for ‘ coal and candle light. These words, when pronounced rapidly, and when the
last word is dwelt upon, convey an exact representation of the cries of which we are
speaking. When the sea is calm, these cries may be heard of an evening all over the
bay. Towards Whitsunday, even in the severest seasons, the long-tailed ducks have
all taken their departure for the north, and are no longer to be seen.

When the season is severe the scaup duck (Fuligula marila) makes its appearance
on the river, but, so far as I have remarked, does not penetrate inland beyond the in-
fluence of the tide. On the occurrence of a continued storm, when the snow lies deep
and the frost is intense, this duck has been observed in a flock of from ten to a dozen.
On their first arrival, I have approached the brink of the river, and have stood looking
at them at the distance only of a few feet. They seemingly took no notice of the cir-
cumstance, continued their movements, and appeared wholly unconscious of danger.
After the lapse of a few days, however, having experienced probably how formidable
an enemy is man, they became as wary and as difficult of approach as at first they were
heedless and undismayed by the vicinity of a human being’: this circumstance would
tend to show that they had come direct from a region where man is not to be seen.
They are known among the inhabitants, or rather the sportsmen, of the locality in ques-
tion, by the absurd name of the Norwegian teal.

In stormy winter the river is adorned by the presence of the goosander (Mergus
merganser). This handsome and conspicuous bird has no provincial name, so far as I
am aware, by which he is known in this locality. His visits are rare, and there are
many seasons when he does not make his appearance at all. On some occasions, how-
ever, I have seen as many as from a dozen to twenty. The female, as is well known,
is so different in her appearance from the male, that she was long regarded by natural-
ists as a distinct and separate species, under the name of the ‘dun diver.’ There is
still the recollection present to my mind of haying remarked, that, while the male al-
most uniformly takes wing on your approach to the river, the female rarely or never
does so, but, with a hoarse and as it were suppressed kind of croaking, makes off for
the opposite side, sunk deeply in the water, and hurrying rapidly down the stream:
should she be surprised unexpectedly, or pressed more hardly and perseveringly than
usual, she finally dives, makes her way rapidly under the water, and emerges silently
at a very considerable distance from the spot where she went down: the male, on the
contrary, although he gets upon wing with apparent difficulty, moving at first like a
stone skimming the surface of the water, ascends, nevertheless, to a great elevation in
the air, describing a circle of extended diameter, and only alighting again after more

VI o

2294 Birds.

evolutions than one, and when the danger is apparently over. When on the wing, his
back appears as if it were broken, the centre of the line rising into an angular point,
and falling gradually on both sides. He utters no cry, and the motion of his wings
is like that of the common mallard. When newly shot, his breast is of that beautifully
delicate and reddish tinge which is sometimes to be seen in the atmosphere, at the go-
ing down of the sun, in a calm evening of winter: it speedily fades, however, and
turns into a dull shade of the colour of nankeen. The goosander male and female are
frequently found on the river, far beyond the influence of the tide, and on some occa-
sions have been met with in the inland part of the country.

The golden eye (Clangula vulgaris) may be regarded, in the locality in question, as
a migratory species which fails not to make its appearance, whatever the nature of the
winter may be, although its numbers are always greatest when the season is the most
severe. The flight of this bird is so vigorous, that, as it moves along, it produces a
peculiar and very audible whistling in the air: this is familiar to all who have seen it
fly. So far, however, as I have been able to perceive, the whistling of which we are
speaking is peculiar to the male, and is not to be heard in the flight either of the fe-
male or of the young male, both which, as in the case of the goosander, are so very
different in appearance from the adult male, that they have been described by natu-
ralists as a distinct and well-marked species. And even yet, while it is generally ad-
mitted that what was named by Linneus the Anas glaucion, and had for its trivial
designation the ‘ morillon,’ should now be regarded as either the female or the imma-
ture male of the golden eye, it is, nevertheless, asserted by some, that there is in exist-
ence in this country a smaller duck, which, although of similar plumage with the
female and young male of the golden eye, is notwithstanding a distinct species, being
of different form and habits and of inferior flavour as an article of food, and that it
ought to be considered as the true and proper morillon. The observations made on
this particular point by Mr. Colquhoun (‘ The Moor and the Loch,’ p. 52 et seq.) are
interesting, and certainly appear conclusive; and they ought to induce attention to
the supposed identity between the small morillon and the golden eye, on the part of
those who may have the necessary opportunities for pursuing the investigation. The
golden eye has a cry of a hoarse and somewhat hissing character: it is seldom uttered,
but may occasionally be heard by an attentive listener: it is compared, and not in-
aptly, by the writer now mentioned, to a single note on the hurdy-gurdy.

In the bay bag-nets are set for the purpose of taking salmon. In one of these a
northern diver (Colymbus glacialis) had got entangled, and was found drowned by the
fishermen. I had an opportunity of examining him as soon as he was brought on
shore. He weighed no fewer than twelve pounds, and was of the most beautiful
plumage and in the finest condition. The ribbon or band round his neck was perfect
the whole way, was most distinctly marked, and was not obscure nor interrupted, as in
most of the specimens which are to be seen of this interesting bird. I once saw ano-
ther and a much smaller bird of this species, which had been caught in a similar
manner, but which had been got hold of alive: it was kept for some time in a place
of confinement, where it ceased not to utter a loud and prolonged howl of the most
dolorous character : at length it was resolved to set it at liberty. With the view, how-
ever, of observing its peculiar motions, it was placed upon the shore at a very consi-
derable distance from the water: it instantly evinced the greatest eagerness to get to
its natural and beloved element: it was capable, however, neither of walking—in the
usual acceptation of the term—nor of rising upon wing from the ground: accordingly,

Birds. 2295

with its tarsus and foot pushing upon the surface, and all the while flapping violently
and rapidly its diminutive wings, it dragged itself, as it were, over all the pebbles and
intervening obstacles; and, on reaching the sea, dived with the rapidity of an arrow
amid the waves, and quickly reappeared far off from the shore. The red-throated
diver (Colymbus septentrionalis), but without this generally characteristic mark, either
owing to age or to the particular season, is also frequently to be seen in the bay, and
is known by the name of the ‘loom’ or ‘loon.’ He fishes alone, and when he is thus
employed, and when the sea is running high, he invariably awaits the approach of the
gigantic wave; and as it appears about to break upon him, he quietly makes his dive
beneath it: having done this with the most graceful ease, he comes up again in a spot
where the water is at the moment calm.

During a severe and continued storm, I once saw on the river a specimen of the
tufted duck (Fuligula cristata). His crest or tuft appeared conspicuous, hanging down
his neck like the plumes of some of the herons: he kept to the middle of the stream,
swam rapidly, and would not be made to take to flight. Unless on this one occasion,
I never saw this species of duck upon the river. Once also, and only once, a single
specimen was observed of the pintail duck (Anas acuta): it was in a flock of mallards,
and continued to associate with them for several days.

It is proper to remark, that the portion of the Dovern to which the foregoing ob-
servations principally apply, is that which flows within the park of Duff House, the
seat of the Earl of Fife. As his lordship does not permit the birds within his grounds
to be fired at or molested, there is in consequence a more favourable opportunity than
usual for becoming acquainted with the habits and evolutions by which they are
respectively characterized.

James SMITH.

Manse of Monquhitter by Turriff, Aberdeenshire,

October 2, 1848.

Local Lists of Birds.—No contributions to the ‘ Zoologist’ have afforded me
greater pleasure than the local lists of birds, and yet some of these have contained a
great amount of repetition. With great deference to the judgment of my ornitholo-
gical readers, I beg to call their attention to the plan I have adopted in the Appendix
to the letters of Rusticus for obviating this difficulty ; and although I must refer them
to the book itself to see whether the plan I propose is capable of reduction to practice,
yet I will here just give an outline of the plan itself. I find that in the neighbour-
hood of Godalming 201 species of birds have been killed or seen: 89 of these build
their nests and bring up their young every year,—and this as a matter of certainty,
not of accident,—and I therefore consider the whole of these to be natives; but still
they may be divided into two minor groups, first, those which after the breeding-season
still remain, thus being residents,—these are 58 in number; and secondly, those which
leave the district in the autumn, being migrants,—these are 31 in number. All other
birds are visitors, and these amount to 112; of which number 29 come earlier or later
in the autumn, stay during the winter, and leave in the spring ; of course they do not
breed ; these are winter visitors : one bird only, the ring ouzel, visits the district regu-
larly in spring and autumn when on his passage; this is a passing visitor: and no less

2296 Birds.

than 82, belonging properly to other districts, visit the neighbourhood now and then,
sometimes breeding, but generally merely passing, or, as in the instance of sea-birds,
being perhaps driven inland by stress of weather. All birds are thus comprised under
five divisions :—

Resident Natives.

Migrant Natives.

Winter Visitors.

Passing Visitors.

Occasional Visitors.

The birds falling under the native divisions merely require enumeration ; and unless
interesting anecdotes or unrecorded peculiarities can be adduced, the bare list of names
printed in three columns would amply suffice. The winter and passing visitors require
a few explanatory memoranda, which may be placed below the columns of names.
Of the occasional visitors every particular should be given, especially the dates of oc-
currence. By adopting this plan at a variety of stations, the most valuable statistics
of British ornithology would be obtained.—Edward Newman.

Colour of the Egg of the Egyptian Vulture (Vultur percnopterus).—Your cor-
respondent, the Rev. Mr. Malan (Zool. 2138), intimates, in reference to the egg of the
Egyptian vulture, that Mr. Yarrell is wrong in calling it white, and he moreover says
that he can corroborate the description given of it by Mr. Hewitson as being correct.
This I cannot understand ; for, both in his Supplement and in the second edition of
his ‘ Oology,’ Mr. Hewitson has figured and described the egg in question as being
of a pure bluish white, without any spot or marking whatever,—whereas Mr. Malan
affirms, on the contrary, that the egg is either spotted or blotched all over with red-
dish brown : in what respect, then, does he corroborate Mr. Hewitson ?—James Smith ;
Manse of Monquhitter by Turriff, Aberdeenshire, October 2, 1848.

Curious Anecdote of the Kestrel (Falco Tinnunculus).—In the summer of 1847 two
young kestrels were reared from the nest, and proved to be male and female: they were
kept in a commodious domicile built for them in an open yard, where they lived a life
of luxury and ease. This summer a young one of the same species, not unlike a
powder-puff,—for it was still covered with down,—was brought and put into the same
apartment; and, strange to say, the female kestrel, sensible (as we must suppose) of
the helpless condition of the new-comer, immediately took it’ under her protection.
As it was too infantine to perch she kept in one corner of the cage, and for days sel-
dom quitted its side: she tore in pieces the food given to her, and assiduously fed her
young charge, exhibiting as much anxiety and alarm for its safety as its real parent
could have done. If any biped or quadruped approached the cage she expanded her
wings, erected her feathers, and kept up an incessant clamour, as if to scare the in-
truder away. But what struck me as very remarkable, she would not allow the male
bird—with whom she lived on the happiest terms—to come near the young one, being
doubtful, probably, of its tender mercies; be that as it may, she repelled all advances
on his part. As the little stranger increased in strength and intelligence her atten-
tions and alarm appeared gradually to subside, but she never abandoned her charge
until it could carve for itself and perch by her side, on which occasions she seemed
mighty proud of her foster child, and its sleek and glossy appearance afforded ample
proof that it had been well cared for. The three are now as happy as confined birds
can be, Mrs. Kestrel having laid aside all jealousy of her mate and apprehension
from strangers. No apology seems necessary for recording in the pages of the

Birds. 2297

* Zoologist’ that a bird of predatory habits, a stranger also to maternal cares, no
sooner sees a helpless young one of its own species than it comprehends its wants,
and, what is still better, relieves them. What a lesson might man, with all his
boasted reason, learn from the instinct of this persecuted bird!—W. Turner, A.M. ;
Uppingham, October 10, 1848.

Occurrence of Hawks near Bicester—A fine specimen of the honey buzzard (Falco
apivorus) was shot near Woodstock a short time since; also a female specimen of the
Montagu’s harrier (Circus cineraceus), and several specimens of the hobby (Falco sub-
buteo): of the latter I have received four specimens, namely, male and female old
birds, and male and female young birds— Thomas Prater ; Bicester, September 23,
1848.

Capture of a Honey Buzzard (Pernis apivorus) near Beamish, Durham.—A honey
buzzard was shot by the gamekeeper of Sir John Eden, Bart., near Beamish, Durham,
on the 7th instant. It is a male, and in the plumage of the first year,—a uniform
dark brown. I have not heard of the occurrence of this fine bird in our district since
its unwonted abundance in 1841.—Thomas John Bold ; 42, Bigg Market, Newcastle-
on-Tyne, October 16, 1848.

Prolific Pair of Blackbirds.—The following notice, regarding the nidification, &c.,
of a single pair of blackbirds, during the bygone breeding-season, may interest some
of your readers, and show that this species may multiply in a greater ratio than many
are aware of. :

April 27, 1848. The young leave the first nest, built in a clump of ivy on the top
of a wall; four in number, one egg having been abstracted from the nest before incu-
bation.

April 29. Two eggs in the second nest, detected in a bushy yew tree.

May 16. The cock observed feeding the five young, newly hatched, on the second
nest. .

May 24. Hen blackbird seen making her third nest in an apple tree nailed to
a wall.

May 29. Two eggs in the third nest; and the brood leave the second nest and
perch on the trees. ’

June 10. Third nest forsaken. Of the eggs, which were five in number, two re-
main in the nest, part of the others on the ground below the nest, and part of them
found on a walk some twenty yards from it.

June 14. Blackbird’s fourth nest begun in a birch hedge.

June 23. Of the five eggs laid in the fourth nest only two remain ; another found
on the ground below it: it seems to have been pillaged by some bird, in the same way
as the third nest.

June 26. Fifth and last nest of blackbird partially formed in a vine trained on
the end of a house.

July 18. Blackbirds in the fifth nest half grown: they leave the-nest on the 26th.

Thus a single pair of birds had twenty-five eggs, and reared fourteen young in
one season. The garden and shrubbery are so small in extent, that had there been
more than one pair about them they would have at once been detected ; and such were
frequently looked for, but always in vain. The dates of the different stages observed
also tend to show that one pair may have constructed and managed the whole nests
with their contents, eggs being never found in more than one nest at the same time,
unless when one had been forsaken. From a careful examination of the ground

2298 Birds.

around the third nest, it is inferred that it must have been some winged creature that
disturbed the female on her eggs, and destroyed some of them. Was this the male?

Tne song of the blackbird is duly acknowledged to be grateful in a garden, in
spring and during the earlier months of summer; but the usefulness of the bird there,
in the destruction of grubs, &c., perhaps has not been sufficiently appreciated. Still
this agreeable and useful denizen of the parterre plays such havoc in the fruit season,
that many are disposed to extirpate rather than protect the species. Of every descrip-
tion of fruit, from the earliest strawberry to the latest apple, they take their share, and
of course from the ripest.—George Gordon ; Elgin, October, 1848.

Early Arrival of Fieldfares (Turdus pilaris) and Snipes (Scolopax gallinago) near
Battel.—For the past fortnight fieldfares and snipes have been unusually abundant in
this district. In Pevensey Level upwards of fifty snipes were seen in one day by a
friend of mine, who shot several. There was a strong north-east wind for a few days
previous to their arrival. We have several breeding-places for snipes here; but I
think the number seen precludes the possibility of these having resorted to the Levels,
which they do in severe weather.—J. B. Ellman ; Battel, September 23, 1848.

