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THE ZOOLOGIST FOR 1851.
Pp. 2977—3312. Appendix cxxv.—clxxx.

LONDON:

PRINTED BY EDWARD NEWMAN, 9, DEVONSHIRE STREET,
BISHOPSGATE.

THE

ZOOLOGIST:

A

POPULAR MISCELLANY

oF

NATURAL HISTORY.

CONDUCTED BY

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

VOLUME THE NINTH.

LONDON:
JOHN VAN VOORST, PATERNOSTER ROW.

M.DCCC.LI.

“‘ He prayeth best, who loveth best,
All things both great and small ;
For the dear God who loveth us
He made and loveth all.”
CoLERIDGE’s ANCIENT MARINER.

PREFACE.

”

“ MANY waters cannot quench love ;” neither can the space which
separates me from my readers in any degree diminish the cordial
goodwill I feel for them. For months I look forward to this address
as to a pleasant meeting with friends, for such I consider all who read
the ‘ Zoologist:’ and it is the prayer of my heart that nothing may
ever interrupt the enjoyment I always experience when the meeting
at last takes place ; when in imagination I grasp a thousand friendly
hands ; when I see the smile of approbation illuminating a thousand
friendly countenances. At such a moment I reap the reward of a
twelvemonth’s labour, for labour assuredly it is, albeit a labour of love.
An Editor’s task is not always an easy one: he has his trials: the
inexorable first of every month arrives with a certainty and precision
that throws railway punctuality into the shade: it takes no account of
joy or of sorrow; of sickness or of health; of occupation or of leisure;
of abundance or of dearth as regards contributions : it demands the
new number, and will take no refusal — will accept no excuse. Nay!
it is still more unreasonable, it will listen to no argument, however
convincing: it is blind to circumstance; deaf toreason. Then again,
there is the invidious task of selection, the most distasteful of all an
Editor’s duties : in the largeness of his love he would reject nothing,
but there is a power that he must obey ; a very fastidious power too ;
a censorial power that can inflict the punishment of fine; that can
enforce its criticisms by an argument addressed to the purse-strings :
though he were overflowing with the cream of human kindness, an
Editor must wince a little under the infliction of censure undeserved,

v1 PREFACE.

of punishment which he could not escape. Such are his trials; but

“ Doth not a meeting like this make amends”

for a host of them? Am I not abundantly rewarded in the unwaver-
ing belief in your approbation? And do not you individually feel a
pleasure akin to my own in thus meeting him in whom you have for
the year vested a stewardship over your literary labours ?

Let us take a hasty glance at the year about to close. Let us exa-
mine what progress we have made. The great event of the year, that
which will distinguish it from all other years, is the gathering of na-
tions in London to gaze on the industrial produce of the world. Not
one of us can outlive the influence of that Exhibition. It will not
merely become an era in the past of individual life; but, in future
ages, will stand out in bold relief as a land-mark of time; and will
evoke the heartfelt homage of generations yet unborn, as just tribute
to the memory of that gracious Queen, and that wise and good Prince,
who so cordially assisted in carrying out a scheme which had the en-
nobling of man for its glorious end and aim. Its influence upon our
own science may perhaps be small, may perhaps disappoint the san-
guine ; but it would scarcely be compatible with the pure catholicity
of the design, that physical science, the history of unreasoning things,
should compete with the triumphant achievements of reasoning man.

No portion of the Exhibition was set apart for specimens of Natu-
ral History, yet a number of such appear here and there, scattered
among the produce of the different nations. In this way Canada, the
United States, Australia, New Zealand, Europe, and Great Britain,
have contributed ; and, with a few exceptions of insects and mam-
mals, the contributions have been confined to the feathered tribes.
In this department, Wurtemburg stands unrivalled. In this country
the art of bird-stuffing has, in a limited number of hands, attained
great excellence, and the modest aim of our greatest artists has been
to represent repose: in this no one has surpassed Henry Doubleday ;
there is a quiet truthfulness in his birds that defies criticism ; it con-
sists not in mere smoothness of feather, but in a faithful version of the

PREFACE. Vil

figure: he preserves the exact contour; like Bewick he is a student
of Nature, and so has transferred to the inanimate skin, as Bewick to
the inanimate wood, all the attributes of life that can exist without
absolute vitality : and, moreover, he never fails to place a bird on its
centre of gravity, a trait in which he stands almost alone. But the
Wurtemburg stuffers have done more than this: they have given an
appearance of intense life to their birds: a brood of owls is threatened
by a stoat; the old ones swell with truly parental rage, and the nest-
lings stare with as truly infantine wonderment: it is as though the
whole group was fixed in a moment of motionless energy ; each indi-
vidual is on the alert, but pausing, and it is just such a pause as
might occur in nature: another owl spreads out his wings, ruffles his
feathers, and turns his head completely over his shoulder, anticipating
an attack from above: and a diversity of beings are, with a profound
and philosophical knowledge of nature, represented in that momen-
tary pause which must occur even in the midst of the most violent
excitement. Again, the “ comical creatures,’—how wonderfully, with
what truth, are these humanized copyists of humanity enacting their
parts! How would sop have luxuriated in such figures! How
easily would the imagination endow them with the gift of speech !
Mr. Hancock exhibited some excellent specimens of English stuffing:
amongst these “ the bird-stuffers’ sign,” as it is called, the hawk, seal-
ing-wax and quarry, was beautifully rendered ; but Mr. Hancock al-
ways makes a little too much of a bird’s neck; not more, indeed less,
than most professional bird-stuffers, all of whom exhibit a great weak-
ness for this feature: this universal error arises perhaps from too much
knowledge of the real structure ; even a sparrow’s neck, when under
manipulation, is a serious affair, and the bird-stuffer is well acquainted
with the real neck, no one better; and he can’t imagine why it should
be suppressed: my answer is, that Nature suppresses it. She runs
the head and shoulders together in almost the whole of the Accipitrine
and Passerine tribes. Leadbeater’s humming-birds and Bartlett’s
Dodo (an historical fiction), must also be mentioned with unqualified
praise.

Vill PREFACE.

Our Societies have shown great energy during the past year; and
the masterly Reports of the Meetings of the Zoological, Entomologi-
cal, and Microscopical, have, I am sure, been read with pleasure and
instruction. I take this opportunity of publicly expressing my thanks.
to the Secretaries of those learned bodies for the punctuality and cour-
tesy with which their Reports are supplied. ‘The Zoological Society,
after falling almost into a state of inanition, has been resuscitated by
the untiring and judicious exertions of the Secretary, Mr. Mitchell ;
no expense has been spared to render the gardens attractive, and the
result has been a prodigious increase in the number of visitors, and,
as a consequence, of income also. ‘The Exhibition, of course, brought
multitudes of sight-seers to London and to the Gardens; but the great
increase commenced prior to their arrival, and the comparative in-
crease still continues to be great. A most curious incident occurred
at the Gardens in October; one of the great snakes, having received
his nocturnal allowance of rabbits for supper, is supposed to have
made a snap at one of them, after the manner of his kind, and missing
his rabbit, to have seized a mouthful of the large Welsh blanket, or
railway wrapper, which he usually spreads over his knees and round
his loins in chilly weather. He seems to have been as much pleased
with a Welch rabbit for supper as some of his betters, for he left the
live rabbits to gambol about his cage as they pleased, and cofined his
attention entirely to the inanimate substitute, which, after duly sla-
vering over, he swallowed entire, notwithstanding the remonstrances
of the head keeper, who was half petrified at the double loss, that of
the blanket before his eyes, and that of the Boa as an almost infallible
consequence. However, the next morning the Boa appeared none the
worse for his unwonted supper; a little bloated and lethargic, but
nothing more: and as for the rabbits, the pretty little creatures were
sitting up on their tails, and washing their faces with their paws with
the most perfect nonchalance: the only effect produced in the rep-
tile, beyond the ordinary one of repletion, was that of extraordinary
thirst ; there was no end to his drinking: I presume the blanket
required moisture to assist digestion. The blanket has since been

PREFACE. 1X

abstracted through the mouth, without the aid of a stomach-pump,
and, I regret to add, the interesting patient remains in a very debili-

tated and critical state.