Early Appearance of the Fieldfare——On the 12th of September, while taking a
walk, when about a mile and a half from the town, I observed a flock of seven indi-
viduals. I am certain of their identity, as they passed over-head at no great elevation,
so that I could clearly distinguish them.—James C. Garth ; Knaresborough, October
17, 1848.

Singular Variety of the Robin (Sylvia rubecula).—On the 5th of the present month,
about four miles from here, on the road towards Borobridge, I shot a curious specimen
of the redbreast. It has the whole of the primaries and secondary feathers of the
wings white ; the whole of the tail feathers are also of the same colour, with the ex-
ception of the tips, which are a dirty gray or smoke colour. It had a curious appear-
ance flying about, just before I shot it. I was a little disappointed, on picking it up,
to find that it was a young bird of the present year, and therefore not in very good
feather.—Id.

Note on Wheatears (Sylvia Ginanthe).—March 27th, 1848. Saw wheatears to-day
on Durdham Down, all male birds. I believe this to be precisely, or within a very
few days of, the period when I have been accustomed to see them first on the Sussex
coast, Rottingdean, near Brighton, though I perceive that the only note I have made
of their arrival in that district in March is a. D. 1846, when one cock wheatear was
observed on the 24th of that month. No wheatears were visible on Durdham Down a
few days previous to March 27th. About that date the weather was calm, the wind
generally from the north, or nearly so, though occasionally appearing to shift to other
quarters for a short time. It is rather curious that the migrations of the bird to two
such distant places should so nearly coincide.— Arthur Hussey ; Clifton, Gloucestershire.

Beautiful and extraordinary Variety of the Chaffinch (Fringilla ccelebs).—I am in-
debted to Mr. Thomas Hall, naturalist, of No. 7, City Road, for the sight of a bird
which displays the most remarkable deviation from normal colouring that I ever recol-
lect to have witnessed. Mr. Yarrell, who has kindly examined the specimen, pro-
nounces it a chaffinch: he says, ‘‘ Character, measurements, and the markings on three
primary feathers in each wing, seem to prove that the bird sent is a variety of the
chaffinch.” The following is a general description of the colour: head white, with a
slight tinge of cream colour; back and rump golden yellow, as in a brilliant male
canary ; throat, breast, belly and vent white, the breast with a few fawn-coloured

Birds. 2299

feathers, like those in the breast of a hen chaffinch ; scapulars, smaller wing-coverts and
greater wing-coverts generally white, but a few of them black; wing-feathers, five ex-
terior white, then three as in the chaffinch, then one white, two dark brown, and the
remainder white,—the edges of all are tinged with yellow; tail white, except the se-
cond feather on each side, which has a black longitudinal mark. This beautiful bird
was shot at Swain’s Hill, three miles from Basingstoke, in Hampshire, and was brought
to me in the flesh: Mr. Hall has now skinned it, and obligingly offers to show it to
any ornithologist who will call on him.—Hdward Newman.

Is the House Sparrow (Fringilla domestica) injurious or beneficial to Agriculture ?
—In the ‘ Zoologist’ for August (Zool. 2188) Mr. Peacock proposes the following
question : “ Is the sparrow injurious or beneficial to the farmer?” This is a question
of so much importance to the agriculture of this country, that I should rejoice to see
it for ever settled, and I know of no better medium for adjusting the matter than
through the excellent pages of this periodical, where, by having the contributions of
practical men from all districts, bearing upon the point, we may ultimately arrive at
the truth. I shall detail a plan, devised by intelligent ‘‘ matter-of-fact” men, for
testing the merits of the bird under consideration in this district. For many years
this parish has suffered much from the common sparrow; and in the winter of 1847
this plan was laid for his destruction, and so far it has succeeded remarkably well.
Still it is only an experiment: the object was to see whether the neighbourhood would
be best with or without the sparrow, and of course time will be required to test it fully.
The agriculturists of this neighbourhood formed themselves into an “ Association for
Killing Sparrows,” and each member, under pain of forfeit, was obliged to produce
six birds every fortnight for nine months in each year. The result was, that during
the first two months 1000 sparrows were sent to the Secretary ; and, as near as can be
calculated, the number for the year will be 3000 or 3500,—a pretty good stock to
people about 3400 acres. Up to the present time our corn has suffered comparatively
little, and garden peas entirely escaped,—a matter of great moment to a horticultural
neighbourhood. Having so good an opportunity of examining the crops and gizzards
of the birds killed, I determined to avail myself of it to a considerable extent. I
have examined hundreds, at all periods of the year, and ‘am obliged to confess that in
the old birds I have never found any insects, but always wheat and barley, occasion-
ally mixed with a few seeds. How much they consume I cannot calculate with accu-
racy, but in the crops of five birds I have found 180 good, plump and excellent grains
of wheat; in six crops 80 grains of barley; and in two others 74 grains of wheat.
The number of grains contained in the crop of a bird varied from 2 to 56, according
to the time of feeding before they were shot. At a meeting of the Club (consisting of
fourteen individuals) each person was of opinion that during the month one sparrow
destroyed a quart of corn, so that 1000 sparrows would eat 1000 quarts or 31 strikes,
or nearly 4 quarters of corn. This, taken throughout each month of the year, would
make 48 quarters, which, if sold in the market at 35s. per quarter, would have fetched
£84. This may seem exaggerated, but I do not think it is; for I have known one
field (which the owner had neglected to tend) despoiled of about five quarters in a
season; and let any person accustomed to agricultural pursuits, when he sees the
head-lands of fields destroyed, make his calculation as to the quantity taken, and I
fear that he will have reason to agree with me. It has been argued that sparrows in
- winter obtain their food chiefly from farm-doors, and from straw with which cattle is
foddered ; but if so, the farmer’s fowls, ducks and geese are robbed in the former case,

2300 Birds.

and his cattle in the latter. It is evident, however, from the appearance of the grains
found in their crops,—which are generally remarkably good, plump and excellent,—
that it is in a great measure procured from the sides of corn-ricks, in which they bur-
row almost to the tail, and thus rob the farmer of a portion cf that produce which
ought to have been sold in the market. To sum up my observations: as far as I can
judge the sparrow is an insectivorous bird only when very young, and then his diet is
varied with soft green peas, or, as the season advances, milky grain from wheat-fields.
For nine months or more of the first year of his existence he feeds on grain, and when
reared he exists alinost entirely upon it. Anecdotes, I am aware, are on record of the
sparrow carrying to its nest great numbers of insects, and these anecdotes are often
recorded by persons who are no naturalists, and who mistake the insectivorous hedge
accentor for the common sparrow. Look at a sparrow’s bill! What is that bill made
for? To crack grain or pick up insects? I have penned these observations with re-
luctance, knowing that our high authorities—Yarrell, Jesse, Knapp, &c.—are of a
contrary opinion, and until I examined the subject fur myself I coincided with them;
but I cannot shut my eyes to facts. I would willingly have recorded in favour of the
sparrow a verdict of “ not guilty” of the depredations imputed to him, but my evidence
is against him. Doubtless this bird was created originally, like other animals, for a
wise and useful purpose, and was kept in due bounds by the hawks, owls, and preda-
tory birds, and thus prevented from becoming an annoyance; but in stepped the game-
preserver, destroyed the predatory birds, and thus left the sparrow at liberty to increase.
Now some other means must be devised for his being kept in subjection. Your readers
would render essential service to agriculture if they would give their opinions upon
this subject. Ifthe sparrow is a grain- destroyer he ought to he destroyed. Corn that
will feed birds will feed men.—John Joseph Briggs ; King’s Newton, Melbourne, Der-
byshire, September 20, 1848.

‘Occurrence of the Hawfinch (Loxia coccothraustes) at Knaresborough eile specimen
of the hawfinch was taken near this place in a trap, during the winter of 1846-7; I
have another which was shot at Scriven, about a mile from Knaresborough, in 1836 ;
and a third specimen was seen in company with that last mentioned: it is a rare bird
here.—James C. Garth ; Knaresborough, October 17, 1848.

Proposed alteration of Name in the European White-winged Crossbill, and Occur-
rence of the American White-winged Crossbill in England.—In preparing a list of
Godalming birds as part of the Appendix to the ‘ Letters of Rusticus,’ I have been
very greatly assisted by Mr. Salmon and Mr. Henry Doubleday, whose revision was
absolutely necessary before I could publish the mass of interesting materials in my
hands. The name of the white-winged crossbill having been added to the list by Mr.
Salmon, Mr. Doubleday informs me that the bird which has occurred several times in
Britain, and which is figured and described in Yarrell’s ‘ British Birds,’ is totally dis-
tinct from the American white-winged crossbill: in this opinion Mr. Yarrell coincides,
and in his note to me adds the interesting information that a single specimen of the
American bird has also occurred in Britain,—he believes in Dorsetshire. The nomen-
clature of the two species may therefore stand thus :—

The European bird or Two-barred Crossbill = the Lowia bifasciata of Nilsson,
the Crucirostra bifasciata of Brehm, the Lowia tenioptera of Gloger, and the
Lowia lewcoptera of Jenyns, Gould, Eyton, and Yarrell.

The North-American bird or White-winged Crossbill = the Lowta hounantats of
Gmelin, Wilson, Bonaparte, and Richardson.— Edward Newman,

Birds. 2301

Discoloured Eggs of the Green Woodpecker (Picus viridis)—Eggs of the green
woodpecker similar in colour to those mentioned by Mr. Newton (Zool. 2229), as hav-
ing been taken near Elveden last spring, are by no means of rare occurrence, and I
believe the peculiarity is attributable to their having been stained by the moisture in
the rotten part of the tree in which the eggs are placed. On the 18th of May, 1846,
I took five such eggs from a nest in a decayed elm, two of which I gave to Mr. Bart-
lett (well known to the readers of the ‘ Zoologist’ as the discoverer of the new duck,
Paget’s pochard), and he afterwards told me that all the colour was very easily removed
by simply wiping them with a little wet tow. This is certainly the case ; for one of
the remaining three was cleaned with the end of the finger dipped in water. It cer-
tainly is not a proof that the colour is only an accidental stain; for the large dark
blotches on the eggs of the guillemot are very easily removed with moisture, which co-
lour I believe no one will consider as extraneous; but there is other evidence for be-
lieving it to be so in the woodpecker’s eggs, viz., that the feathers of the birds themselves
are often much stained, and even matted together in the breeding-season, looking much
as though they were stained or painted with liver-colour on the upper tail-coverts and
rump, and then varnished : this was the case with the male of the nest from which my
eggs were taken.—R. F. Tomes ; Welford, Stratford-on-Avon, September 22, 1848.

Discoloured E'ggs of the Green Woodpecker.—In reply to the inquiries of your cor-
respondent, Mr. Hansell (Zool. 2258), respecting a previous note of mine (Zool. 2229),
I have to say that the branch of the tree—an ash—in which the woodpecker’s nest he
refers to was, is so situated that it is impossible that any rain could soak into it, and
that there is not now, nor was at the time the eggs were in it, any fungus whose juice
could have stained them. The appearance of the eggs is at once, I think, conclusive
to show that they could not have been coloured in any way after they were laid. The
colouring matter, as in the case of sparrow-hawks’ and other eggs, easily comes off,
and being of a thin substance the polish of the surface is seen through it. I have
within a few days been told by a good naturalist, to whom I showed the eggs in ques-
tion, that some years ago he received from a person in this neighbourhvod a similar
egg; and further, he was told by an occasional contributor to the ‘ Zoologist,’ that he
this year obtained a coloured specimen of the egg of this woodpecker. For your own
and your correspondent’s satisfaction, I send you the names of the persons I have re-
ferred to; but as I have not their leave for your so doing, I beg you will not print
them. If your correspondent is still dissatisfied, I should recommend him next spring,
when the sap of the ash tree is up, to try whether it has any effect in colouring a bird’s
egg.—Alfred Newton ; E'lveden, October 9, 1848.

Occurrence of the Hoopoe (Upupa Epops) and other rare British Birds near Banff:
—In September, 1832, a specimen of the hoopoe was caught alive in the plantations
surrounding Duff House, which is in the immediate vicinity of Banff. Of these
plantations, which extend for miles in all directions, the public at large are, by the
well-known liberality of the Earl of Fife, allowed, at all times and without any excep-
tions, to have the unrestricted range. From the circumstance of its having been se-
cured by the hand, the specimen in question had in all probability been, more or less,
in a state of exhaustion; and, through some casualty connected with the weather, had
probably been driven beyond the limits of its usual haunts. It was obtained by those
who were unacquainted with its habits, and it did not survive for any time. In its
stomach were found the remains of insects. This is the only instance, within my
knowledge, of the hoopoe having been seen or heard of in this particular part of the

VI 2¥Y

2302 | Birds.

country. Now, however, that attention is beginning in some measure to be paid to
the works of creation, even in localities where, at no distant period, such an employ-
ment of leisure time would have been regarded as an unquestionable proof of insanity,
it is not improbable that we shall be found to have had, all along, both plants and
animals among us, of the presence of which we had previously neither knowledge nor
suspicion. As an example of this, I may mention that, in the beginning of July this
year, a nest of the quail (Coturnia dactylisonans) was found in a field of hay, in the
neighbouring parish of New Deer, about six miles from where I reside. It contained
twelve eggs, all of them resembling the first of the three varieties figured by Mr. Hew-
itson. The people on the farm say that they meet with a similar nest every year:
they consider the eggs as those of a curious kind of corn crake (landrail), and nothing
will convince them to the contrary. A specimen, in very fine condition, of the red-
necked grebe (Podiceps rubricollis) was shot, during the bygone spring, on an artificial
lake in this parish. On this lake, a good many years ago, a specimen was obtained
of the pochard or male dunbird (Fuligula ferina), which is very rarely to be seen in
this northern part of the country. I had lately brought me for examination a speci-
men of a Totanus or inland sandpiper, which to my surprise answered in every respect
to the description given by the most accurate writers on the male ruff (Machetes pug-
nax), in the autumnal plumage of the first year. It was shot in an extensive moss in
this parish; and the character of the surface and of the vegetation, in the particular
spot where it was obtained, is exactly the same as that of the localities which the ruff
is said to frequent amid the Lincolnshire fens. I am not aware that the ruff has been
previously heard of in this part of the kingdom.—James Smith ; Manse of Monquhitter
by Turriff, Aberdeenshire, October 2, 1848.

Occurrence of the Roller (Coracias garrula) near Banff.—On the 25th of Septem-
ber last there was shot in the woods of Boyndie, near Banff, a specimen of the roller.
This is a bird of very great rarity, and has only been met with seven or eight times in
the whole kingdom. With the exception of one, which was obtained many years ago
near to the loch of Strathbeg,—an extensive sheet of water on the sea-coast between
Peterhead and Fraserburgh,—I am not aware of any specimen having been previously
seen or heard of in this part of the country. The one to which I am alluding proved
on dissection to be a female. Although the plumage would seem in some parts not to
have reached its full maturity, it nevertheless exhibits colouring of exquisite beauty,
particularly on the under wing-coverts, the upper portion of which is of a delicate pale
sea-green, and the remainder of the richest purplish or mazarine blue, changing in
hue and. intensity according to the light in which it is viewed. The line in which
these birds are to be found is farther to the east than our own island; and as a strong
gale had blown from that quarter for some days previously to its being killed, it is
probable that it had, in this manner, been driven out of its usual course. It was,
however, in no danger from famine, for its stomach was completely crammed with the
remains of the insects on which it had been feeding: these consisted of dragon-flies
(Libellula), of the black and red burying-beetle (Necrophorus), of the small green or
grass beetle, but principally of the common dor or clock (Geotrupes stercorarius): one
small brown beetle with a black head, which is to be met with on trees and bushes,
was found entire. When shot, the bird was in the act of flying from one tree to ano-
ther.—Id.