The present volume is enriched with a series of excellent papers
on the Natural History of Norway, from the pen of the Rev. A. C.
Smith: these abound with those vivid descriptions of Nature which
so completely transport the reader to the scenes described, and excite
a feeling akin to regret, in the reflection that such a harvest of facts
as that country of mountain-wilds contains, should be so rarely reaped ;
that out of the crowds of sportsmen who migrate thitherward, so few
should be able or willing to chronicle their observations. (Zool. 2977,
3023, 3041, 3083, 3103, 3130, 3167, 3187, 3256 and 3223).

Our South-American traveller, Mr. Bates, has sent but two com-
munications; the first (Zool. 3142) is dated Ega, Upper Amazons,
Dec. 23, 1850, and the second (Zool. 3230) is from Para, under date
of April 30, 1851. From these it will appear that Mr. Bates is pur-
suing Entomology with unabated energy and undiminished success ;
and that he omits all mention of any immediate return to his native
land. |

In birds, the most remarkable record is the discovery of a bird in
the interior of Africa, evidently one of the Gralle, but having a beak
of anomalous figure and enormous magnitude. It is said to feed on
young crocodiles, and our distinguished ornithologist, Mr. Gould, has
given it the name of Baleniceps rex, (Zool. 3037). Four nominal
additions have been made to our British birds. A well-authenticated
instance of the occurrence of the hawk owl is published by Mr. Hig-
gins, (Zool. 3029). The only claim the bird previously possessed to
be inserted in our list as a straggler, was derived from an individual
killed at sea, as recorded by Mr. Yarrell. Mr. Higgins’s account
is most circumstantial and satisfactory. Mr. Newton (Zool. 3277)
records the occurrence of the American wax-wing or cedar-bird
(Bombycilla Carolinensis) in Cambridgeshire: the specimen is in the

IX b

x PREFACE.

possession of Mr. Batson, of Horseheath, near Linton. Mr. Cordeaux
(Zool. 3277) gives the following brief notice of the occurrence of the
American mocking-bird (Turdus polyglottus) in Kent: “ About the
19th of August, a fine specimen of this bird was killed on a farm near
Ashford.” And lastly, the Rev. A. Matthews states (Zool. 3300) that
a bird which he supposes to be the yellow-backed Whidah finch, was
lately exposed for sale at an Oxford poulterer’s, having been shot in
the month of September on Otmoor, in Oxfordshire.

In the wider field of Entomology, we have as usual a greater num-
ber of observations, and the record of rarities is too extensive to be
repeated within the confined limits of a prefatory address: the novel-
ties, however, claiming individual notice are, first, Lepidoptera. The
Rev. Mr. Atkinson has taken a single specimen of Gastropacha Ilici-
folia, upon heather, on Cannoch Chace, in Staffordshire: the insect
has been sent to London for identification, and the fact has been an-
nounced by Mr. Smith, at a meeting of the Entomological Society :
since this, Mr. Stephens (Zool. 3244) has recorded the discovery, by
Mr. Green, of two larve of the same insect near Sheffield. Mr. Bar-
ron (Zool. 3289) says that Trochilium Chrysidiforme has been found
near Haslar,in Hampshire. Mr. S. Stevens records (Zool. 3291) the
occurrence of Eupithecia ultimaria of Rambur, Boisduval, and Du-
ponchel, at Dover, in the middle of September. Mr. Stainton, ata
meeting of the Entomological Society (Zool. 3006), exhibited five new
species of British Micro-Lepidoptera: these he identified as the Co-
leophora partitella, C. Vulnerariz and C. lithargyrinella of Zeller, the
C. juncicolella of Stainton and the Elachista Treitschkeella of Fischer-
von-Réslerstamm : and at a subsequent meeting (Zool. 3232) the same
indefatigable entomologist exhibited a specimen of Lithocolletis Ni-
cellii, together with the larve and pupe of the same insect, im leaves
of hazel. Mr. Douglas also exhibited before the same Society a spe-
cimen of an apparently undescribed species of Coleophora, for which
he proposed the name of C. Inule (Zool. 3239).

In British Aculeate Hymenoptera, four species are described as

PREFACE. xl

new by Mr. F. Smith. Chrysis ornatus (App. cxxv.), Ceratophorus
anthracinus and Crabro interstinctus (App. cxxvi.), and Nomada mis-
tura (App. cxxvii.); and the same talented Hymenopterologist has
detected the Bombus arcticus of Dahlbom among some bees taken in
August last, by Mr. Adam White, at Lerwick, in Shetland (Zool. 3268) :
and Mr. Stephens has found, in his own garden at Brixton, specimens
of Selandria sericea of Hartig (Zool. 3163), previously unrecorded as
British.

In British Coleoptera, seven additions have been made. Aépus
Robinii (Zool. 3090), taken by Mr. Wollaston on the Chesil Bank ;
Trachoides hispidus (Zool. 3102), by Mr. J. Walker, in the New Fo-
rest; Acalyptus Carpini, beaten off sallow-blossoms at Fenny Strat-
ford, and Mecinus collaris, found at the roots and on the lower stems
of Plantago maritima near Gravesend ; both by Mr. S. Stevens (Zool.
3186); Bembidium Schuppelii of Dejean (Zool. 3289), found on the
banks of the river Irthing, in Cumberland, by Mr. T. J. Bold ; Ta-
chypus pallidipennis, misnamed Peryphus maritimus (Zool. 3186), by
Mr. John Scott; and Dircza discolor (Zool. 3309), by Mr. S. Stevens.

In Radiata we have a single species, Actinia clavata, described by
Ms. W. Thompson (App. cxxvii.); and a paper of great value and
scientific interest has been read by Mr. Bowerbank, before the Micro-
scopical Society, on the ciliary action of sponges, (Zool. 3008).

In exotic Lepidoptera the following species are described as new to
science : — Arctia Horsfieldii and Eudioptes Indica (Zool. 3070) by
Mr. W. Wilson Saunders; both of them natives of Java, and injurious
to the cotton-plant : Thaumantias Howqua, from China, and Drusilla
Mylecha from the Indian Archipelago (Zool. 3096), by Mr .Westwood.