Swallows (Hirundo rustica) dug out of Hedge-banks.—There is a farmer named
Waters, residing at Catsfield (adjoining parish), who informs me he has frequently

Birds. 2303

(some years ago) dug swallows out of banks in winter, while widening the ditches in
the brooks, &c.—J. B. Ellman ; Battel, September 23, 1848.

Swallows, and a Plea on their Behalf.—May 4th, 1848, saw the first swallow, a so-
litary bird. About the 8th of May saw another at a different place. May 12th, saw
two swallows together this morning, and four in company about the same spot in the
evening. After the last date swallows gradually become more numerous, though not
only was their first appearance unusually late, but up to the period of my quitting
Clifton, June 13th, very few birds, comparatively, were to be seen. Indeed my im-
pression is, that, generally, the race of swallows has greatly diminished, owing, par-
tially at least, to the silly and cruel practice of shooting them. Silly, because they
are not good practice in the art of shooting, since, by taking them at a particular mo-
ment of their flight, they may be killed with the greatest certainty; while the same
individual could not hit a sparrow or a partridge. The pastime of swallow shooting
must also be pronounced wanton cruelty, because they not simply are among the most
inoffensive of the feathered tribe, but even must be acknowledged valuable benefac-
tors to us, when we recollect the myriads of troublesome and noxious insects which—
their sole food—every swallow, old and young, consumes during its short sojourn with
us. In proportion as the birds are destroyed of course those insects will increase,—a
just retribution for the cruelty now reprobated. There is another consideration, too,
which appears to be utterly disregarded by swallow-shooters; it is the number of nest-
lings which they, for mere amusement, render orphans, and condemn to the lingering
and painful death of cold and starvation.—Arthur Hussey ; Clifton, Gloucestershire.

A Martin (Hirundo urbica) with the middle Tail-feather white—I shot a house-
martin. last August which had the middle feather of the tail perfectly white.— George
Wolley ; Huyton, September 29, 1848.

Partiality of the Common Guinea-fowl for Toads.—Most animals have, I believe,
a deep-rooted antipathy to the toad. The dog turns away from it in disgust; and I
have more than once seen my own dog, when urged to attack one, drop the reptile from
his mouth in such a manner as to show that he felt the effects of the acrid excretion
which exudes from its skin when irritated. That the guinea-fowl, however, has a par-
tiality to toads is a fact which may not, perhaps, have been generally observed. I
have constantly seen our guinea-fowls attack a toad, and have watched them beating
it for some minutes against the ground with their beaks, until almost motionless, when
they bolt it. I have never seen them serve a frog thus: either from its greater agility
it keeps out of their reach, or they prefer the toad. I have often seen ducks, on the
contrary, eat frogs, but not toads.— A. B. Hemsworth ; Thropham Hall, Norfolk, Oc-
tober 13, 1848. .

Description of a Sandpiper which was shot near Bootle, in September, 1847.—This
bird was shot as it rose from a pit, in company with some snipes, by a man named
John Ashton, then in the employment of Mr. George Fhomas, bird-stuffer, London
Road, Liverpool], in whose possession it now is. The striking peculiarity of this bird
is the great length of its legs and neck. Beak one inch and one-eighth ; from the
point to the gape one inch and three-eighths, nearly black, darkest at the tip; irides
nearly black; over the eye a white streak; the top of the head, beak and wing-coverts
dark brown, with light brown spots, triangular in shape on the margin of each feather,
some of the spots more elongated, and those on the wing-coverts nearly white ; pri-
maries black, the shaft of the first white; upper tail-coverts white, barred with dark
brown, the centre ones having three bars, the outer ones but two; tail-feathers white,

2304 Birds— Reptiles.

with seven bars of dark brown, the tip white, the two centre teathers being longest,
and the two next longer than the rest ; chin white; neck, throat and breast ash-brown,
each feather on the throat and breast having the centre brown; belly, vent and centre
feathers of the under tail-coverts white, outside ones barred with dark brown, shafts
black; legs and toes dark green. From the carpal joint to the end of the first quill-
feather, which is the longest, five inches; heels, including the claw, three-eighths of
an inch; tail two inches. I give the length of the legs, and the colour of the beak,
irides, legs and toes, from the statement of Mr. G. Thomas, who had the bird the
day on which it was shot. I could not obtain the whole length of the bird, as the di-
mensions, except of the legs, were not taken till after it was mounted, and I did not
see it till lately — Nicholas Cooke ; Hope Mills, Warrington, September 28, 1848.

[I should suppose the bird to be the wood sandpiper (Totanus glareola) : the words
‘from the carpal joint to the end of the first quill-feather, which is the longest, five
inches,’ are the exact words used by Yarrell in his account of T. glareola, and the
general description applies to this species, although many of them are very similar in
markings: Henry Doubleday,” whose opinion I solicited.—Hdward Newman.]

Occurrence of the Red-throated Diver (Colymbus septentrionalis) near Guildford.
—A specimen of the red-throated diver was captured yesterday near Guildford, and
has been brought here to be preserved : this is an addition to the list of Surrey birds.
—J. D. Salmon ; Godalming, October 19, 1848.

Occurrence of the Ivory Gull (Larus eburneus) at Hastings.—I saw a specimen of
this rare bird at Hastings, a few weeks ago, in the possession of a bird-stuffer, who in-
formed me that it was shot near that place not long since.—J. B. Ellman; Battel,
September 23, 1848.

Answer respecting Larus maximus.—Dr. Morris is quite correct (Zool. 2071), when
he presumes that by black-backed gull (L. maximus), (Zool. 515) is meant the
lesser black-backed gull (LZ. fusca). I beg to thank Dr. M. for pointing out the mis-
take—G. Gordon ; Elgin, October, 1848.

Note on the Natterjack (Bufo calamita) and Tree Frog (Hyla arborea).—I observed
the young of the natterjack (distinguishable when quite small by the narrow stripe of
gamboge-yellow along the back) sparingly, on short heath, at Oakhanger, near Sel-
borne, and much more abundantly the next day about the edges of Wolmer Pond, in
September last. The son of the head keeper, who lives close by the pond, assured me
that these toads were very noisy in the spring and summer nights, at which seasons
they resort to the water for the purpose of breeding, and near which the young ones
continue for some time after their transformation from the tadpoles, when the adults
have retired to drier situations, and dispersed themselves abroad, as I did not meet with
a full or even half-grown individual at either station. I remarked the natterjack in
plenty last year, about the margin of Peat Pond, on Shalford Common, Surrey (Mr.
Salmon’s second English station for Cyperus fuscus), and transported a colony of a
hundred or more youthful toads to a congenial-looking sandy heath in this island ; but
what has been their fate since, I have not had the means of ascertaining. I may take
occasion to mention in this place that I last year turned out eighteen examples of the

aN,

Reptiles. 2305

European tree frog (Hyla arborea), kindly supplied to me from Germany (Berlin) by
Mr. W. Pamplin, into a swampy willow thicket of considerable size, in this island,
having a reedy pond in the centre, with a clear ditch and water meadows on one side,
and overhung on the other by a steep wooded bank and dry copse,—thus giving the
colonists choice of sun, shade, water and covert, as their nature may require in turn.
I have great hope of their becoming naturalized here, provided the snakes do not mo-
lest them; for of the birds I have not much fear, the cover being so thick.—W. A:
Bromfield, M.D., F.L.S. ; Eastmount, Ryde, Isle of Wight, October 6, 1848.

[On both these reptiles I have a few words to say; and first, as regards the natter-
jack. I have paid great attention to these interesting animals ever since the year
1826, when I first observed them on Blackheath. In 1841 I brought some from that
locality to my little garden at Peckham, where they soon established themselves in
subterranean galleries, which they have occupied ever since: every night they make
predacious excursions, and are very frequently detected wending their way home some
hours after daylight, when they are very apt to be picked up and handled by the chil-
dren, into whom no wholesome fear of fire- and poison-spitting on the part of frogs
and toads has ever been instilled: it is certainly an unwonted sight to see a little boy
of two years of age taking up a huge toad or a natterjack, and fondling him as a very
nice playfellow. Believing that nothing was previously known of the breeding of the
natterjack, I have obtained the tadpoles in a very young state, and have watched their
various transformations, making drawings of them in every stage until they finally
leave the water and disperse themselves over the land. Frogs, toads and natterjacks
remain on the margins of the pool where they were hatched for some days after ac-
quiring their new apparatus for breathing, but they instinctively hurry back to the
water for protection if alarmed ; but when a soaking shower has fallen, and the earth
has become saturated with wet, they disperse in all directions, wandering far and wide
from their birth-place, regardless of the most manifest danger or the most obvious ob-
structions: on these occasions they may be seen everywhere crossing roads and path-
ways, and hence the never-to-be-eradicated belief that they have fallen from the clouds.
I think the month of July is the general one for the grand dispersion of the frogs,—a
shower at the end of July fixing the great days with the toads; but I have never yet
seen the natterjack on the move until the 15th of September, and this year they have
been unusually late: I have natterjack tadpoles still unchanged on the 12th of Octo-
ber. I purpose publishing a series of records, with dates, dimensions and figures,
when my observations shall be complete. Like Dr. Bromfield, I am indebted to Mr.
Pamplin for specimens of the tree frog ; but instead of liberating, I have kept them
in confinement, with a view of observing their ‘‘ manners and customs: ” they are most
interesting and beautiful creatures, and seem well reconciled to their fate; in fact they
perch on a window-sill, and employ themselves in leaping at and devouring the flies
that come within reach, in such a free and easy manner as to give one quite the idea
that they consider themselves at home. I hope Dr. Bromfield will record from time to
time, in the ‘ Zoologist, the results of the interesting experiment he has tried of na-
turalizing this frog in the Isle of Wight—Hdward Newman.]

Reptiles swallowing their Young.—My attention has been called to a paragraph in
the last number (Zool. 2268), relative to the question as to whether reptiles swallow
their young when threatened with coming danger. When in Scotland, last autumn,
I saw what at the time satisfied me that vipers really possessed this faculty, though
ithe evidence was scarcely as conclusive as might be wished. Walking along a sunny

2306 Reptiles.

toad, I saw a viper lying on the parapet; she had apparently just been killed by a blow
from a stick: five or six young ones, about four inches long, were wriggling about
their murdered parent, and one was making its way out of her mouth at the time when
I approached. Whether this was the first time that the young ones had seen the light,
or whether they were only leaving a place of temporary refuge, I leave to more expe-
rienced observers than myself to determine.—F. F. Percival ; 64, Lincoln’s Inn Fields,
‘October 17, 1848. .

On the Habits of Ameiva dorsalis, a Jamaica Lizard.— This species is one of the °
most common of the reptiles of Jamaica, and is as beautiful as abundant. Its colours
are striking, but not showy ; its countenance has a very meek expression, not altogether
unlike that of a deer or antelope. All its motions are elegant and sprightly: when it
is proceeding deliberately, its body is thrown into lateral curves the most graceful ima-
ginable; but when alarmed, its swiftness is so excessive that it appears as if it lite-
rally flew over the ground, and the observer can scarcely persuade himself that it is
not a bird.

“The ground lizard (as it is provincially termed) is generally diffused, as far as
my knowledge of the island extends, but chiefly affects sandy places. Near the sea-
side it is particularly abundant, beneath the shore-grasses, nickers, and black-withes
that form an almost impenetrable belt of thicket a few yards above high-water mark.
Here the dry leaves and twigs are rustled all day long by the fleet-footed Ameiva, as
it shoots hither and thither among them, or walks at leisure, picking up little atoms of
food. Though excessively timid, so that it is almost impossible to approach them, I
have found that by sitting down in their haunts, and remaining four some time per-
fectly still, one and another will come forth from their coverts and pursue their avoca-
tions without fear. They pick among the sand exactly in the manner ofa bird, and
scratch it away with the long and flexible fore-feet, using them alternately as the
common fowl does, now and then stopping and raising the hind-foot to scratch the
head.

“Tam told (and have no doubt of the fact) that it digs for itself the burrow in
which it resides. It is accused too of digging still deeper, to get at the seed-corn when
just sprouting, and of eating the germinating grain to such an extent as to be mis-
chievous. Of such as I dissected, however, I found the food to consist principally of
insects. Thus on one occasion the stomach was occupied with a whole cockroach, and
the intestines were filled with fragments of another. In the stomach of one shot in
November I found many dipterous maggots, fragments of beetles, and one or two
seeds of berries. A third contained cockroaches, a caterpillar, some maggots and
small beetles.

“ On one or two occasions, as when one has been suddenly alarmed, I have noticed
a singular action in this animal, which then carries its body the whole height of the
legs above the ground, and runs as it were on tiptoe in a very ludicrous manner.

“While speaking of its progression, I may observe, that though the toes are not
formed like those of the Geckos and Anoles, for holding on against gravity, I have seen
a large Ameiva run with facility on the side of a dry wall, along the perpendicular
surfaces of the large stones.” —P. H. Gosse, in ‘ Proceedings of the Zoological Society,
No. 181, p. 24.

The Great Sea-Serpent.—I beg to send you the following extract from my journal.
“H.M.S. Dedalus, August 6, 1848, lat. 25°S., long. 9°37’ E., St. Helena 1015
wiles. In the 4 to 6 watch, at about 5 o’clock, we observed a most remarkable fish

Reptiles. 2307

on our lee quarter, crossing the stem in a S.W. direction: the appearance of its head,
which, with the back fin, was the only portion of the animal visible, was long, pointed,
and flattened at the top, perhaps ten feet in length, the upper jaw projecting consi-

_ derably ; the fin was perhaps twenty feet in the rear of the head, and visible occasion-

ally: the captain also asserted that he saw the tail, or another fin, about the same
distance behind it: the upper part of the head and shoulders appeared of a dark brown
colour, and beneath the under jaw a brownish white. It pursued a steady, undeviating

course, keeping its head horizontal with the surface of the water and in rather a raised
position, disappearing occasionally beneath a wave for a very brief interval, and not
apparently for purposes of respiration. It was going at the rate of perhaps from twelve
to fourteen miles an hour, and when nearest was perhaps one hundred yards distant:
in fact it gave one quite the idea of a large snake or eel. No one in the ship has ever
“seen anything similar, so it is at least extraordinary. It was visible to the naked eye
for five minutes, and with a glass for perhaps fifteen more. The weather was dark and
squally at the time, with some sea running.”—Hdgar Drummond, Lieut. H.M.S. De-
dalus ; Southampton, October 28, 1848.

The Great Sea-Serpent.— When the Dedalus frigate, Captain M’Quhe, which
arrived at Plymouth on the 4th inst., was on her passage home from the East Indies,
between the Cape of Good Hope and St. Helena, her captain, and most of her officers
and crew, at four o’clock one afternoon, saw a sea-serpent. The creature was twenty
minutes in sight of the frigate, and passed under her quarter. Its head appeared to
be about four feet out of the water, and there was about 60 feet of its body in a straight
line on the surface. It is calculated that there must have been under water a length
of 33 or 40 feet more, by which it propelled itself at the rate of 15 miles an hour.
The diameter of the exposed part of the body was about 16 inches, and when it ex-
tended its jaws, which were full of large jagged teeth, they seemed sufficiently capa-
cious to admit of a tall man standing upright between them.’— Times, October 9,
1848.

The Great Sea-Serpent.—“ The following very interesting report respecting the
appearance of the extraordinary animal seen by some of the officers and crew of
Her Majesty's ship Dedalus has been forwarded to the Admiralty by Captain:
M’Quhe :-—

“ Her Majesty’s ship Dedalus, Hamoaze, October 11.

“‘ Sir,—In reply to your letter of this date, requiring information as to the truth of
a statement published in ‘The Times’ newspaper, of a sea-serpent of extraordinary
dimensions having been seen from Her Majesty’s ship Dedalus, under my command,
on her passage from the East Indies, I have the honour to acquaint you, for the infor-
mation of my Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty, that at 5 o’clock, p.m., on the
6th of August last, in latitude 24° 44’S., and longitude 9° 22/ E., the weather dark
and cloudy, wind fresh from the N.W., with a long ocean swell from the S.W., the
ship on the port tack heading N.E. by N., something very unusual was seen by Mr.
Sartoris, midshipman, rapidly approaching the ship from before the beam. The cir-
cumstance was immediately reported by him to the officer of the watch, Lieutenant
Edgar Drummond, with whom and Mr. William Barrett, the Master, I was at the
time walking the quarter-deck. The ship’s company were at supper.

“ On our attention being called to the object it was discovered to be an enormous
serpent, with head and shoulders kept about four feet constantly above the surface of

2308 Repiiles.

the sea, and as nearly as we could approximate by comparing it with the length of
what our maintopsail yard would show in the water, there was at the very least 60 feet
of the animal a fleur d’eau, no portion of which was, to our perception, used in pro-
pelling it through the water, either by vertical or horizontal undulation. It passed
rapidly, but so close under our lee quarter that had it been a man of my acquaintance
I should have easily recognised his features with the naked eye ; and it did not, either
in approaching the ship or after it had passed our wake, deviate in the slightest degree
from its course to the S.W., which it held on at the pace of from 12 to 15 miles per
hour, apparently on some determined purpose.

‘“‘ The diameter of the serpent was about 15 or 16 inches behind the head, which
was, without any doubt, that of a snake; and it was never, during the twenty minutes
that it continued in sight of our glasses, once below the surface of the water: its colour
a dark brown, with yellowish white about the throat. It had no fins, but something
like the mane of a horse, or rather a bunch of seaweed, washed about its back. It was
seen by the quartermaster, the boatswain’s mate, and the man at the wheel, in addition
to myself and officers above-mentioned.

“JT am having a drawing of the serpent made from a sketch taken immediately
after it was seen, which I hope to have ready for transmission to my Lords Commis-
sioners of the Admiralty by to-morrow’s post. Prrer M’Quu2&, Captain; to Admiral
Sir W. H. Gage, G.C.H., Devonport.” — Times,’ October 13, 1848.

The Great Sea-Serpent.—“ Mary Ann, of Glasgow, Glasgow, October 19.

“‘T have just reached this port, on a voyage from Malta and Lisbon, and my at-
tention having been called to a report relative to an animal seen by the master and
crew of Her Majesty’s ship Dedalus, I take the liberty of communicating the follow-
ing circumstance :-—

“ When clearing out of the port. of Lisbon, on the 30th of September last, we spoke
the American brig Daphne, of Boston, Mark Trelawney master. She signalled for
us to heave to, which we did; and, standing close round her counter, lay-to while the
mate boarded us with the jollyboat, and handed a packet of letters to be despatched
per first steamer for Boston on our arrival in England. The mate told me that when
in lat. 4° 11/S., long. 10° 15’ E., wind dead north, upon the 20th of September, a
most extraordinary animal had been seen: from his description it had the appearance
of a huge serpent or snake, with a dragon’s head. Immediately upon its being seen,
one of the deck guns was brought to bear upon it, which having been charged with
spike-nails, and whatever other pieces of iron could be got at the moment, was dis-
charged at the animal, then only distant about forty yards from the ship ; it immedi-
ately reared its head in the air, and plunged violently with its body, showing evidently
that the charge had taken effect. The Daphne was to leeward at the time, but was
put about on the starboard tack and stood towards the brute, which was seen foaming
and lashing the water at a fearful rate: upon the brig nearing, however, it disappeared,
and, though evidently wounded, made rapidly off at the rate of 15 or 16 knots an hour,
as was judged from its appearing several times upon the surface. The Daphne pur-
sued for some time, but the night coming on the master was obliged to put about and
continue his voyage.

“From the description given by the mate, the brute must have been nearly 100
feet long, and his account of it agrees in every respect with that lately forwarded to
the Admiralty by the captain of the Dedalus. The packet of letters to Boston,

Reptiles. 2309

I have no doubt, contains the full particulars, which, I suppose, will be made
public. , |

“ There are letters from Captain Trelawney to a friend in Liverpool, which will
probably contain some further particulars, and I have written to get a copy for the
purpose of getting the full account. James HENDERSON, Master, Broomielaw, Berth
No. 4.”—‘ Times, October 23, 1848.

{Doubtless the sagacious production of some self-styled philosophical naturalist,
who is pledged to one of the hypothetical modes of explaining away the existence of a
sea-serpent, and who hopes by a hoax of this kind to throw discredit on Captain
M’Quhe’s statement.—H. Newman.]

The Great Sea-Serpent.— What an extraordinary creature the Dedalus seems to
have fallen in with! The description recalls to my mind an extraordinary appearance
we witnessed in the Blossom, in crossing the South Atlantic. I took it for the trunk
of a large tree, and before I could get my glass upon deck it had disappeared, and I
could nowhere find it—fresh breezes at the time. Captain BeEecury to Sir Francis
Beaufort.’’—‘ Illustrated London News, October 28, 1848.

The Great Sea-Serpent—“ 13, Great Cumberland Street, October 25, 1848.

“ My pear Sir,—I regret that I have not found the volumes referred to in our
conversation respecting the recent authentication of the existence of the sea-serpent
by Captain M’Quhea, of H.M. frigate Dedalus, but I will give you that part of the
information which I remember best. Several years ago, a museum was established at
Bergen, in Norway, the directors of which have, amongst other subjects of interest,
turned their study to Natural History in general, and to the elucidation of some of
its more doubtful or less known subdivisions. The question of the sea-serpent’s exist-
ence had previously attracted the attention of several scientific men in Northern Eu-
rope; and my friend, the late Dr. Newmann, Bishop of Bergen—a man much and
justly respected for his learning, research and energy—made it the subject of inquiry
within the last twenty or twenty-five years among his clergy and those of the adjoining
dioceses. The amount of proof thus collected was sufficient to convince any one,
however sceptical, as it is not mere hearsay evidence, but the testimony of known and
respectable persons in various walks of life. One of the most striking statements is
made by some fishermen, who saw the animal quite close to them, and of whom one
more hardy than the rest struck it with a boat-hook, upon which it immediately gave
them chase; and, had they not been very near a small island or rock, on which they
took refuge, in all probability they would have been destroyed.

“The size of the sea-serpents seen in the Norwegian fjords varies much; and I
do not now remember what the dimensions of the largest are said to be. As far as I
can tax my memory, none of them lately seen are larger than that described by Capt.
M’Quhe. The one seen by the fishermen above alluded to was, I think, not above
70 feet long. I have written to my colleagues in the direction of the Bergen Museum ;
and as soon as their answer-arrives I will give you a more full account.

“ There are, I believe, several varieties of the reptile known as the sea-serpent, but
almost all the accounts agree as to the existence of a mane, and as to the great size of
the eye. Inseveral of the fossil reptiles somewhat approaching the sea-serpent in size
and other characteristics, the orbit is very large; and in this respect, as well as in
- having short paws or flappers, the descriptions of the northern sea-serpents agree with
the supposed appearance of some of the antediluvian species. A great part of the dis-
belief in the existence of the sea-serpent has arisen from its being supposed to be the

VI 2

2310 Reptiles.

same animal as the Kraken, or rather from the names haying been used indiscrimi-
nately.

“In concluding this hurried statement, allow me to add my own testimony as to
the existence of a large fish or reptile of cylindrical form (I will not say sea-serpent).
Three years ago, while becalmed in a yacht between Bergen and Sogn, in Norway, I
saw (at about a quarter of a mile astern) what appeared to be a large fish ruffling the
otherwise smooth surface of the fjord, and, on looking attentively, I observed what
looked like the convolutions of a snake. I immediately got my glass, and distinctly
made out three convolutions, which drew themselves slowly through the water; the
greatest diameter was about ten or twelve inches. No head was visible, and from the
size of each convolution I supposed the length to be about thirty feet. The master of
my yacht (who, as navigator, seaman and fisherman, had known the Norwegian coast
and North Sea for many years), as well as a friend who was with me, an experienced
Norwegian sportsman and porpoise-shooter, saw the same appearance at the same time,
and formed the same opinion as to form and size. I mention the fact of my friend
being a porpoise-shooter, as many have believed that a shoal of porpoises following
each other has given rise to the fable, as they called it, of the sea-serpent. J. D.
Morris Stirine ; to Captain Hamilton, R.N., Secretary to the Admiralty.”—* I7-
lustrated London News, October 28, 1848.

The Great Sea-Serpent.—‘ With regard to the existence of the so-called sea-ser-
pent, I would beg to remark, that, although it is highly improbable that an ophidian,
or true snake, of the dimensions and marine habits described by our voyagers, now
exists, yet there is nothing to forbid the supposition that there are unknown living
forms of cartilaginous fishes, presenting the general configuration and proportions of
the animals figured in the last Number of the ‘ Illustrated London News.’ — Gideon
Algernon Mantell, in ‘ Illustrated London News, November 4, 1848.

The Great Sea-Serpent.— I have never entertained a doubt regarding the exist-
ence of some unknown animal of vast dimensions, whose angel-visits have astonished
the fortunate observers or excited the incredulous smile of the authorities of science.

*‘ No one inclined, I believe, to give due importance to the known facts of geology,
can entertain the probability of any relationship between ‘ the great sea-serpent’ and
the extinct Plesiosauri; nor do the recorded phenomena require such an hypothesis.

‘“‘ Reasoning from the known occurrence of a huge cartilaginous fish (Squalus) on
our Orcadian shores, I am of opinion that when caught the sea-serpent will turn out
to be a shark; and I conceive it is just as probable that a shark may carry the head
for short periods out of the water, as that the flying fishes should occasionally step
aboard to look at us land-monsters.

“Tt is always unsafe to deny positively any phenomena that may be wholly or in
part inexplicable ; and hence I am content to believe that one day the question will
be satisfactorily solved. Might we not obtain some information from the accurate
Sars regarding the Norwegian tradition? Could not the surgeon of the Dedalus
throw some light on the subject ?”—A. G. Melville ;* London, November 6, 1848.

The Great Sea-Serpent.— Amidst the numerous suggestions of those of your cor-
respondents who are disposed to admit the account given by Captain M’Quhe of the

* In a private letter to Dr. Cogswell, but published with permission of both gen-
tlemen.

Reptiles. 2311

marine monster seen by him and several of his brother officers, on the 6th of August
last, as not altogether imaginary, it appears surprising that it should not have occurred
to any one to suggest an explanation of some apparent anomalies in the account, which
have no doubt tended to stagger the belief even of some readers who are not, disposed
to assume (any more than myself) that a number of officers in Her Majesty’s navy
would deliberately invent a falsehood, or could have been deceived in an appearance
which they describe with such precise details.

** One of the greatest difficulties on the face of the narrative, and which must be
allowed to destroy the analogy of the motions of the so-called ‘ sea-serpent ’ with those
of all known snakes and anguilliform fishes, is that no less than 60 feet of the animal
were seen advancing a fleur d’eau, at the rate of from twelve to fifteen miles an hour,
without it being possible to perceive, upon the closest and most attentive inspection,
any undulatory motion to which its rapid advance could be ascribed. It need scarcely
be observed that neither an eel nor a snake, if either of those animals could swim at
all with the neck elevated, could do so without the front part of its body being thrown
into undulation by the propulsive efforts of its tail.

But, it may be asked, if the animal seen by Captain M’Quhe was not allied to the
snakes or to the eels, to what class of animals could it have belonged? To this I
would reply, that it appears more likely that the enormous reptile in question was al-
lied to the gigantic Saurians, hitherto believed only to exist in the fossil state, and,
among them, to the Plesiosaurus.

“‘ From the known anatomical character of the Plesiosauri, derived from the ex-
amination of their organic remains, geologists are agreed in the inference that those
animals carried their necks (which must have resembled the bodies of serpents) above
the water, while their progression was effected by large paddles working beneath—the
short but strong tail acting the part of a rudder. It would be superfluous to point out
how closely the surmises of philosophers resemble, in these particulars, the description
of the eye-witnesses of the living animal, as given in the letter and drawings of Capt.
M’Quhe. In the latter we have many of the external characters of the former, as
predicated from the examination of the skeleton. The short head, the serpent-like
neck, carried several feet above the water, forcibly recal the idea conceived of the ex-
tinct animal; and even the bristly mane in certain parts of the back, so unlike any-
thing found in serpents, has its analogy in the Iguana, to which animal the Plesiosaurus
has been compared by some geologists. But I would most of all insist upon the pe-
culiarity of the animal’s progression, which could only have been effected, with the
evenness and at the rate described, by an apparatus of fins or paddles not possessed
by serpents, but existing in the highest perfection in the Plesiosaurus. F.G. 8.”—
‘ Times, November 2, 1848.

[Will the writer oblige me with his name ?—E£. N.]|

The Great Sea-Serpent.—“ As some interest has been excited by the alleged ap-
pearance of a sea-serpent, I venture to transmit a few remarks on the subject, which
you may or may not think worthy of insertion in your columns. There does not ap-
pear to be a single well-authenticated instance of these monsters having been seen in
any southern latitudes; but in the north of Europe, notwithstanding the fabulous
character so long ascribed to Pontoppidan’s description, I am convinced that they both
exist and are frequently seen. During three summers spent in Norway I have re-
peatedly conversed with the natives on this subject. A parish priest residing on
Romsdal fjord, about two days’ journey south of Drontheim, an intelligent person,

2312 Reptiles.

whose veracity I have no reason to doubt, gave me a circumstantial account of one
which he had himself seen.. It rose within 30 yards of the boat in which he was, and
swam parallel with it for a considerable time. Its head he described as equalling a
small cask in size, and its mouth, which it repeatedly opened and shut, was furnished
with formidable teeth ; its neck was smaller, but its body—of which he supposed that
he saw about half on the surface of the water—was not less in girth than that of a
moderate sized horse. Another gentleman, in whose house I stayed, had also seen
one, and gave a similar account of it: it also came near his boat upon the fjord, when
it was fired at, upon which it turned and pursued them to the shore, which was luckily
near, when it disappeared. They expressed great surprise at the general disbelief at-
taching to the existence of these animals amongst naturalists, and assured me that
there was scarcely a sailor accustomed to those inland lakes, who had not seen them
at one time or another. Oxonrensis.’—‘ Times, November 4, 1848.
[Will the writer oblige me with his name ?—£. N.]