Many months have elapsed since a statement was made at one of
the meetings of the Entomological Society, of a discovery made by
Mr. J. C. Bowring at Hong Kong. This gentleman, who appears to
have directed the energies of a very observant mind to the study of
Entomology, detected on a specimen of the common Chinese Fulgora,

xi PREFACE.

a parasite which he believed to be Lepidopterous: it seemed to pos-
sess the wing-nerves and legs of a Bombyx, and the antenne of the
male are described as beautifully pectinated, (Zool. 3269). The exis-
tence of a Lepidopterous parasite is extremely curious, and although
we should exercise a degree of caution in giving full credit to the
statement of a fact so perfectly anomalous, yet there seems no reason-
able ground in this instance for supposing that a mistake could have
occurred through incomplete or inaccurate observation; and I venture
to express a hope that hereafter, when the characters of this insect
shall have been more rigorously examined and defined, let its affini-
ties be what they may, entomologists will kindly accede to the wish I
have more than once expressed, of calling it Fulgorecia Bowringii,
thus making the name a lasting record both of its extraordinary eco-
nomy and its talented discoverer.

In exotic Hymenoptera, Mr. Smith describes a new species of bee,
under the name of Lestis eratus (Zool. 3151), but he does not men-
tion the country whence he received it.

In exotic Coleoptera, the following Australian species of longicorns
are described as new : — Distichocera Kirbyi (Zool. 3092) D. Mac-
Leayi (Zool. 3092), and D. par (Zool. 3122), Pempsamacra pygmea
(App. cxxvill.), Cerambyx pullus (App. id.), Omotes punctissima
(App. cxxix.), Rhytiphora Donovani (id.), Acanthocinus lineola and
A. plumula (App. cxxx.), Isosceles pigra (App. cxxxi.), Pseudocepha-
lus arietinus (App. cxxxvil.), Ametalla xanthura (App. cxxxix.), A. uber
(id.), and A. decolor (App. cxl.), and Lamia dichotoma (App. clxxix).
L. Helenor (App. clxxx.), from the East Indies ; also Clerus socialis
(App. cxxxil.), one of the Cleride, and Dohrnia miranda (App.
CXxxiil.), one of the Gidemeride, both Australian. These are in the
cabinets of the Zoological Society, Mr. Westwood, Mr. Colquhoun,
or consigned to Mr. 8. Stevens, and all have been obligingly placed
in my hands for examination and description.

In exotic Neuroptera a single species is described as new, Nemoura
speustica (App. cxxxii.) from New Holland.

KDWARD NEWMAN.

Devonshire Street, Bishopsgate, November 29, 1851.

CONTENTS.

The Roman numerals in the following alphabetical lists refer to the Appendix.

ALPHABETICAL LIST OF CONTRIBUTORS.

Amuerst, Rev. Francis K.

On the swimming of water fowl, 2990 ;
Variety of the cole titmouse, and
notes on some other birds, 3055 ;
Description of a guillemot shot on
the coast of Sligo, Ireland, 3117

Baker, Wo.
Shower of snails, 3187
Barron, CHARLES

Sorex remifer in Hampshire, 3274;
TrochiliumChrysidiforme in Hamp-
shire, 3289.

Batrerssy, RopeRrt

Chiffchaff in January, 3033
Beanies, Husert

Anecdotes of a raven, 3033
Bett, Tuomas, F.R.S., L.S., &e.

Stoat in white coat, 3102
Birp, W. F. W.

Note on the figure of the hairy wood-
pecker, 3034 ; Earthworms destroy-
ed by grubs, 3181

Botp, THomas JoHN

Waxwings killed in Northumberland,
3146 ; Capture of Bembidium
Schuppelii in the North of Eng-
land, Importation of Bruchus rufi-
manus into Newcastle-on-Tyne,
3289 ; Tenacity of life in Calandra
granaria, Capture of Astynomus
AAdilis at Newcastle, 3290

Bonp, F.
Iceland falcon in Ross-shire, 3275
Bonp, Frepverick, J., F.L.S.

Captures of Lepidoptera at Hornsey,

Wicken and Burwell Fens, 3012

Bree, C. R.
Curious capture of a pair of polecats,
3137 ; Nesting of the wren, 3146

Bree, Rev. W. T.
Song of the chaffinch, 3113; Late
sojourn of swifts in 1850, 3115

Brewin, Ropert
Anecdote of a weasel and a frog,
3273 ; Anecdote of a stoat and a
leveret, 3274

Bripeman, W. K.
Land and Freshwater Mollusca in
the neighbourhood of Norwich,
3302

Brices, JoHn JOSEPH
Blackcap warbler in November, 2985 ;
Note on a singular assemblage of
birds, 3111; Note on the greater
spotted woodpecker, 3115; Little
gull in Derbyshire, 3118: Anecdote
of a pike, 3120
Browy, J.
Capture of Ludius ferrugineus and
Elater sanguineus near Cambridge,
3063
Burt, E.
Rose-coloured pastor, &c., at Berry
Head, Devon, 3233
Buxton, E. C., Jun. °
Capture of Notodonta trepida, Cleora
cinctaria, &c., 3181
Buxton, T. FowEty
Gyrfalcon in Norfolk, 2983, 3028
CAMPBELL, ANGUS
Note on Trycheris mediana, 3185

X1V

Carte, T.S.
Falcons hiding their prey, 3028
CHENNELL, F. A

Note on the songs of some of the
British birds, as remarked in the
year 1850, 3111

CLEVLAND, A.

Little white heron in South Devon,

3116
CooprEr, JAMES

Note on Cheimatobia borearia, 3010 ;
On hunting diligently for Lepidop-
tera, 3219

Cooke, BENJAMIN
Note on Cheimatobia borearia, 3011
CorpeEaux, W. H.

Golden eayvle in Herefordshire, 3027 ;
Note upon the blackcap, 3054;
Hoopoe at Walmer, 3174; Mock-
ing bird of America in the county
of Kent, 3277

Coucn, Jonatuan, F.LS., &c.

Capture of a species of Atherine new

to the British Fauna, 2992
Crewe, H. Harpur

Notodonta trepida in Radnorshire,
3158 ; Captures of Lepidoptera in
Buckinghamshire, 3287

De La CHavmettE, H. L.

Note on the habits and transforma-
tions of Aglia Tau, 3061; Descrip-
tions of larve of Sphingidz, with
occasional notes on some of the
rarer European species, 3100, 3158,
3241; Note on the larve of Li-
menitis Sibylla and Camilla, 3237

Dovusiepay, HENRY

Observations on the generic names of
Lepidoptera adopted in the Mu-
seum Gatalogue, 3098; Museum
Catalogue of British Lepidoptera,
3235; Hydrecia Petasitis, 3289

Dove.as, J. W.

Entomological localities, 3128, 3182,
3217, 3246, 3283; ‘Shower of
snails,’ 3176

Dove.tas, Rev. R. C., M.A.

On Notommata parasita, a Rotifer
inhabiting the Volvox globator,
3165; A toad in difficulties, 3210

Duck, Joun N,

Little gull at Weston-super-mare,

3056
Dorr, Josrru

Rare birds at Bishop Auckland, 3036 ;
Food of the kestrel, 3112; Wax-
wing near Bishop Auckland, 3146

Dunn, Roperr
Bohemian waxwing in Shetland, 3174

Exumay, J.B.