‘ The Great Sea-Serpent.—‘ The sketch [this was a reduced copy of the drawing of
the head of the animal seen by Captain M’Quhze, attached to the submerged body of
a large seal, showing the long eddy produced by the action of the terminal flippers]
will suggest the reply to your query ‘ whether the monster seen from the. Dedalus be
anything but a Saurian?’ If it be the true answer it destroys the romance of the
incident, and will be anything but acceptable to those who prefer the excitement of
the imagination to the satisfaction of the judgment. I am far from insensible to the
pleasures of the discovery of a new and rare animal, but before I can enjoy them cer-
tain conditions, ¢. g., reasonable proof or evidence of its existence, must be fulfilled.
I am also far from undervaluing the information which Captain M’Quhe has given
us of what he saw. When fairly analysed it lies in a small compass; but my know-
ledge of the animal kingdom compels me to draw other conclusions from the pheno-
mena than those which the gallant captain seems to have jumped at. He evidently
saw a large animal moving rapidly through the water, very different from anything he
had before witnessed—neither a whale, a grampus, a great shark, an alligator, nor any
of the larger surface-swimming creatures whieh are fallen in with in ordinary voyages.
He writes, ‘On our attention being called to the object it was discovered to be an
enormous serpent’ (read ‘ animal’) ‘ with the head and shoulders kept about four feet
constantly above the surface of the sea. The diameter of the serpent’ (animal) ‘ was
about 15 or 16 inches behind the head ; its colour a dark brown, with yellowish white
about the throat.’ No fins were seen (the captain says there were none; but from his
own account he did not see enough of the animal to prove his negative). ‘ Something
like the mane of a horse, or rather a bunch of sea-weed washed about its back. So
much of the body as was seen was ‘ not used in propelling the animal through the
water, either by vertical or horizontal undulation.’ A calculation of its length was
made under a strong preconception of the nature of the beast. The head, e. g., is
stated to be ‘ without any doubt that of a snake ;’ and yet a snake would be the last
species to which a naturalist conversant with the forms and characters of the heads of
animals would refer such a head as that of which Captain M’Quhe has transmitted a
drawing to the Admiralty, and which he certifies to have been accurately copied in the
‘ Illustrated London News’ for October 28, 1848, p. 265. Your lordship will observe
that no sooner was the captain’s attention called to the object than ‘ it was discovered
to be an enormous serpent,’ and yet the closest inspection of as much of the body as
was visible, a fleur d’eau, failed to detect any undulations of the body, although such

Reptiles. 2313

actions constitute the very character which would distinguish a serpent or serpentiform
swimmer from any other marine species. The foregone conclusion, therefore, of the
beast’s being a sea-serpent, notwithstanding its capacious vaulted cranium and stiff
inflexible trunk, must be kept in mind in estimating the value of the approximation
made to the total length of the animal, as ‘ at the very least 60 feet.’ This is the only
part of the description, however, which seems to me to be so uncertain as to be inad-
mnissible in an attempt to arrive at a right conclusion as to the nature of the animal.
The more certain characters of the animal are these :—Heads with a convex, mode-
rately capacious cranium, short obtuse muzzle, gape of the mouth not extending fur-
ther than to beneath the eye, which is rather small, round, filling closely the palpebral
aperture ; colour, dark brown above, yellowish white beneath ; surface smooth, without
scales, scutes, or other conspicuous modifications of hard and naked cuticle. And the
captain says, ‘ Had it been a man of my acquaintance I should have easily recognised
his features with my naked eye.’ Nostrils not mentioned, but indicated in the draw-
ing by a crescentic mark at the end of the nose or muzzle. All these are the charac-
ters of the head of a warm-blooded mammal; none of them those of a cold-blooded
reptile or fish. Body long, dark brown, not undulating, without dorsal or other appa-
rent fins; ‘ but something like the mane of a horse, or rather a bunch of sea-weed
washed about its back.? The character of the integuments would be a most important
one for the zoologist in the determination of the class to which the above defined
creature belonged. If any opinion can be deduced as to the integuments from the
above indication, it is that the species had hair, which, if it was too short and close to
be distinguished on the head, was visible where it usually is the longest, on the middle
line of the shoulders or advanced part of the back, where it was not stiff and upright
like the rays of a fin, but. ‘ washed about.’ Guided by the above interpretation of the
‘mane of a horse, or a bunch of sea-weed,’ the animal was not a cetaceous mammal,
but rather a great seal. But what seal of large size, or indeed of any size, would be
encountered in latitude 24° 44’ south, and longitude 9° 22! east—viz. about 300 miles
from the western shore of the southern end of Africa? The most likely species to be
there met with are the largest of the seal tribe, e. g. Anson’s sea-lion, or that known to
the southern whalers by the name of the ‘ sea-elephant,’ the Phoca proboscidia, which
attains the length of from 20 to 30 feet. These great seals abound in certain of the
islands of the southern and antarctic seas, from which an individual is occasionally
floated off upon an iceberg. The sea-lion exhibited in London last spring, which was
a young individual of the Phoca proboscidia, was actually captured in that predica-
ment, having been carried by the currents that set northward towards the Cape, where
its temporary resting-place was rapidly melting away. When a large individual of
the Phoca proboscidia or Phoca leonina is thus borne off to a distance from its native
shore, it is compelled to return for rest to its floating abode after it has made its daily
excursion in quest of the fishes or squids that constitute its food. It is thus brought
by the iceberg into the latitudes of the Cape, and perhaps further north, before the
berg has melted away. Then the poor seal is compelled to swim as long as strength
endures ; and in such a predicament I imagine the creature was that Mr. Sartoris saw
rapidly approaching the Dedalus from before the beam, scanning, probably, its capa-
bilities as a resting-place, as it paddled its long stiff body past the ship. In so doing,
it would raise a head of the form and colour described and delineated by Captain
M’Quhe, supported on a neck also of the diameter given ; the thick neck passing into

2314 Reptiles.

an inflexible trunk, the longer and coarser hair on the upper part of which would give
rise to the idea, especially if the species were the Phoca leonina, explained by the si-
miles above cited. The organs of locomotion would be out of sight. The pectoral
fins being set on very low down, as in my sketch, the chief impelling force would be
the action of the deeper immersed terminal fins and tail, which would create a long
eddy, readily mistakeable by one looking at the strange phenomenon with a sea-serpent
in his mind’s eye for an indefinite prolongation of the body.

“‘Tt is very probablethat not one on board the Dedalus ever before beheld a gi-
gantic seal freely swimming in the open ocean. Entering unexpectedly from that
vast and commonly blank desert of waters it would be a strange and exciting spectacle,
and might well be interpreted as a marvel ; but the creative powers of the human mind
appear to be really very limited, and on all the occasions where the true source of the
‘ great unknown’ has been detected—whether it has proved to be a file of sportive
porpoises, or a pair of gigantic sharks—old Pontoppidan’s sea-serpent with the mane
has uniformly suggested itself as the representative of the portent, until the mystery
has been unravelled.

“The vertebre of the sea-serpent described and delineated in the ‘ Wernerian
Transactions,’ vol. i., and sworn to by the fishermen who saw it off the Isle of Stronsa
(one of the Orkneys), in 1808, two of which vertebre are in the Museum of the College
of Surgeons, are certainly those of a great shark, of the genus Selache, and are not
distinguishable from those of the species called ‘ basking-shark,’ of which individuals
from 30 feet to 35 feet in length have been from time to time captured or stranded on
our coasts,

“IT have no unmeet confidence in the exactitude of my interpretation of the phe-
nomena witnessed by the captain and others of the Dedalus. JT am too sensible of
the inadequacy of the characters which the opportunity of a rapidly passing animal,
‘in a long ocean swell,’ enabled them to note, for the determination of its species or
genus. Giving due credence to the most probably accurate elements of their descrip-
tion, they do little more than guide the zoologist to the class, which, in the present
instance, is not that of the serpent or the saurian.

“ But I am usually asked, after each endeavour to explain Captain M’Quhe’s sea-
serpent, ‘ Why there should not be a great sea-serpent ?’—often, too, in a tone which
seems to imply, ‘ Do you think, then, there are not more marvels in the deep than are
dreamt of in your philosophy?’ And freely conceding that point, I have felt bound
to give a reason for scepticism as well as faith. Ifa gigantic sea-serpent actually ex-
ists, the species must of course have been perpetuated through successive generations
from its first creation and introduction into the seas of this planet. Conceive, then,
the number of individuals that must have lived and died, and have left their remains
to attest the actuality of the species during the enormous lapse of time from its begin-
ning to the 6th of August last! Now, a serpent, being an air-breathing animal, with
long vesicular and receptacular lungs, dives with an effort, and commonly floats when
dead; and so would the sea-serpent, until decomposition or accident had opened the
tough integument and let out the imprisoned gases. Then it would sink, and, if in
deep water, be seen no more until the sea rendered up its dead, after the lapse of the
ceons requisite for the yielding of its place to dry land—a change which has actually
revealed to the present generation the old saurian monsters that were entombed at the
bottom of the ocean of the secondary gevlogical periods of our earth’s history. During

Reptiles. 2315

life the exigencies of the respiration of the great sea-serpent would always compel him
frequently to the surface; and when dead and swollen—
‘Prone on the flood, extended long and large,

He would
* Lie floating many a rood; in bulk as huge

As whom the fables name of monstrous size,
Titanian, or Earth-born, that warr’d on Jove.’

Such a spectacle, demonstrative of the species if it existed, has not hitherto met the
gaze of any of the countless voyagers who have traversed the seas in so many direc-
tions. Considering, too, the tides and currents of the ocean, it seems still more rea-
sonable to suppose that the dead sea-serpent would be occasionally cast on shore.
However, I do not ask for the entire carcase. The structure of the back bone of the
serpent tribe is so peculiar, that a single vertebra would suffice to determine the exist-
ence of the hypothetical Ophidian ; and this will not be deemed an unreasonable re-
quest when it is remembered that the vertebre are more numerous in serpents than in
any other animals. Such large, blanched, and scattered bones on any sea-shore would
be likely to attract even common curiosity ; yet there is no vertebra of a serpent larger
than the ordinary pythons and boas in any museum in Europe.

“ Few sea coasts have been more sedulously searched, or by more acute natural-
ists (witness the labours of Sars and Lovén) than those of Norway. Krakens and
sea-serpents ought to have been living and dying thereabouts from long before Pon-
toppidan’s time, to our day, if all tales were true ; yet have they never vouchsafed a |
single fragment of their skeleton to any Scandinavian collector ; whilst the other great
denizens of those seas have been by no means so chary. No museums, in fact, are so
rich in the skeletons, skulls, bones and teeth of the numerous kinds of whales, cacha-
lots, grampuses, walruses, sea unicorns, seals, &c., as those of Denmark, Norway and
Sweden; but of any large marine nondescript or indeterminable monster they cannot
show a trace.

“‘T have inquired repeatedly whether the natural-history collections of Boston,
Philadelphia, or other cities of the United States, might pussess any unusually large
ophidian vertebre, or any of such peculiar form as to indicate some large and unknown
marine animal ; but they have received no such specimens.

“‘ The frequency with which the sea-serpent has been supposed to have appeared
near the shores and harbours of the United States has led to its being specified as the
‘ American sea-serpent ;’ yet out of the 200 vertebre of every individual that should
have lived and died in the Atlantic since the creation of the species, not one has yet
been picked up on the shores of America. The diminutive snake, less than a yard in
length, ‘ killed upon the sea-shore, apparently beaten to death, ‘ by some labouring
people of Cape Ann, United States (see the 8vo. pamphlet, 1817, Boston, page 38),
and figured in the ‘ Illustrated London News, October 28, 1848, from the original
American memoir, by no means satisfies the conditions of the problem. Neither do
the Saccopharynx of Mitchell, nor the Ophiognathus of Harwood—the one 4} feet,
the other 6 feet long; both are surpassed by some of the congers of our own coasts,
and, like other murenoid fishes and the known small sea-snakes (Hydrophis), swim by
undulatory movements of the body.

“The fossil vertebrae and skull which were exhibited by Mr. Koch in New York
and Boston as those of the great sea-serpent, and which are now in Berlin, belonged
to different individuals of a species which I had previously proved to be an extinct

2316 Reptiles.

whale ; a determination which has subsequently been confirmed by Professors Muller
and Agassiz. Mr. Dixon, of Worthing, has discovered many fossil vertebre in the
Eocene tertiary clay at Bracklesham, which belong to a large species of an extinct
genus of serpent (Palgophis), founded on similar vertebre from the same formation in
the Isle of Sheppey. The largest of these ancient British snakes was 20 feet in
length ; but there is no evidence that they were marine.

“The sea saurians of the secondary periods of geology have been replaced in the
tertiary and actual seas by marine mammals. No remains of Cetacea have been
found in lias or oolite, and no remains of Plesiosaur, or Ichthyosaur, or any other se-
condary reptile, have been found in Eocene or later tertiary deposits, or recent, on the
actual sea-shores, and that the old air-breathing saurians floated when they died has
been shown in the ‘ Geological Transactions’ (vol. v., second series, p. 512). The in-
ference that may reasonably be drawn from no recent carcass or fragment of such
having ever been discovered, is strengthened by the corresponding absence of any trace
of their remains in the tertiary beds.

‘** Now, on weighing the question, whether creatures meriting the name of ‘ great
sea-serpent’ do exist, or whether any of the gigantic marine saurians of the secondary
deposits may have continued to live up to the present time, it seems to me less proba-
ble that no part of the carcass of such reptiles should have ever been discovered in a
recent or unfossilized state, than that men should have been deceived by a cursory
view of a partly submerged and rapidly moving animal, which might only be strange
to themselves. In other words, I regard the negative evidence from the utter absence
of any of the recent remains of great sea-serpents, krakens, or Enaliosauria, as stronger
against their actual existence than the positive statements which have hitherto weighed
with the public mind in favour of their existence. A larger body of evidence from
eye-witnesses might be got together in proof of ghosts than of the sea-serpent.
RicHarpD OwEn, Lincoln’s Inn Fields, November 9, 1848.”—From the ‘ Times.’

The Great Sea-Serpent. By C. CocswE1t1, M.D., F.L.S., &e.

“ The great sea-snake’s the subject of my verse :
For though mine eyes have never yet beheld him,
Nor ever shall desire the hideous sight,

Yet many accounts of men, of truth unstained,
Whose every word I firmly do believe,

Show it to be a very frightful monster.
* * * * *

Methinks he seems another Behemoth,
Or the Leviathan, who doth despise
All arms, as swords, and guns, and glittering spears,
For iron is to him like straw or flax,
And copper like the twigs that bend or break,
For thus he is described in Holy Writ.”
Mr. John Dass, quoted by Pontoppidan.

Ir grows more and more necessary every day to acknowledge the eaistence of a vast
form of marine animal bearing some resemblance to a serpent. The recent letter of

Reptiles. 2317

Captain M’Quhe to the Admiralty (Zool. 2307), allows of no other alternative than
either to admit the evidence, or invent some still more extraordinary hypothesis to ex-
plain it away. The form and bearings of the stranger have been duly reported at
_ head quarters, and no more deserve to be called in question, as regards the fidelity of
the narrator, than the existence of any commissioned “ Snake ” or ‘‘ Anaconda,” whose
station and appointments we find recorded in the daily press. No preternatural mes-
senger in “the shape that tempted Eve,”— he passes by on the other side without
manifesting the slightest degree of interest in human affairs; no phantom progeny of
light and air, although affecting latterly the same haunts as the ‘‘ Flying Dutchman,”
—he steers himself by compass, and is the herald of no signal disaster; no herd of
porpoises disporting all in a row, and joined together by some Dedalian process of
imagination into the semblance of unity—his head is “ decidedly that of a snake,’—
he carries it for twenty minutes at a time out of the water; and his body is seen for a
continuous length of sixty feet on a level with the surface. From the standard jest of
the witty, and the discarded problem of the wise, he has shown himself likely to be
“no joke” for his physical prowess, and well deserving the gravest scientific inquiry.

To show what a formidable and unyielding front has been heretofore opposed to
him, I shall quote a passage from the article under the head of ‘ Serpents,’ in the last
edition of the ‘ Encyclopedia Britannica’ (1842): ‘“ No proper proof has yet been ad-
duced of any of these species (sea-serpents) inhabiting the ‘ American Ferry, as we
see that world of waters now named since the steaming days of the British Queen and
Great Western. M. Schlegel characterises the statement as an assertion que je puis
contredire avec certitude :” and the author adds, “ we shall content ourselves by stating
that sea-serpents have not yet been observed in the Atlantic Ocean.” The following
notice occurs in a popular compilation of the animal kingdom just issued from the
press (1848) : “ Sea-serpent (or the Kraken). The appearance of this fabulous monster
is thus accounted for by Mr. A. Adams. In the Sooloo seas I have often watched the
phenomenon which first gave rise to the marvellous stories of the great sea-serpent,
viz., lines of rolling porpoises resembling a long string of buoys oftentimes extending
seventy, eighty, or one hundred yards. These constitute the so-named protuberances
of the monster’s back, keep in close single file, progressing rapidly along the calm
surface of the water,” &c. Had the fabulous serpent in Aisop, who complained of
being “a multis hominibus pessumdatus,” been aware of what was laid up in the fates
for his aquatic relative, no doubt he would have ceased to repine at his own hard lot.

The official corroboration of the fundamental truth of these “ marvellous stories ”
is important, not only because the author under the circumstances must at least receive
credit for the most entire sincerity, but from the encouragement thus given to other
credible witnesses to bring forward their evidence. There is no reason to suppose
that even this would have been readily laid before the public, but for the desire ex-
pressed by the Board of Admiralty to learn the truth of an accidental rumour. As
regards any additional light thrown on the natural history of the animal, it is not more
satisfactory than many of the accounts we already possess. Indeed the paragraphs
which precede the captain’s letter in the ‘ Zoologist,’ viz., the extract from the journal
of Lieut Drummond, and the first public rumour as it appeared in the ‘ Times,’ tend
rather to confuse the official statement, and will no doubt be used to create suspicions
of its accuracy. The communication which follows it, purporting to give a report of
another specimen seen by an American captain, is supposed to be a “ hoax,” and as
such is worthy of preservation from the ingenuity it displays.

VI 3A

2318 Reptiles.

When a doctrine is assumed to be fanciful, people seldom take the trouble to ir-
quire into its history and merits. This may account for the sea-serpent being com-
monly confounded with a very different prodigy, too exacting in its claims for the
most extravagant credulity of modern days to regard with favour. As seen above, its
name and that of kraken are popularly used as synonymous. And nevertheless, Pon-
toppidan, Bishop of Bergen, whose ‘ Natural History of Norway’ (translated into
English in 1755) is the usual standard of authority on both subjects, treats of them
separately in appropriate sections of his work. Of the kraken he says, “ I come now
to the third, and incontestably the largest sea-monster in the world: it is called kraken,
krasen, or, as some name it, krabben, that word being applied by way of eminence to
this creature.” Its back or upper part he describes as truly gigantic, being a mile and
a half or more in circumference, and it is provided with limbs so strong as to be able
to pull boats and the smaller sailing craft under water. Some deem the original of
this story to have been a Sepia or Medusa of enormous size; others set it down for
an optical illusion; Pontoppidan himself thinks that “in all probability it may be
reckoned of the polypi or of the starfish kind.” One cannot help being reminded, on
reading the above, of the passage in Milton where he compares Satan, ‘‘ prone on the
flood,” to

“ That sea-beast
Leviathan, which God of all his works
Created hugest that swim the ocean stream ;
Him haply slumb’ring on the Norway foam,
The pilot of some small night-founder’d skiff
Deeming some island, oft, as seamen tell,
With fixed anchor in his scaly rind
Moors by his side under the lee, while night
Invests the sea, and wished-for morn delays.”

Commentators have been divided in opinion whether Milton supposed the leviathan to
be a crocodile or a whale. The former idea derives little support from the text; the
whale, which has only lately been divested of its “scaly rind,’ puts forward more
plausible pretensions: nevertheless, the vast bulk of the creature alluded to, and its
position, “ slumbering on the Norway foam,” suggest the inquiry whether the poet may
not have had in his mind a tradition of the kraken. I may mention here that the
Norwegian bishop believed that the leviathan of Job and Isaiah had been detected in the
sea-serpent. Of the latter animal Pontoppidan says, “ The sea-ormen, the sea-snake,
Serpens marinus magnus, called by some in this country the Aale Tust, is a wonder-
ful and terrible sea-monster, which extremely deserves to be taken notice of. This
creature, particularly in the North Sea, continually keeps himself in the bottom of the
water, except in the months of July and August, which is their spawning time, and
then they come to the surface in calm weather, but plunge into the water again as
soon as the wind raises the least wave.” He assures us that there were hundreds of
experienced and credible fishermen in Norway who could testify to their having an-
nually seen such animals, and that the traders from the North were as much surprised
to hear of any doubt being entertained of their existence as if they were asked
“ whether there be such things as eels or cod.”

It would serve little purpose to occupy these pages with mere copies of the pub-
lished narratives and depositiow tevding to prove the existence of the animal under

Reptiles. 2319

our consideration. Whatever discrepancies may perplex us with regard to subordinate
details, it is important to remember that the one ruling form, that of a serpent, is the
foundation of all the descriptions. The form may vary—in length, perhaps, from
forty to a hundred feet and upwards ; in the relative dimensions of the head and dif-
ferent parts of the body; in the presence or absence of a mane or paddles; and more

particularly with respect to an appearance of dorsal arches or elevations, rising above
the water like a row of casks or buoys. The greater part of the evidence on the sub-
ject is contained, I believe, in Pontoppidan’s ‘ Natural History of Norway’ (1755),
the ‘ Report of a Committee of the Linnean Society of New England relative to a
large Marine Animal, supposed to be a Serpent, seen near Cape Ann, Massachusets,
in August, 1817’ (Boston, 1817), and the last volume of ‘ The Zoologist’ (1847). In
the Scandinavian work the principal witness is Captain L. de Ferry, of the Navy, who
thus describes an individual which he saw while in a boat, rowed by eight men, within
six miles of Molde, in a calm hot day of August, 1747. “The head of the snake,
which it held more than two feet out of the water, resembled that of a horse. * *
It had black eyes, and a long white mane that hung down from the neck to the surface
of the water. Besides the head and neck we saw seven or eight folds or coils of the
snake, which were very thick, and, as far as we could guess, there was about a fathom
distance between each fold.” This declaration was attested on oath, before the civil
functionaries, by two of the crew. A drawing is annexed, copied under the inspection
of a clergyman, from a sketch of one seen by Governor Benstrup, representing a ser-
pent-like form with the head raised, and a long train of arches stretching beyond the
picture.

The Report of the Linnean Society of New England contains the results of an
inquiry by three of the members, concerning the existence and appearance of a sea-
serpent said to have been seen in the harbour of Gloucester, near Cape Ann, about
thirty miles from Boston. The depositions of eleven witnesses, “ of fair and un-
blemished characters,” were taken and certified on oath before local magistrates, one
of whom personally saw the object, and corroborates their statements on the material
points. It remained under observation from the 10th to the 28th of August inclusive.
The head is severally compared to that of a “‘ sea-turtle,” a “rattle-snake, but nearly
as large as the head ofa horse,” and a “ serpent.” Five of the deponents observed
dorsal protuberances ; two do not allude to them; while to the remaining four, whose
experience agrees with that of the magistrate who saw the animal, the back and body
appeared straight. The mode of progression was generally vertical, like that of a
caterpillar, from which circumstance the magistrate believes the appearance of protube-
rances to have arisen. The total length is variously estimated at from fifty to a hun-
dred feet. Colour, a dark brown, and, according to some, the under part of the head
and neck was marked with white. No mane was observed. ‘To the above are added
notices of sea-serpents seen by a clergyman and others on the coast of Maine for
many previous years. The Report concludes with a description of a snake captured
in the neighbourhood of Cape Ann, and supposed to be the young of the larger speci-
men: from appearing to possess the like peculiarity of dorsal arches, it was included
with its supposed parent under a new genus, and named the Scoliophis Atlanticus.
Further research, however, seems to have shown that the two animals were not con-
nected.

The tenor of the late observations in Norway recorded in the ‘ Zoologist’ (Zool.
1604) certainly might justify the inference that these so remarkable prominences are

2320 Reptiles.

not persistent, but depend, as suggested by the American functionary, on the mode of
progression practised at the moment. Anybody that has watched the lithe and varied
curves of an otter in the water can have no difficulty in reconciling together the dif-
ferent kinds of undulation attributed to the sea-serpent. There is one particular of
rare occurrence worthy of notice, in one of these later accounts, calling to mind a pe-
culiarity in the description of the animal seen by Mr. Egede, a Greenland missionary,
and furnished to us, with a copy of the figure, by Pontoppidan. This creature, of
the unusual length of 600 feet, “had under its body two flaps, or perhaps two broad
fins.” One of the recent narratives also states of the progressive movement, that it
appeared to be produced “ by the help of two fins” (Zool. 1607). Thus is offered a
possible solution of the difficulty occasioned by Captain M’Quhe’s specimen having
advanced at a rapid rate, with 60 feet of the body a fleur d’eau, without any visible
undulation.

Here I may refer to ‘The Description of an Animal stranded on the Island of
Stronsa, in the year 1808,’ given in the first volume of the ‘ Wernerian Transactions,’
by the late eminent Dr. Barclay. Evidently disposed to believe that this animal was
a sea-serpent, Dr. Barclay indignantly repudiates the opinion of Mr. Home, that it
was nothing more than a shark (Squalus maximus). Figures of the two are shown in
juxtaposition, for the purpose of contrasting them, and to all appearance their respect-
ive peculiarities are quite sufficient to entitle them to distinctive appellations. The
Orkney animal, in fact, bears a curious resemblance to a Plesiosaurus, with sia legs.
Nevertheless, anatomists have decided that a shark it really was, the anomalies being
accounted for by the circumstance of the drawing having been taken from hearsay
and under the supervision of persons who only saw the original in a very imperfect
state. The “animal of Stronsa” and the “ Scoliophis Atlanticus ” leave us equally
in the dark with regard to the physical economy of the sea-serpent; that is, unless
the solution offered by Drs. Mantell and Melville (Zool. 2310) shall prove to be correct.

From what precedes it is evident, First, that the notion of the sea-serpent is not a
mere growth of unlettered and credulous superstition, since it has been repeated and
confirmed by parties than whom it would be difficult to select any more worthy of con-
fidence, with this sole objection—that none of them have been naturalists. The
critical eye of a Muller or an Owen would determine its true affinities in a moment.
Secondly, that if we do the justice of rejecting all extraneous ideas, and confine our-
selves to what strictly relates to the object in question, there is a consistent tendency
in nearly all the different narratives to invest it with the true characters of the Repti-
lian class. Thirdly, that if there be any truth in the idea that the animal spends most
of its time under water, only rising to the surface in calm weather during the summer
months, this—however difficult to conceive of an air-breathing creature—in a great
measure accounts for the unfrequency of its occurrence. But are there no other
forms, even of the highest stage of organization, which have been able to conceal
themselves from the scrutiny of naturalists ? Not to speak of the minor accessions of
unknown species, coming in to adorn our collections and extend the limits of science,
it deserves to be borne in mind that perhaps the very chief of all the Quadrumana
(Troglodytes gorilla of Savage), the being that holds the foremost rank in the scale next
to man, is one of the most recent contributions of the African Fauna. At the beginning
of this century, a cetaceous animal (Physeter bidens of Sowerby), sixteen feet long,
was cast ashore on the coast of Elginshire. The species had been previously un-
described, and not another example is commonly believed to have since occurred.

Reptiles. 2321

From the difficulty of assigning it a place, it has been the subject of no fewer than
four or five generic appellations, and is finally referred, by my friend Dr. Melville, to
the Delphinorhynchus micropterus of Dumortier, two other specimens of which only
exist, the one stranded at Havre, the other at Ostend. Were this animal known only
by tradition, is it improbable that naturalists would have refused it their sanction,
under an impression that a species of such individual magnitude could not possibly
have escaped being captured and subjected to their criticism? And yet the recogni-
tion of the great Physeter bidens is purely the result of an accident!

If the reptilian nature of this mysterious creature be supposed to have been esta-
blished, it becomes an interesting speculation to consider how far the stories of terrific
dragons, transmitted to us by the ancients, had their origin in realities with which they
were more conversant than ourselves. The sea-serpent, if a real existence, is of no
modern creation. Our forefathers must have seen it. The utmost length at present
allowed to land-snakes is twenty-five feet (Schlegel). Nevertheless, the very important
part sustained by the serpent in the old mythologies,—its imposing magnitude and
prowess, as celebrated by historians and poets,—and its consequence in the romantic
anaals of the middle ages, will instil a suspicion that, perhaps, not the biographers of
snakes were mendacious, but their heroes, like those of “the last minstrel,” have
changed or disappeared in the progress of civilization. It is without the slightest
idea of attaching any overstrained importance to the following passages that I venture
to quote them, as proving that the idea of serpents frequenting and traversing the sea
was at least not repugnant to ancient prejudices. The avenging ministers of Minerva,
crossing the Augean on their mission to destroy Ladcoon, might be vindicated by an
ardent classic as the model from which the moderns have often plagiarised their
descriptions of the sea-serpent. .

“ Ecce autem gemini a Tenedo tranquilla per alta
(Horresco referens) immensis orbibus angues
Incumbunt pelago, pariterque ad litora tendunt :
Pectora quorum inter fluctus arrecta, jubeque
Sanguinee exuperant undas; pars cetera pontum
Pone legit, sinuatque immensa volumine terga.
Fit sonitus spumante salo.”— Virgil.

The poet, too, is sustained by the naturalist, for here we have Pliny (whose facts
by the way deserve to have inspired the apophthegm that “ truth is stranger than fic-
tion”) telling how the African dracones were wont to club together and brave the
perils of the Red Sea, in quest of the more luxurious diet of Arabia: “ Narratur in
maritimis eorum quaternos quinosque inter se cratium modo implexos erectis capiti-
bus velificantes, ad meliora pabula Arabie vehi fluctibus.” * —(Plin. Hist. Nat.
viii. 13).