Common buzzard at Laughton, 3029 ;
Black redstart at Lewes, 3033;
Red-necked phalarope at Lewes,
3035; Black-throated diver at Pe-
vensey, Little gull at Lewes, 3036 ;
Hen harrier at Alciston, Black
redstart at Lewes, 3112; Note on
the habits of the Dartford warbler
on the Downs in the neighbour-
hood of Lewes, 3113; Gray-headed
wagtail at Eastbourne, 3145; Notes
on the arrival of migratory birds at
Lewes, 3173 ; Pied flycatcher at
West Firle, near Lewes, 3174; Jer
falcon at Mayfield, 3233 ; Crane at
Pevensey, 3234; Further notes on
the Dartford warbler, 3276; Spoon-
bill at Hailsham, 3278; Little stint
at Pevensey, Little ringed plover at
Shoreham, Wood sandpiper at New-
haven, Spotted redshank at East-
bourne, Temminck’s stint at New-
haven, 3279

Evans, JoHN
Domestic or mute swan in the Lea-
mington gardens, 3208
FEL, W.
Sturgeon in the Mersey, 3157
Foster, T. W.
Rare birds at and near Wisbech, 3279
Frere, Rey. H. T.

Time of breeding and period of ges-
tation of the otter, Period of ges-
tation and number of young in the
guinea-pig, 3022

GREEN, J.

Hoopoe at Yarmouth, 3147; Eared
grebe at Yarmouth, Egyptian goose
at Yarmouth, and pink-footed goose
at Ely, 3175

Gurney, J. H.

Shore lark near Yarmouth, 2985 ;
Goshawk in Norfolk, 3027; Black
bream at Lowestoft, Short sun-fish
on the Norfolk coast ; One-spotted
goby at Lowestoft, 3058; Note on
the changes of plumage which oc-
cur periodically in the male birds of
several different species of ducks,
Longevity of the Nyroca duck,
3116; Earthworms and grubs, 3120;
Osprey in Norfolk, Note on the
great eagle owl nesting in confine-
ment, 3145; Late appearance of
the waxwing, 3146; Note on the
lord fish, 3158 ; Note on the nest-
ing of the passerine owl in confine-
ment, 3207; Golden oriole, Rose-

KV

coloured pastor in Suffolk, 3233 ;
Note on the gull-billed tern, Cas-
pian tern at Yarmouth, 3235; Notes
on the Zoology of California, 3297 ;
Autumnal moult of red-throated
diver, 3301

GuRNEY, SAMUEL, JUN.

Remarks on the swan, Remarks on
the Egyptian goose, 3234; Note
on the water-rat, 3265

Guyon, GEORGE

Hoopoe in the Isle of Wight, 3147
HansE tt, P. E.

Great snipe breeding in Norfolk, 3175
Harper, J. O.

Pied flycatcher in Norfolk, 2985;
Death of martins and swallows,
Hoopoe in Norfolk, 2988 ; Avocet
at Sandwich, in Kent, Little bittern
in Norfolk, 2989 ; Carnivorous pro-
peusity of the water rail, Fork-tailed
petrel at Lowestoft, 2990 ; Sturgeon
in rivers, 2991; White hedgehog,
3022 ; Cuckoo's egg on the 5th of
April, 3115; Observations on the
cuckoo, 3145; Observations on the
arrival of Hirundinide in Norfolk,
Late sojourn of swifts in 1850,
3173; Osprey in Norfolk, 3207;
Avocet at Yarmouth, 3208

Harris, Rev. GEORGE

Notes of the marine zoology of Moray
Firth, 2996 ; Notice of a specimen
of the Goniaster equestris with
six rays, 3014; Gemmeous drago-
net near Gamrie, The bib or whit-
ing pout, Spotted gunnel or butter-
fish, 3118; Snake pike-fish at
Gamrie, 3119; Smooth dab at
Gamrie, Note on the lump fish or
sucker, 3157; Anecdotes of the
common fox, 3171; The ballan
wrasse, 3210; Note on the short
sun-fish, 3280 ; Note on the spinous
shark, 3281; Striped red mullet at
Gamrie, 3282; Ray’s bream at
Gamrie, 3301; Notes on the As-
teriade inhabiting the Moray Firth,
3305

HarRIsON, JOHN, JUN.

Lobophora polycommaria near Kes-
wick, 3161; Egyptian goose on
Derwent Lake, 3175; Capture of
Hypenodes humidalis, 3244

Haweins, R. W.

Anecdote of the song thrush, 3033 ;
Pied flycatcher, &c., near Rugeley,
3145

Hewirtson, W. C.
Remarkable bird’s nest, 3027
Hieeins, E. T.

Bona fide British-killed hawk owl,

3029
Hitt, J. ALLEN

Capture of Lepidoptera at Almonds-
bury, Gloucestershire, 3013; Notes
on various Micro-Lepidoptera,3245 ;
Notes on Depressaria, 3288

HopckInson, J. B.

Deilephila Celerio in Cumberland,

3010
Ho tke, J. W.

Golden oriole nesting near Deal,
3034; Baillon’s crake near Deal,
3035

HunTER, JOHN

Description of the larva of Limeni-

tis Sibilla, 3185
Hussey, Rev. ArtHur, M.A.

Wvodcock breeding in Sussex, 2989 ;
Earthworms found dead, 3059;
Variegated sole on the Sussex coast,
3282

INGALL, GEORGE

On the impalement of insects on

thorns, 3285
Irsy, L. H.

Gray variety of the rook, 3034; Wood
sandpiper at Yarmouth, Red-neck-
ed grebe in Devonshire, 3035 ;
Hobby and sparrow-hawk breeding
together, 3276

JorDaN, Roserr C. R.
Black redstart near Teignmouth, 3112
JosHua, W.

Red-necked grebe in Gloucestershire,

3056
Kemour, THomas

Rough-legged buzzard on Marlboro’

Downs, 3054
Kine, Epwarp L.

Greater shearwater at Lynn, 3234 ;
Note on the Sphinx Convolvuli,
3241

Knapp, WILLIAM
Cirl bunting near Bristol, 3174
Leitru, Sir Georce H. Barr.
Bonaparte’s gull in Scotland, 3117
Logan, R. F.

Blackcap warbler in winter, 3033;

Ray’s bream near Edinburgh, 3058
Martuews, Rev. A., M.A.

Birds of Oxfordshire, 2982; Dates
of the arrival and departure of mi-
gratory birds in Oxfordshire during
the year 1850, 3172: Display of

XVl

parental affection by martins, 3173 ;
Occurrence of the yellow backed
Whidah Finch, 3300

Means, R. H.

Inquiry respecting pup, On the oc-
currence of the pupa of a preda-
ceous beetle in the vicinity of the
nests of wild bees, 3220; On the
occurrence of Aphides in an ant’s
nest, 3221

Miner, W.M. E., M.P., F.L.S.
Spoonbill in Yorkshire, 3278
Morcu, Epwarp

Winter dress of the ermine, 3171
Netson, C., M.D.

Note on Leucania littoralis, 3305
Newman, Epwarp, F.L.S., ZS.

Description of the hairy woodpecker,
chiefly copied from Wilson’s ‘ Ame-
rican Ornithology,’ 2985 ; Descrip-
tion of the Orpheus warbler, 3107 ;
White specimen of the knot, 3116;
Eucera longicornis at Peckham,
3181; Proposal for a great city
conservatory or geographical, per-
ennial, glazed garden, on the site
of Smithfield market, 3193; De-
scriptions of new insects from New
Holland, exxviii; On the charac-
ters and affinities of Dohrnia, an
Australian genus of Hormocerous
Coleoptera, cxxxiii; Characters of
a second species of Pseudocepha-
lus, a longicorn insect from New
Holland, cxxxvii; Note on the
genus Ametalla, with characters of
three species supposed to be pre-
viously undescribed, cxxxviii; On
the word Hermaphrodite, as em-
ployed in Zoology, cxl; Affinities
of the Pulicites, an Essay cxliii;
Characters of two apparently un-
described species of Longicorn Co-
leoptera, clxxix; Remarkable ab-
erration in the colouring of a
specimen of Cynthia Cardui, 3304

Newman, Henry W.

Instinct and sagacity of rooks and
other birds, 3114 ; Anecdote of
wasps, 3164 ; Note on the scarcity
of wasps, 3185; Stratagem of a
spider, 3222; On the habits and
instincts of birds, 3232, 3274

Newnua, P. H.

Capture of Lepidoptera near Meon-

stoke, 3011
Newron, ALFRED
Chiffchaff in January,3054 ; Northern

~ rorqual near King’s Lynn, 3107:
Parrot crossbill in Saffolk and Nor-
folk, 3145; Hoopoe at Torquay,
3147; American waxwing or cedar
bird in Great Britain, 3277; Great
black woodpecker in Essex, 3278

Newton, Epwarp

White sparrow-hawk in Norfolk,3276 ;
Curiously coloured rook in Suffolk,
3278: Spotted redshank in Suffolk,
3279

NicHotts, H.

Great northern diver in Devonshire,

3035
NicHotson, CorNELIUS

The Cockney house-sparrow and the

early breakfast-shop, 3138
Norman, A. M.

Shag or green cormorant at Oxford,
Fork-tailed petrel at Blenheim
park, Oxfordshire, 3118; Hybrid
between common mallard and pin-
tail duck, 3175. Nesting of the
wren, 3207 ; Regularity in the
movements of the barn owl, 3233 ;
Note on the scarcity of insects,
3236: Piebald varieties of the
hedgesparrow, 3276

Potter, C.

Black redstart near Lewes, 3033 ;
Great northern diver, 3035 ; Little
gull at Lewes, 3036

Powys, T. W.

Caspian tern near Lausanne, 3209 ;
Note on birds entrapped at a mag-
pie’s nest, 3275 ; Black grouse and
quails in Northamptonshire, 3279

REEvEs, WaLTER W.

W oodcocks breeding in Sussex, 3115 ;

Nest of the kingfisher, 3147
RogERTSON, JOHN

Note on the Pholas dactylus or Sus-

sex piddick, 3175
Roop, Epwarp HEARLE

Continental crested lark near Pen-
zance, 3033 ; Whinchat at Scilly,
3276; Ortolan bunting at Scilly,
3277; Note on autumnal migrants,
Little stint at Scilly, 3279; Whis-
kered tern at Scilly, Pomarine skua
in adult plumage near Penzance,
3280 ; Osprey at the Land’s End,
3300; Great gray shrike and reed-
wren at Scilly, 3300; Fire-crested
regulus at Scilly, 3300; Richard’s

ipit at the Scilly Isles, 3300;
oodcocks at the Land’s End,
3300

XV

Rog, R.
Insensibility of fish to. pain, Shark
at Portland, 2991
Ross, F. W. L.
Toads buried alive, 3266
Rupp, T. 8.

Opah or king-fish at Redcar, Ray’s
bream and argentine at Redcar,
3010: Argentine at Redear, 3058 ;
Rose-coloured pastor at Redcar,
3277

Scott, JoHn

Note on Hibernia rupicapraria, 306] ;
Extreme abundance of Asemum
striatum, Capture of Peryphus ma-
titimus at Ardrossan, 3186; Cap-
ture of Elachista locupletella, 3220

SHEPPARD, Avuctstus F.

Landand Fresh-water Mollusca found
in the neighbourhood of Fulham,
3120

Sircom, JoHN, JUN.

Captures of Micro-Lepidoptera near

Bristol in 1851, 3287
Smiru, Rev. ALFRED Cuar_Les, M.A.

Notes on observations in Natural
History during a tour in Norway,
2977, 3023, 3041, 3083, 3103, 3130,
3167, 3187, 3223, 3256; Capture
of a whale off Lynn Regis, 3134

Situ, C. Hervey

The lanner, 3028

SmirH, FREDERICK

Notes on the Hymenoptera of the
Undercliff, Isle of Wight, 3248 ;
On the habits of Osmia parietina,
3253; Descriptions of some new
species of British Hymenoptera,
cxxv; On the specific differences
of Vespa vulgaris and Vespa Ger-
manica, c]xxili

Smitu, Rev. James

Note on the capercaillie, 2988; Re-
marks on a fossil fish of the old
red sandstone of Gamrie, 2993;
White stork in Scotland, 3035;
Observations on the waxwing, 3049 ;
Spiny shark at Gamrie, 3057;
Great beauty of South-American
Lepidoptera, 3059; Notes on the
turnstone and tern, 3073

Smiru, JouHn

Gray-headed wagtail at Great Yar-

mouth, 3174
Spitspury, F. M.

Melitea Cinxia, &c., near Dover,

3289
Stainton, H. T.
An entomological ramble among the

rocks of Chudleigh, Devon, 3063 ;
Tinearist’s Calendar for April, 3089 ;
A list of the Pomeranian species of
the genus Lithocolletis, cl; Re-
marks on some of the species of
the genus Lithocolletis, clxviii

STEPHENS, J. F., F.LS., &e.

Note on Cheimatobia borearia, 3060;
Generic names in the Museum ¢a-
talogue, 3161; New British Ten-
thredo, Male of Lyda inanita, 3163;
New locality for Hypena crassalis,
3164; Notice respecting Gastro-
pacha Ilicifolia, 3244

SrEVENsS, SamvE1, F.L.S.

Capture of Acalyptus Carpini and
Mecinus collaris, two Curculios new
to England, Early appearance of
Colias Edusa, 3186; Note on, Me-
cinus collaris, 3266; Capture of
Heliophobus hispida, 3289

Stranewayes, RicHarpD

Note on the cirl buuting, 3056; Eared
grebe at Yarmouth, 3117; The red-
backed shrike, 3207; Great crested
grebe in Norfolk, 3209

TEMPLER, W. F. .
Porbeagle shark near Bournmouth,
3058
THompson, WILLIAM
Sea birds at Weymouth, 3054 ; Crest-
ed blenny at Portland, 3120; Hoo-
poe near Weymouth, 3147; List of
Crustacea taken at Weymouth, on
the Dorset coast, 3158; Puffin in
winter, 3175; Description of a new
British species of the genus Acti-
nia, CXxVli
THorncrort, T.
Richardson’s skua at Brighton, 3054
TRACEY, J AMES
Catalogue of birds taken in Pem-
brokeshire, with observations on
their habits, manners, &c. 3045
Truscott, —
Rose-coloured pastor in Devonshire,
3323
VARNHAM, WARNER
Landrail in February, 3115 ; Common
sturgeon in White Cliff Bay, Isle
of Wight, 3119
WAKEFIELD, R.
Impregnation of the queen bee, 3013
Wa tkEER, J.
Capture of a new Curculio, New
localities for Tetratoma Desmaret-
sii, 3102

XViil

Wess, G. J.
Peregrine falcons near Oxford, 3112
Weir, THomas Dura
Sesia fuciformis, Macroglossa Stella-
tarum, and Sphinx Convolvuli in
Scotland, 3288
Wicurton, JoHn
On the hissing of snakes, 3147
Witnor, J. P.
On the true character of the redwing’s
eggs, 2984

WottasTon, T, VERNON
Capture of Aepus Robiniiin England,
3090
WOoLLEY, JOHN
Eggs of the redwing, 2983
Woop, C.
Larva of Pterophorus trigonodacty-
lus, 3102 ; €Kittiwakey gull on
Wandsworth Common, 3117

ERRATA.