* A writer in one of the daily papers, after suggesting whether the animals under
discussion might not be full-grown specimens of the Saccopharynx flagellum of Dr.
Mitchell (described in the ‘Annals of the New York Lyceum of Natural History,’ for
March, 1824), or of the Ophiognathus ampullaceus of Dr. Harwood (Phil. Trans.
1827), gives Captain M’Quhe the benefit of a further conjecture, viz., whether some
land species, as the boas, among which are individuals “ forty feet” in length, may

2322 Reptiles.

On a former vecasion (Zool. 1841) I took advantage of the rare opportunity afforded
for the discussion of the subject by the conductor of this journal, for the purpose of
showing, first, that sea-serpents as a family have long been perfectly recognized in
science, and that therefore the name itself should inspire no sentiment of ridicule ;
and next, of remarking that strange as are the properties attributed to the great sea-
serpent, there are remains of a former world in our museums which in their perfect
state united them all, or nearly all. Encouraged by the Editor’s referring them to the
Enaliosauri [Zool. LIV. Wrapper] I ventured to name the Plesiosaurus as the marine
animal of our acquaintance to which they bear the nearest resemblance. This, al-
though admitted at the time to be a daring breach of the Draconic laws of geology,—
laws which, having once consigned an organized form to extinction, have very rarely
relaxed their rigour,—seemed to be a necessary result of the argument par voie d’ex-
clusion : if not a Plesiosaurus what else is it likely to be, allowing the descriptions to
be at all correct? Is it an anomalous shark? and does the “animal of Stronsa ”
after all furnish the real key to the problem? The affirmative side of the question is
not without at least two very able supporters (see Zool. 2310); and yet how to
reconcile the characteristics of any possible shark with the serpent-like head, curved
neck, mane, or certainly very equivocal dorsal fin, and the protuberances so often men-
tioned, it is difficult to imagine. A recent correspondent of the ‘ Times’ (Zool. 2311)
calls attention to the striking resemblance between the sea-serpent and the Plesiosau-
rus, and is surprised at its never having occurred to any one before. If the signature
F.G.S. implies that the writer is a Fellow of the Geological Society, it is satisfactory
to find a member of that particular body, whose favour was least to be expected, so
pleased with the idea as to be willing to adopt it for his own. It had, however, been
repeated and widely circulated by other periodicals. In the words of an elegant
contributor in ‘Chambers’ Edinburgh Journal, who alludes to it, “ one could al-
most suppose that among the buried learning of the earlier nations there lurked some

not sometimes betake themselves to the sea, or even “ transport themselves from one
continent to another.” The former question need not detain us, as neither of the spe-
cimens exceeded six feet in length. The latter, as more likely to meet with favour,
deserves remark, Whatever support its author can derive from the passages here
quoted is at his disposal, and also the circumstance which he might have adduced of
a large boa constrictor having been conveyed to the island of St. Vincent (twisted
round the trunk of a cedar tree), carried away, as is supposed, from the banks of some
South-American river. This occurrence is quoted by Sir Charles Lyell from the
Zoological Journal of December, 1827 (‘ Principles of Geology’). Nevertheless, all
idea of the identity of the sea-serpents in question and land-serpents is easily set at
rest. In the first place, M. Schlegel (whose authority his translator, Professor Traill,
esteems very highly) limits the length of the greatest known serpent to twenty, or, at
most, twenty-five feet. Secondly, the largest snakes, as the boas and pythons, are un-
known in Norway or the Eastern States of America, the adjoining seas of which are
most frequented by “ the great sea-serpents.” Thirdly, the two hemispheres, whatever
community of birds and mammals they may exhibit, never interchange their reptiles.
“ All the reptiles of the New World constantly belong to species different from those
of the Ancient World.”—(‘ Physiognomy of Serpents’).

Reptiles. 2323

knowledge of geology, seeing how their ideas about dragous come to such a conformity
in some respects, with the realities uf these preadamite reptiles.”

The determination of a great marine species, however, and even a knowledge of
_ its habits and influence on the other inhabitants of the deep, are not, as I conceive,
the most obvious advantages to be desired from the settlement of this question. Let
it be admitted that a huge unknown creature of any description, provided its general
appearance is such as to redeem the various historians of the great sea-serpent from
the charge of wilful deception, does “ swim the ocean stream,” and the value of the
result cannot be too easily over-estimated. The cui bono philosopher, the bugbear of
naturalists, will no doubt have been highly amused with the recent excitement about
a discovery that at first sight appears of no practical consequence to the interests of
man. I know of no subject of research he would be likely to seize upon with more
secure self-complacency—nor of one which, though indirectly, supplies a more trium-
phant answer. To have our failing confidence in the value of human testimony reas-
sured (and no evidence can be more solemn than that which relates to the sea-serpent),
is surely no trifling gain of itself. But more than this: no circumstance has tended
so emphatically to stamp the “ Yankee” character with the stain of a bold and un-
scrupulous love of fiction and exaggeration as the story of the sea-serpent. Perhaps,
on the principle of Mr. Warren’s “ man about town,” who, being called a splendid
sinner, made it his pride to deserve the title, the thoughtless portion of our Trans-
atlantic family (the generous tribute of an Agassiz is sufficient warrant for the savans)
may have thence been led to indulge in a dangerous style of humour, through a spirit
of bravado. This source of misunderstanding once removed, the American character
may afterwards be regarded with more respect, and the people themselves—no longer
excited to defy the ridicule they were not able to escape—may sober down to the
legitimate standard of reason. |

C. CoGswELt.
November, 1848.

The Great Sea-Serpent.—“ Professor Owen correctly states [Zool. 2312] that I
‘evidently saw a large creature moving rapidly through the water very different from
anything I had before witnessed, neither a whale, a grampus, a great shark, an alli-
gator, nor any of the. larger surface-swimming creatures fallen in with in ordinary
voyages.’ I now assert—neither was it a common seal nor a sea-elephant, its great
length and its totally differing physiognomy precluding the possibility of its being a
‘ Phoca’ of any species. The head was flat, and not a ‘ capacious vaulted cranium;’
nor had it ‘a stiff inflexible trunk’—a conclusion to which Professor Owen has
jumped, most certainly not justified by the simple statement, that no ‘ portion of the
60 feet seen by us was used in propelling it through the water, either by vertical or
horizontal undulation.’

** It is also assumed that the ‘ calculation of its length was made under a strong
preconception of the nature of the beast;’ another conclusion quite the contrary to
the fact. It was not until after the great length was developed by its nearest approach
to the ship, and until after that most important point had been duly considered and

2324 Reptiles— Fishes.

debated, as well as such could be in the brief space of time allowed for so doing, that
it was pronounced to be a serpent by all who saw it, and who are too well accustomed
to judge of lengths and breadths of objects in the sea to mistake a real substance and
an actual living body, coolly and dispassionately contemplated, at so short a distance
too, for the ‘eddy caused by the action of the deeper immersed fins and tail of a
rapidly-moving gigantic seal raising its head above the surface of the water,’ as Pro-
fessor Owen imagines, in quest of its lost iceberg.

“‘ The creative powers of the human mind may be very limited. On this occasion
they were not called into requisition, my purpose and desire being, throughout, to
furnish eminent naturalists, such as the learned Professor, with accurate facts, and not
with exaggerated representations, nor with what could by any possibility proceed from
optical illusion ; and I beg to assure him that old Pontoppidan having clothed his
sea-serpent with a mane could not have suggested the idea of ornamenting the creature
seen from the Dedalus with a similar appendage, for the simple reason that I had
never seen his account, or even heard of his sea-serpent, until my arrival in London.
Some other solution must therefore be found for the very remarkable coincidence be-
tween us in that particular, in order to unravel the mystery.

“ Finally, I deny the existence of excitement or the possibility of optical illusion.
I adhere to the statements, as to form, colour and dimensions, contained in my official
report to the Admiralty, and I leave them as data whereupon the learned and scien-
tific may exercise the ‘ pleasures of imagination’ until some more fortunate opportu-
nity shall occur of making a closer acquaintance with the ‘ great unknown ’—in the
present instance most assuredly no ghost. P. M’QuH4, late Captain of Her Majesty’s
ship Dedalus.”—‘ Times, November 21, 1848. .

Peculiarity in the Eyes of Frogs.—When lately examining a specimen of the
edible frog, I unintentionally touched one of bis eyes, on which he immediately closed
that eye, and very soon afterwards the other, and drew them into his head until they were
perfectly on a level with its surface: after the lapse of half a minute he slowly opened
and projected one eye, and then the other, until both had assumed their ordinary pro-
jecting appearance: on repeating the experiment I found that he could withdraw or
project them at pleasure, after the manner of a snail’s horns, although of course the
operation is a much less observable one. I am not certain that the other British frog
has the same power, but I think it extremely improbable that a discrepancy in such a
character should exist between two species so closely allied Edward Newman.

Capture of an enormous Trout at Drayton Manor.—A trout weighing upwards of
21 tbs., and measuring 413 inches in length, was taken, on the 4th of November,
in a small tributary of the Trent, on the property of Sir Robert Peel, at Drayton
Manor. It was transmitted to London by Sir Robert, and a faithful portrait of the
fish has been painted for the honorable baronet by Mr. Waterhouse Hawkins.—Ed-
ward Newman.

Crustacea. 2325

Occurrence of a New British Crab (Dromia vulgaris) on the Coast of Sussex.—As
many as nine full-sized specimens of this remarkable crab have been dredged by fisher-
men on the coast of Sussex: the first of these was noticed by Mr. George Ingall,
_ through whose kindness I had the opportunity of showing it to Mr. Bell, who imme-
diately recognised it as a Dromia. Mr. White, of the British Museum, informs me
that it is the Dromia vulgaris of Milne-Edwards (Crust. ii. 173, pl. 21, fig. 5). It is
described in Cuvier’s ‘ Régne Animal’ (iv. 69) as the type of Dromia, and Rumph
(Mus. xi. 1) and Herbst (xviii. 103) are referred to. It is the Cancer dormia of Linneus ;
the name of dormia perhaps referring to its extremely sedentary and lethargic habits:
in this respect it is so remarkable that the carapace is often completely covered with
sponges and other marine productions that have attached themselves, and these some-
times inclose the two smaller pairs of legs which are placed on the back of the cara-
pace. This crab is said to be found in the seas of all temperate and tropical regions :

Dromia vulgaris, of the natural size.

the carapace is clothed with a uniform brown velvet down, and the legs, especially the
larger or anterior pair, are covered with long hair, except the claws, which are per-
fectly smooth and polished, of a beautiful rose-colour, and strongly toothed. I much
regret that I have had no practice in describing Crustacea, and am therefore at present
unable to furnish its technical characters with any degree of precision; but I have
made a rough drawing of a specimen of the average size, which will give a tolerably
correct idea of its general appearance. The first specimen was taken near Beachy
Head: others have been taken off Hastings; and Mr. Bell informs me he has since
received others from near Worthing.— Edward Newman ; October 20, 1848.

VI op

2326 Crustacea.

Suggestions for obtaining Crustacea.—The ‘ Zoologist’ opened its pages for te-
marks upon the species of every department of the animal kingdom. A glance, how-
ever, at the contents of almost any one of its numbers, will show that the space
occupied severally by these departments is varied, and bears no due proportion to the
number or interest of the beings that fill the different classes. It appears, then, from
the correspondents of the Editor, that the quadrupeds have barely had their due in
this respect,—the birds perhaps their fair proportion,—while the insects of Britain
have caused more communications, if not occupied more space, than all that has been
written in the ‘ Zoologist’ of other animals. There is one division which seems to
have been almost entirely neglected—the Crustacean. The remarks on the members
of this department are few and far between. To say they are less beautiful when
seen, or less interesting when observed by the eye of the naturalist, than any other ob-
jects of his research, is not correct, and must not be sustained as a sufficient answer
for the paucity of the remarks regarding them that have hitherto appeared in the
* Zoologist. Two better-founded reasons may be assigned, viz., the difficulty of ob-
taining any variety of the species, and the absence of any modern systematic guide
illustrating and determining the British Crustacea. The latter of these two reasons
is now, and has been for the last four years, in the course of being remedied by the
publication of the admirable ‘ History’ by Professor Bell, with which the great fault
that is to be found is the provoking time it is taking to drag its slow length out of the
printer’s hands. The following are the dates of its publication as given on the wrap-
pers of the different numbers: No.1, on October 1, 1844; No. 2, December do.;
No. 3, May do. (but surely 1845); No. 4, January 1, 1846; No. 5, January 1, 1847;
and No. 6, January 1, 1848 ; being four years in issuing six numbers—not 300 pages
in all. Why is this, when Forbes and Hanley’s coloured work on the Mollusca of
Britain, by the same publisher, has reached the ninth number since the present year
began? But still the ‘ History of the British Crustacea’ is in progress, and many a
reader of the ‘ Zoologist’ may have got its six numbers, or may live to see the work
' completed. Yet they may exclaim, “ Well, we have got the book, but how are the
animals, of which it treats so well, to be laid hold of? ‘Call spirits from the vasty
deep, but will they come?’” Adredge! “Oh! a dredge requires a yacht, or at
least a boat, &c., &c. Moreover, were these in possession, the waves of the briny deep
are apt to cause such unpleasant ‘ antiperistaltic ’ motions, that the Portunus depur-
tator, &c., would far more likely have a dinner than death from our attempts to dredge
them from their submarine retreats.” But the seashore! “ Well, a little may be
done in that way; but by those only who live near it, as many years may be spent be-
fore a tolerable collection could be formed from among the rejectamenta of the sea.”
Let all this be granted. There yet remains another source from which many good
specimens and a great variety of Crustaceans may be readily got, viz., from the
stomachs of fish—particularly of the cod; and these can be obtained by many who
reside at a distance from the shore. By a small douceur to the fisherman’s family,
and by the assistance of the fish-curer on the coast, the fishmonger of the large town,
or of some acquaintance in the fishing village, it is believed that almost any number
of these now useless receptacles could be obtained. It may excite at first a little nau-
sea to open up and examine these omnivorous reservoirs, but this will soon pass off;
and were it of longer continuance than it is, the stores to be unfolded would amply
compensate for all the disagreeable feeling that may for a time arise. It is not only

Crustacea. 23237

the Crustacean that is thus gathered from the inaccessible depths of the ocean, but
often the rare shell, with its still rarer inhabitant. The radiated animal and the cu-
rious Zoophyte will also be found congregated together there ; all of them no doubt at
times mutilated or partly digested, but not unfrequently fresh and complete, as if newly
past the voracious jaws.

Through the agency of Widow Scott and her son John, of the fishing village of
Stotfield, some stomachs, chiefly of the cod-fish, were procured and examined last
winter and spring, fully eight miles inland from the southern shores of the Moray
firth, and the following species, of those as yet published in Bell’s ‘ Crustacea,’ were
identified as denizens of this arm of the German Ocean.

Long-legged Spider Crab (Bell’s Hist. p. 2). Three specimens.

Slender Spider Crab (p. 6). Two specimens, mutilated, but enough left to show
the species. ;

Scorpion Spider Crab (p. 13). One specimen, imperfect; but the four small cha-
racteristic tubercles distinct on the carapace.

Inachus Dorynchus (p. 16). One specimen.

Slender-legged Spider Crab (p. 18). Five specimens of this very rare Crustacean,
some of them perfect, others without the full complement of legs; but the carapace
whole in all the five.

Hyas araneus (p. 31). Many specimens of this crab have been found. Six of
them were taken from two ordinary-sized stomachs, and measured from 14 to 23 inches
long. Another, 3 inches long by 24 broad, was found on the shore of the Moray firth,
near Stotfield. It seems to be a Crustacean as often preyed upon by the fish of the
firth as any other, perhaps more so, judging from its frequent appearance in the
stomachs hitherto examined in this district.

Hyas coarctatus (p. 35). Although not so often met with as the preceding, yet by
no means rare. Two very small, probably young, specimens have also been taken and
preserved.

Cancer Pagurus, “ the parten” (p. 59), and Carcinas Meenas, “ the crab” (p. 76),
are far more seldom met with in the stomachs of fish than their numbers along the
shores of the firth would lead one to expect. This may be owing to their living nearer
land than the feeding-ground of the fish.

Portumnus variegatus. Several rather bleached specimens were last month picked
up on the shore near the Covesea lighthouse.

Portunus. At least two species of this genus have been collected. They forma
considerable portion of the contents of some stomachs.

Pennant’s Ibalia (p. 141). Two specimens of this most beautiful species; one of
them complete.

Circular Crab (p. 153). By no means rare. As often found in the stomachs
hitherto examined as any other species, excepting Hyas araneus.

Pagurus Bernhardus (p. 171). In great abundance and variety, as to size, among
rocks within tide-mark.

Minute Porcelain Crab (p. 193). Found at times very plentiful, both in the
stomachs of cod and haddock, and also among the roots of the larger Fuci on the
shore, and on the rocks called ‘ Haliman’s skerries.’

Galathea. At least two species of this genus have been found.

Munida. Some years ago a long-armed Munida, if recollection serves aright, was
obtained from the roots of Fuci lying on the shore, and sent to Professor Bell.