Page 2983, for Goshawk in Norfolk, read Gyrfalcon, &c.
», 3186, for Peryphus maritimus at Ardrossan, read Tachypus pallidipennis, sc.
» 3287, for Sesia Bombiliformis at Claydon, read Sesia Fuciformis, Sc.

X1X

ALPHABETICAL LIST OF SUBJECTS.

Acalyptus Carpini, capture of, 3186
Acanthocinus lineola, exxx
is ? plumula, cxxx

Actinia clavata, exxvii

Actinophrys of Eichhorn, 3213

Aepus Robinii, capture of in England,
3090

Aglia Tau, habits and transformations of,
3061

Alge, filamentous fresh-water, sporangia

of some, 3180

Ametalla decolor, cxl

gute Mb DeT, EXXX1X
_ 4, xXanthura, cxxxviii

Anecdote of the song-thrush, 3033; of
a raven, 3033; of a pike, 3120; of
wasps, 3164; of the common fox,
3171; of a weasel and a frog, 32783 ;
of a stoat and a leveret, 3274

Animal and vegetable structures, new me-
dium for mounting fresh and moist,
3098

Aphides in an ant’s nest, 3221

Aquatic rencontre, 2991

Arctia Horsfieldii, 3070

Argentine at Redcar, 3010, 3058

Asemum striatum, extreme abundance of,
3186

Astynomus Aldilis, capture of at Newcas-
tle, 3290

Atherine, new species of, 2992

Asteriade in Moray Firth, 3305

Avocet at Sandwich, 2989 ; at Yarmouth,
3208

Bates, H. W., entomological correspon-
dence of, 3142, 3230

Bear, 3187

Beaver, 3225

Bee, queen, impregnation of, 3013

Bees, wild, pupa of a predaceous beetle in
the vicinity of nests of, 3220

Belone vulgaris, 2999

Bembidium Schuppelii in the North of
England, 3289

Bib, 3118

Birds entrapped at a magpie’s nest, 3275

Birds, rare, at Bishop Auckland, 3036 ;

* sea, at Weymouth, 3054; notes on,

3055 ; British, note on the songs of,
3111; singular assemblage of, 3111 ;

instinct and sagacity of, 3114; mi-
gratory, arrival and departure of, in
Oxfordshire, 3172 ; arrival of at Lew-
es, 3173; habits and instincts of,
3232, 3274; at and near Wisbech, 3279

Birds of Oxfordshire, 2982; of Pem-
brokeshire, 3045

Birds’ nest, remarkable, 3027

Bittern, little, in Norfolk, 2989

Blackcap, note on, 3054

Blenny, crested, at Portland, 3120

Bombus Derhamellus, notes on the nest
of, 3294

Bombycilla garrula, 3084

Bream, sea, 3000; Ray’s, at Redcar, 3010;
black, at Lowestoft, 3058; Ray’s, near
Edinburgh, 3058; at Gamrie, 3301

Bruchus rufimanus, importation of into
Newcastle-on-Tyne, 3289

Bunting, snow, 3041 ; cirl, note on, 3056;
near Bristol, 3174; ortolan, at Scilly,
3277

Butter-fish, 3118

Buzzard, common, at Laughton, 3029 ;
rough-legged, on Marlboro’ Downs,
3054

Calandra granaria, tenacity of life in, 3290

California, Zoology of, 3297

Callionymus Dracunculus, 2998

Canis Lupus, 3224

Capercaillie, 2988 ; in Scotland, 3018

Castor fiber, 3225

Cattle, remarkable effect of training on,
3137

Cedar bird in Great Britain, 3277

Cerambyx pullus, cxxviii

Ceratophorus anthracinus, cxxvi

Cervus Alces, 3223; Tarandus, 3103, 3130

Chaffinch, song of, 3113

Charadrius pluvialis, 2979

Cheimatobia borearia, 3010, 3011, 3060

Chiffchaff in January, 3033, 3054

Chrysis ornatus, exxv

Cinclus aquaticus, 2982, 3026

Cleora cinctaria, 3181

Clerus ? socialis, exxxii

Coleoptera, exotic, three new genera of,
3096

Colias Edusa, early appearance of, 3186

Colymbus arcticus, 3084

XX

Colymbus septentrionalis, 3084
Conservatory, proposal for a, on the site of
Smithfield Market, 3193
Cormorant, green, at Oxford, 3118
Corvus corax, 3205
» cornix, 3024
Crab, northern stone, 3001; velvet swim-
ming, 3002
Crabro interstinctus, exxvi
Crake, Baillon’s, near Deal, 3035
Crane at Pevensey, 3234
Crossbill, parrot, in Suffolk and Norfolk,
3145
Crow, hooded, 3024
Crustacea taken at Weymouth, 3158
Cuckoo’s egg on the 5th of April, 3115
Cuckoo, observations on the, 3145
Curculio, capture of a new, 3102
Cynthia Cardui, remarkable variety of, 3304
Dab, smooth, at Gamrie, 3157
Deilephila Celerio in Cumberland, 3010
Depressaria Gossypiella, 3070
Depressariz, notes on, 3288
Dinornis, cranium of the large species
called giganteus and ingens, 3003
Dipper, common, 3026
Distichocera Kirbii, 3092
af MacLeayii, 3092
+4 par, 3122
Diver, great northern, 2982; in Devon-
shire, 3035; in the parish of Bedding-
ham, 3035; black-throated at Peven-
sey, 3036; red-throated, 3084; black-
throated, 3084; red-throated, on the
autumnal moult of, 3301
Dog, instinct of, 3137
Dohrnia miranda, cxxxili
Dragonet, sordid, 2998 ; gemmeous, near
Gamrie, 3118
Drusilla Mylecha, 3096
Duck, king, 3022; Nyroca, longevity of,
3116; pintail and common mallard,
hybrid between, 3175
Ducks, periodical changes of plumage in
male birds of several species of, 3116
Eagle, golden, in Herefordshire, 3027
Earth-worms and grubs, 3120, 3181
Earth-worms found dead, 3059
Eggs of redwing, 2983, 2984 ; of caper-
caillie, 2989; of the cuckoo, 3115
Elachista locupletella, capture of, 3220
Elater sanguineus near Cambridge, 3063
Elk, 3223
Emberiza nivalis, 3041
Entomological Club, 3216
Entomological correspondence of Mr. H.
W. Bates, 3142, 3230
Entomological localities, 3128, 3182, 3217,
3246, 3283

Entomological ramble among the rocks of
Chudleigh, Devon, 3063

Entomological Society, Proceedings of,
3006, 3038, 3068, 3093, 3122, 3148,
3177, 3211, 3238, 3267, 3291, 3309

Ermine, 3167; winter dress of, 3171

Erythaca rubecula, 3043

Eucera longicornis at Peckham, 3181

Eudioptes Indica, 3070

Falcon, peregrine, near Oxfoid, 3112; jer,
at Mayfield, 3233; Iceland, in Ross-
shire, 3275

Falcons hiding their prey, 3028

Fangasina, on the minute structure of a
species of, 3214

Felis Lynx, 3225

Fish, insensibility of to pain, 2991 ; fossil
of the old red sand-stone of Gamrie,
2993

Fish, lump, 3157; lord, 3158

Fishing frog, 3001

Flea, economy and metamorphoses of, exlv

Flycatcher, pied, in Norfolk, 2985 ; near
Rugely, 3145; at West Firle, 3174

Fowl, water, swimming of, 2990

Fox, common, anecdote of, 3171

Frog and weasel, anecdote of, 3273

Fulmar, 3020

Galathea strigosa, 3002

Game birds and wild fowl, 3014

Garden, glazed, proposal for a, 3193

Garfish, 2999

Garrulus, infaustus, 2981

Gastropacha Ilicifolia, notice respecting,
3244

Glutton, 3225

Goby, one-spotted, at Lowestoft, 3058

Goliathus Cacicus, note on, 3179

Goniaster equestris, 3001 ; with six rays,
3014

Goodsir, R. A., ‘An Arctic Voyage to Baf-
fin’s Bay,’ &c., 3019

Goose, Egyptian, at Yarmouth, 3175; on
Derwent Lake, 3175 ; pink-footed, at
Ely, 3175 ; remarks on, 3234

Goshawk in Norfolk, 3027

Grebe, red-neck, in Devonshire, 3035 ; in
Gloucestershire, 3056; eared, at Yar-
mouth, 3117, 3175; great crested, in
Norfolk, 3209

Grosbeak, pine, 3403

Grous, black, in Northamptonshire, 3278

Guillemot, black, 3083; description of,
shot on the coast of Sligo, 3117

Guinea-pig, period of gestation and num-
ber of its young, 3022

Gull, masked, 2982; little, at Lewes, 3036;
at Weston-super-Mare, 3056; kitti-
wake, on Wandsworth Common, 3117;

Xxl

Bonaparte’s, in Scotland, 3117; little,
in Derbyshire, 3118

Gunnel, spotted, 3118

Gyrfalcon in Norfolk, 2983, 3028

Hag, glutinous, 3000

Hare, 3170

Harrier, hen, at Alceston, 3112; marsh,
at Haughton, 3112

Hedgehog, white, 3022

Hedge-sparrow, piebald varieties of, 3276

Heliophobus hispida, capture of, 3289

Hen, hazel, 2980

Hermaphrodite, on the word as employed
in Zoology, cxl

Heron, little white, in South Devon, 3116

Hibernia rupicapraria, 3061

Hirundinida, arrival of in Norfolk, 3173

Hobby and sparrow-hawk breeding toge-
ther, 3276

Hoopoe, 2982; in Norfolk, 2988 ; at Tor-
quay, 3147; in the Isle of Wight,
3147; near Weymouth, 3147; at Yar-
mouth, 3147: at Walmer, 3174

Hornet’s nest, account of, 3093

Hybrid between the commbn mallard and
pintail duck, 3175

Hydrecia Petasitis, 3289

Hymenoptera of the Undercliff, Isle of
Wight, 3248

Hypena crassalis, new locality for, 3164

Hypenoides humidalis, capture of, 3244

Insects, effects of temperature, gases, and
vapours on, 3150; note on the scar-
city of, 3236; impalement of upon
thorns, 3285 ; injurious to the cotton
plant, 3069

Instinct of rooks and other birds, 3114;
of a dog, 3137; of birds, 3232, 3274

Isosceles pigra, cxxxi

Jay, Norwegian, 2981

Kestrel, food of, 3112

Kingfisher, nest of, 3147; makes no nest,
3208

Knot, white specimen of, 3116

Knox, A. E., ‘Game Birds and Wild
Fowl, 3014

Lagopus vulgaris, 2977

Lamia (Symphyletes ?) dichotoma, clxxix

Landrail in February, 3115

Lanner, 3028

Larus capistratus, 2982

Larva of Pterophorustrigonodactylus, 3102;
of Limenitis Sibilla, 3185 ; of Litho-
colletis, cliii, clx, clxiv

Larve of Sphingide, 3100, 3158, 3241;
of Limenitis Sibylla and Camilla,
3185, 3237

ark, shore, near Yarmouth, 2985 ; conti-

nental crested, near Penzance, 3033

Lemming, 3167

Lepidoptera near Meonstoke, 3011; at
Hornsey, Wicken and Burwell Fens,
3012; at Almondsbury, 3013; South-
American, great beauty of, 3059 ;
generic names of, adopted in the Mu-
seum Catalogue, 3098, 3161, 3235 ;
on hunting diligently for, 3219 ; cap-
tures of in Buckinghamshire, 3287

Lepus variabilis, 3170

Lestis eratis, 3151

», bombylans, 3150

Leveret and stoat, anecdote of, 3274

Limenitis Camilla, larva of, 3237; Sibyl-
la, larva of, 3185, 3237

Lithodes Maia, 3001

Lithocolletis, list of the Pomeranian spe-
cies of, cl; remarks on some of the
species, clxviii

Leucania littoralis, 3305

Lobophora polycommaria near Keswick,
3161

Lophius piscatorius, 3001

Ludius ferrugineous near Cambridge, 3063

Lyda inanita, male of, 3163

Lynx, common, 3225

Macroglossa Stellatarum in Scotland, 3288

Magpie, 3085

Magpie’s nest, birds entrapped at, 3275

Mallard, common, and pintail duck, hy-
brid between, 3175

Martins, display of parental affection by,
3173

Martins and swallows, death of, 2988

Mecinus collaris, capture of, 3186; note
on, 3266

Melitea Cinxia &c. near Dover, 3289

Micro-Lepidoptera, notes on various, 3245 ;
new method of pinning, 3247; cap-
tures of near Bristol, 3287

Microscope, white mirror for, 3010; im-
proved adjustment for, 3151

Microscopical Society, Proceedings of the,
3015, 3097, 3151, 3180, 3213, 3312

Migrants, autumnal, note on, 3279

Mocking-bird in Kent, 3277

Mollusca, land and fresh-water in the
neighbourhood of Fulham, 3120;
fresh-water in the neighbourhood of
Norwich, 3302

Monohammus Helenor, clxxx

Motella quinquecirrata, 2998

» vulgaris, 2997

Mullet, striped red, at Gamrie, 3282

Mus Lemmus, 3167

Mustela Erminea, 3167

Myxine glutinosa, 3000

Natural History, Observations in during a
Tour in Norway, 2977, 3023, 3041,

XxX

3083, 3103, 3130, 3167, 3187, 3223,
3256

‘Naturalist,’ The, notice of, 3086

Nemonra speustica, cxxxii

Nomada mistura, ¢xxvii

Notodonta trepida in Radnorshire, 3158 ;
at Delamere Forest, 3181

Notommata parasita, 3009, 3165

Notornis, discovery of a living specimen
of, 3003

Omotes punctissima, cxxix

Opah at Redcar, 3010

Oriole, golden, nesting near Deal, 3034 ;
near Bungay, 3233

Orthagoriscus Mola, 3001

Osmia parietina, habits of, 3253

Osprey in Norfolk, 3145, 3207; at the
Land’s End, 3300

Otter, time of breeding and period of ges-
tation of, 3022

Ouzel, water, 2982 ; ring, 3026

Owl, snowy, 2982; hawk, bona fide Bri-
tish example of killed, 3029; great
eagle, nesting in confinement, 3145;
passerine, nesting in confinement,
3207 ; barn, regularity in the move-
ments of, 3233

Pagellus centrodontus, 3000

Papilio Telamon, proposed new genus for,
3095

Partridge, common, 3044

Pastor, rose-coloured, in Suffolk, 3233; in
Devonshire, 3233; at Berry Head,
Devon, 3233; at Redcar, 3277