2328 Arachnida— Insects.

Homarus vulgaris (p. 242). The lobster, owing to the perseverance with which it
is now fished for, is not so often met with as formerly on the Moray firth.

Norway Lobster (p. 251). Twice was this elegant species found; or, rather, part
of one specimen on the first occasion, in the shape of its two handsome fore-legs ; and,
some weeks afterwards, six or seven specimens, some of them entire.

For the short time that has been spent in the search, the above list of species may
be regarded as no mean beginning—particularly when they are all from a part of the
coast, of which few or no other species but the hermit and common crabs, the “ parten”
and the lobster, were formerly known to be denizens. In the study of Botany, the
distribution and exchange of specimens have been carried to a great extent and with
the happiest result. Why has not the same plan been adopted in Zoology? Let this
be tried with the Crustaceans ; and this little-known but interesting class will by-and-
by obtain and hold their due place and portion in the pages of the ‘ Zoologist.’ The
Norway lobster would be exchanged for a cray-fish of the South ; the Portumnus of
the Pentland firth would take the place in the cabinet of the duplicates gathered in
Mount’s Bay. New forms and species would be detected; and thus a more correct
and intimate acquaintance with these animals would be gained than what now obtains
generally among naturalists—G. Gordon ; Birnie, by Elgin, N. B., October 10, 1848.

On the Sense of Touch in Spiders.—Whether the spider is informed of the capture
of an insect by the sense of touch or by that of sight has been somewhat disputed.
The following circumstances, which I have repeatedly observed during the present
month, tend, I think, to prove that it mainly relies upon the former. When a large
insect is captured, the spider usually goes directly to the attack ; but when a minute
insect falls into the net of an Epeira, she seems to be at first in doubt as to its position,
and applies her feet successively to different radii of the net to determine its direction.
It is worthy of notice that this examination is made with more care in windy weather,
when the spider seems evidently to discriminate by touch whether the vibration she
perceives is caused by the wind or by a captured insect.—J. W. Slater ; Fairfield,
October, 1848.

Capture of Lepidoptera near Northfleet, Kent.—The following list contains a few
of my best captures this season, in this district, which may some day be of service to
entomologists.

Lithosia aureola. Twenty-four specimens, on the tops of young oaks, May,
Swanscombe Wood.

Agrotis corticea. One, on sugar, July, Northfleet.

Agrotis fumosa. Six, on sugar, July and August, Northfleet.

Agrotis nigricans var. ruris. Two, on sugar, July and August, Northfleet.

Agrotis tritici. Six, on sugar, July and August, Northfleet.

Agrotis aquilina, Four, on sugar, July and August, Northfleet.

Insects. 2329

Graphiphora ravida, One, on sugar, August, Northfleet.
Mythimna conigera. Three, on sugar, July, Northfleet.
Xylophasia characterea. Three, on sugar, June, Northfleet.
Hadena geniste. One, on an old stump, May, Swanscombe Wood.
Mamestra nigricans. Five, on sugar, August, Northfleet.
Miselia conspersa. Three, at rest on trunks, May.
Polia tincta. Three, on Dartford fence, June.
Polia dysodea. Five, on flowers in our garden, June.
Polia serena. Six, on flowers in our garden, June.
Apatela aceris. Three, at rest on trunks, June.
Erastria fuscula. Two, beat out of oaks, June, Swanscombe Wood.
Biston prodromarius. One, March, on a trunk, Swanscombe Wood.
Hemithea vernaria. Three, June, beat out of bushes, Northfleet.
Cleora bajularia. One, June, beat out of a bush, Greenhithe Wood.
Alcis roboraria. Six, May and June, Greenhithe Wood.
Boarmia extersaria. Four, May and June, Greenhithe Wood.
Phibalapteryx vitalbata. One, September, beat out of a bush in the chalk-pits,
Northfleet.
Eupithecia V-ata. Two, May, beat out of a bush in the chalk-pits, Northfleet.
Eupithecia piperata. One, July, Southend, Essex.
Bapta bimaculata. One, Swanscombe Wood, May.
Emmelesia bifasciata. ‘Two, in the chalk-pits, Northfleet, August.
Emmelesia rusticata. Eight, on an elm bush, Northfleet, July.
Ptychopoda ornata. One, chalk-pits, Northfleet, August.
Acidalia pallidaria. Thirty, among rushes, July, Southend, Essex.
Drepana hamula. Two, Swanscombe Wood, May.
Polypogon barbalis. Twelve, Swanscombe Wood, May and June.
Agrotera flamealis. Eighteen, among broom, Swanscombe Wood, August.
Simaethis lutosa. One, Swanscombe Wood, September.
Pyrausia porphyralis. Fifteen, chalk-pits, Northfleet, on wild marjoram, July.
Margaritia ochrealis. One, Southend, July. .
Margaritia cinctalis. One, Southend, July.
Nola monachalis. Five, on trunks, Swanscombe Wood, May and July.
Nola strigulalis. 'Two, on trunks, Swanscombe Wood, May.
Lozotenia roborana. One, beat out of an oak, Swanscombe Wood.
Ditula ethiopana. One, beat out of an oak, Swanscombe Wood, August.
Antithesia cupriana,n.sp. One, Swanscombe Wood, July. Mr. Weir took five
specimens prior to mine: to him I am indebted for the name.
Spinolota fenella. Twelve, on wormwood, chalk-pits, Northfleet, July.
Pseudotomia artemisie. Twelve, on wormwood, chalk-pits, Northfleet, July.
Pseudotomia fraternana. One, Swanscombe Wood, May.
Pseudotomia costipunctana. One, Bean Wood, May.
Anchylopera obtusana. Six, Bean Wood, May.
Anchylopera diminutana. One, Swanscombe, June.
Parcuana. Six, Greenhithe Wood, June.
Carpocapsa splendana. ‘Two, Greenhithe Wood, July.
Carpocapsa Rheediella. One, Greenhithe Wood, May.

2330 Insects.

Calipteryx citrana. Thirty, July, Southend.

Adela fasciella. 'Twelve, on marsh mallow, Southend, July. ;

Adela Latreillella. One, May, Greenhithe Wood. |

Sericoris marmoretana, Three, chalk-pits, Northfleet, July. |

Eupecilia maculosana. Twelve, Swanscombe Wood, end of May.

Eupecilia permistana. Three, Swanscombe Wood, end of May.

Eupecilia dubitana. Two, chalk-pits, Northfleet, July.

Phtheochroa rugosana. Four, chalk-pits, Northfleet, May.

Depressaria apicella. One, on broom, Swanscombe Wood, September.

Anacampsis maculella. Six, on trunks, Swanscombe Wood, July and August.

Anacampsis tricolorella. Six, on trunks, Swanscombe Wood, July and August.

Anacampsis punctella. One, on a trunk, Swanscombe Wood.

Anacampsis alacella (lentiginosella). One, out of an oak, July.

Anacampsis alternella. One, trunk of an oak, May.

Anacampsis affinis. One, Swanscombe, June.

Anacampsis quadripuncta. ‘Three, chalk-pits, Northfleet, May.

Anacampsis lactella. One, Greenhithe Wood, June.

Anacampsis atra. One, chalk-pits, Northfleet, June.

Anacampsis subocellea (Bentley). This species was in abundance on wild marjoram.
In July one evening I fortunately set a dozen specimens. I cannot find any of our
southern entomologists that know the species at all. I give my name on the authority
of Mr. Weir, that gentleman having seen a specimen in Mr. Shepherd’s collection.
I have seen subocellea in Mr. Desvignes’ cabinet, which is certainly a very different
species.

Cleodora silacella. One, chalk-pits, Northfleet, July.

Acompsia tinctella. Two, chalk-pits, Northfleet, July.

Acompsia unitella. Eight, Swanscombe, May.

Acompsia cinerella. One, in broom, Swanscombe, August.

Argyrosetia Brockella. One, Greenhithe Wood, July.

Argyromiges lautella. One, Swanscombe Wood, May.

Argyromiges omissella. Three, chalk-pits, on wormwood, Northfleet, July.

Argyromiges pomonella. Six, chalk-pits, on wormwood, Northfleet, July.

Argyromiges tristrigella. Twelve, on oaks, Swanscombe Wood, September.

Argyromiges Frelichiella. One, Swanscombe Wood, May.

Argyromiges corylifoliella. Eight, chalk-pits, on whitethorn, May.

Argyromiges spinolella. One, Swanscombe.

Microsetia Stephensella (Douglas). One, Swanscombe, May.

Callisto fusco-cuprella. Four, Swanscombe, May.

Astyages gryphipennella.. Two, Swanscombe, May.

Porrectaria lineola. Six, on wormwood, chalk-pits, Northfleet, July.

Aphelosetia triatomea. Three, chalk-pits, Northfleet, July.

Batia Panzerella. Six, Swanscombe Wood, May.

Batia flavifrontella. Two, Swanscombe Wood, June.

Eudorea pallida. Two, below Gravesend, July.

Eudorea resinea. Three, Greenhithe Woods, July.

Phycita nebulella. Nine, chalk-pits, Northfleet, July.

Phycita Evelykella (Doubleday). Eight, among blackthorn, Southend, July.

Insects. 2331

Oncocera Cardui. Four, on thistles, chalk-pits, Northfleet, July.

Oncocera lotella. Two, Southend, July.

Crambus falsellus. Twelve, on a barn end, Swanscombe, July.

Lampronia auroguttella. One, Greenhithe Wood, July.

Pterophorus megadactylus. Four, Southend, July—QJ. B. Hodgkinson ; 1, Har-
man’s Cottages, Northfleet, Kent, October 22, 1848.

Inquiry respecting Colias Edusa.—Have any of your entomological correspondents
seen or heard of this insect occurring during the past summer? As far as my recol-
lection serves, the present and the preceding are the only two years in which I have
wholly missed a sight of this richly tinted butterfly in this island, where in many sea-
sons it is even common amongst us.—W. Arnold Bromfield, M.D., F.L.S.; East-
mount, Ryde, Isle of Wight, October 6, 1848.

Occurrence of Sphinx Convolvuli at Battel.—This afternoon I received a most
magnificent female specimen of Sphinx Convolvuli. It had not been born more than
an hour. The margins and the “OO” on the outer edge of the anterior wing are
exceedingly well marked. It was found in the church-yard, on a low tombstone, but
though I searched diligently among the grass I could not find the chrysalis.—J. B.
Ellman ; Battel, October 7, 1848.

Occurrence of Deilephila Celerio in Cumberland.—Three specimens of Deilephila
Celerio have been obtained in Cumberland this year ; two near Carlisle, I am informed
by a young friend of mine, Mr. John Graham ; and a third near Cockermouth, which
is now in the cabinet of my friend J. W. Harris, Esq., of Pass Castle.—J. B. Hodg-
kinson : Northfleet, Kent, October, 1848.

Occurrence of Lophopteryx carmelita in Cumberland.—My friend Mr. Allis cap-
tured a pair of this rare Bombyx in April last; one on a birch stump, the other on
an old wall in a birch wood, near Barrow House, Keswick.—Id.

Occurrence of Graphiphora pyrophila and Agrotis nebulosa in Cumberland.—My
father obtained three or four fine specimens of Graphiphora pyrophila in the west of
Cumberland, taken near Maryport on the Solway Frith. Mr. Allis has a pair in his
possession which were captured in the same district, and a specimen of Agrotis nebu-
losa (ripe): this is the first time that the latter species has been taken in the north.—
Id.

Occurrence of Ephippiphora turbidana and Phycita abietella at Carlisle—My bro-
ther took above a score of Ephippiphora turbidana, last June or July, among the
common butterbur (Tussilago Petasttes). My father took a fine specimen of Phycita
abietella at Newby Cross, near Carlisle, last July : he beat it out of a fir.—Td.

Capture of Agrotis pascuea at Deal.—On a recent visit to this interesting locality
(last month) I was fortunate enough to take four specimens of this rare Noctua, on
blades of grass on the sand-hills, in the dusk of evening, evidently from their fine con-
dition, only just emerged from the chrysalis: this species appears rare, but widely dis-
tributed, having vccurred to my knowledge at Lewes, Little Hampton, Ventnor, Bide-
ford, Swanage, Yarmouth, and Lowestoft. I tried sugar, but could not get them to
come to it, my only visitors being Agrotis valligera, Calocampa vetusta, and a few
common species. I also met with Lixus bicolor, Hypera fasciculosa, and several other
rarities, recorded by Mr. Dawson (Zool. 2275).—Samuel Stevens ; Vine Cottage, Blyth
Lane, Hammersmith, Oct. 26, 1848.

Aberrant Economy in Tortrix viridana.—During an entomological ramble last

2332. Ae Insects.

June, my attention was arrested a the leafless and lifeless appearance eh a venerable
oak, which jp spring I had observed covered with luxuriant foliage. It stood alone,
and was not within fifty yards of any other tree. Curious to know the cause of this
unexpected change, I went to examine it, and found the trunk completely covered with
a fine transparent web ; and on closer inspection observed the crevices which time had
formed in the bark filled (I might say) with small pupe. In hopes of supplying some
desiderata I carried off vast numbers of them; but to my surprise they all turned out
to be examples of Tortrix viridana. . I say surprise, because I never found these pupe
otherwise than rolled up in a living oak leaf. «Here then is the interesting part,—leaves
were wanted for food, and as these larve: are not adapted for progressive motion, a mi-
gration to other trees, in this case, was all-but impracticable ; they must therefore make
the most of. their present supply, and it hecame necessar y to eat what, under other cir-
cumstances, would have formed a protection for the pupe; and they sought this pro-
tection in the crannies of the bark, as more nearly resembling their usual retreat than
any other that was attainable, for there was not a vestige of leaf left on the tree. And
even this economy did not appear to have afforded them a sufficiency of food, for most
of them were one-third less than the usual size, and their colour a more sickly green.
_ Nature is in general too sure a guide for me to suppose that the foliage was all

‘destroyed by this species, though they must have been very numerous; the probability
is that other larve, and of larger size, had considerable share in the devastation: but,
be that as it may, it was the expedient which instinct hit upon to supply a deficieney
which they could not have anticipated, that excited my admiration ; and it adds ano-
ther link to the chain which connects instinct with reason— W. Turner, M.A. ; Up-
pingham, November 8, 1848.

Economy of Melanoleuca dodecea.—In May last I captured several of this rare and
pretty ermine, at Darenth Wood, Kent, and as the history of them appears not to be
known I venture to supply that deficiency. The moths make their appearance at the
end of May, in woods, and lanes near woods, on Lithospermum officinale, and may be
seen on the tops of that plant: time of day or weather appear seldom to make them
quit their station: during heavy rains they only shift to some lower leaf, appearing
again on the tops as the rain ceases. They are very sluggish in their habits; but on
the least movement of the plant, in capturing them, they fall to the ground, where
they remain for a long time in a torpid state. They keep in good condition four or
five weeks. The caterpillar is bright yellow, with a broad white band down the back,
and one down the belly ; down the centre of each is a black line, but broken at each
segment of the body ; two rows of black patches along the sides, with a black dot be-
tween each ; some fine white hairs scattered about the body: when young they spin a
fine web on the under-side of the leaf, feeding on the soft part and leaving the upper
part untouched: when they get nearly full fed they leave off spinning webs, but still
keep feeding on the under-side of the leaf: like the moths, on the least movement of
the plant, they fall to the ground: in caterpillar from five to six weeks in August and
September: like the larve of the Tortricide, they travel backwarks or forwards: when
full fed they spin a strong white web among leaves and rubbish.—H. J. Harding ; 1,
York Street, Church Street, Shoreditch, November, 1848.

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