Pempsamacra pygmea, Cxxviii

Perdix cinerea, 3044

Peregrines, 3016

Peryphus maritimus at Ardrossan, 3186

Petrel, fork-tailed, at Lowestoft, 2990 ; in
Oxfordshire, 3118

Phalena oblinita, 3070

Phalarope, red-necked, at Lewes, 3035

Pheasants, 3017

Phocena communis, 3229

Pholas dactylus, note on, 3175

Pheenicura suecica, 3043

Pica caudata, 3085

Piddick, the Sussex, 3175

Pike, anecdote of, 3120

Pipe-fish, snake, at Gamrie, 3119

Pipit, Richard’s, at Scilly, 3300

Platypus, poison from the blow of, 3137

Plover, golden, 2979; little ringed, at
Shoreham, 3279

Polecats, curious capture of a pair, 3137

Polygastrica, structure of the flesh in, 3215

Porpoise, 3229

Portunus puber, 3002

Pout, whiting, 3118

Pseudocephalus arietinus, cxxxvii

Ptarmigan, 2977

Pterodactylus, new species of, from the
chalk formation, 3066

Pterophorus trigonodactyius, larva of, 3102

Puffin in winter, 3175

Pulicites, Affinities of the, cxliii

Pupa of a predaceous beetle in the vici-
nity of nests of wild bees, 3220

Pupe, inquiry respecting, 3220

Pyrrhula enucleator, 3043

Quails in Northamptonshire, 3278

Rail, water, carnivorous propensities of,
2990

Raven, 3025 ; anecdotes of, 3033

Redshank, spotted, at Eastbourne, 3279

Redstart, black, at Lewes, 3033, 3112;
near Teignmonth, 3112; spotted, in
Suffolk, 3279

Redwing, eggs of, 2983, 2984

Reed-wren at Scilly, 3300

Regulus, fire-crested, at Scilly, 3300

Reindeer, 3103, 3130

Rhytiphora Donovani, exxix

Robin, 3043+

Rockling, three-bearded, 2997 ; five-beard-
ed, 2998

Rook, gray variety of, 3034; curiously co-
loured, 3271

Rooks and other birds, instinct and saga-
city of, 3114

Rorqual, northern, near King’s Lynn, 3107

Salmo, Fario, 3228

» ‘Salar, 3226

Sandpiper, wood, at Yarmouth, 3035; at
Newhaven, 3279

Sciurus vulgaris, 3169

Sea-serpent, great, 3228

Sesia fuciformis in Scotland 3288

Shark at Portland, 2991; spiny, at Gam-
rie, 3057; porbeagle, near Bourne-
mouth, 3058 ; spinous, note on, 3281

Shearwater, greater, at Lynn, 3234

Shrike, red-backed, 3207; great gray at
Scilly, 3300

Skua, Richardson’s, at Brighton, 3054;
pomarine, in adult plumage, near
Penzance, 3280

Snails, shower of, 3176, 3187

Snakes, hissing of, 3147

Snipe, summer, 3023; great, breeding in
Norfolk, 3175

Society of British Entomologists, Proceed-
ings of, 3152, 3180, 3216, 3240, 3272,
3296

Sole, variegated, onthe Sussex coast, 3282

Sorex remifer in Hampshire, 3274

Sparrow-hawk, white, in Norfolk, 3276

XXlil

Sparrow-hawk and hobby breeding toge-
ther, 3276

Sparrow, house, and early breakfast-shop,
3138

Sphingide, descriptions of larve of, 3100,
3158, 3241

Sphinx Convolvuli, note on, 3241; in
Scotland, 3288

Spider, stratagem of, 3222

Spongiade, ciliary action in, 3008

Spoonbill in Yorkshire, 3278; at Hails-
ham, 3258

Squirrel, 3169

Star, knotty cushion, 3001

Stint, little, at Scilly, 3279 ; at Pevensey,
3279; Temminck’s, at Newhaven,
3279

Stoat in white coat, 3102

Stoat and leveret, anecdote of, 3274

Stork, white, in Scotland, 3035

Sturgeon in rivers, 2991; common, in
White Cliff Bay, 3119; in the Mer-
sey, 3157

Sucker, 3157

Sun-fish, short, 3001, 3280; on the Nor-
folk coast, 3058

Surnia nyctea, 2982

Swallows and martins, death of, 2988

Swan, mute, in the Leamington Gardens,
3208 ; remarks on, 2343

Swifts, late sojourn of in 1850, 3115, 3173

Tenthredo, new British, 3163

Tern and turnstone, notes on, 3073

Tern, Caspian, near Lausanne, 3209; gull-
billed, note on, 3235; Caspian, at
Yarmouth, 3235 ; whiskered, at Scilly,
3280

Tetratoma Desmaretsii, new localities for,
3102

Thaumantias Howqua, 3096

Thrush, song, anecdote of, 3033

Tinearist’s Calendar for April, 3089

Titmouse, cole, variety of, 3055

Toad in difficulties, 3210; found in a flint,
3265

Toads buried alive, 3266

Totanus hypoleucos, 3023

Trichiosoma lucorum, note on, 3149

Trochilium Chrysidiforme in Hampshire,
3289

Trout, 3228

Trycheris mediana, note on, 3185

Turdus torquatus, 3026

Turnstone and tern, notes on, 3073

Tyneside Naturalists’ Field Club, 3156

Uria grylle, 3083

Ursus arctos, 3187

» Gulo, 3225

Variety, gray, of rook, 3034 ; of the cole
titmouse, 3055; of the knot, 3116;
of sparrow-hawk, 3276; of hedge-
sparrow, 3276 ; of rook, 3278

Vespa Germanica, clxxvii

» Vulgaris, clxxvi

Wagtail, gray-headed, at Eastbourne, 3145;
at Great Yarmouth, 3174

Warbler, blackcap, 2985 ; in winter, 3033 ;
blue-throated, 3043; Orpheus, de-
scription of, 3107; Dartford, habits
of, 3113 ; further notes on, 3276;

Wasps, anecdote of, 3164; note on the
scarcity of, 3185

Water-rat, note on, 3265

Waxwing, observations on, 3049; killed
in Northumberland, 3146; near Bi-
shop Auckland, 3146; late appearance
of, 3146

Waxwing, Bohemian, 3084 ; in Shetland,
3174; American, in Great Britain,
3277

Weasel and frog, anecdote of, 3273

Whale, capture of, off Lynn Regis, 3134

Whidah finch, yellow-backed, in England,
3300

Whinchat at Scilly, 3276

Wolf, 3224

Wood, on the tensions developed among
the tissues of, 3214

Woodcock breeding in Sussex, 2989, 3115;
at the Land’s End, 3300

Woodpecker, hairy, description of, 2985 ;
note on the figure of, 3034; greater
spotted, 3115; great black, in Essex,
3278

Wolves suckling children, 3299

Wrasse, ballan, 3210

Wren, nesting of, 3146, 3207

Zoological Society, Proceedings of, 3002,
3037, 3066, 3090, 3121, 3148, 3176,
3210, 3267, 3290, 3308

Zoology, marine, of the Moray Firth, 2996;
of California, 3297

Zootoca vivipara, on the femoral plates or
scales of, 3071

ADVERTISEMENT.

‘THe Zootocist’ will be continued both as a monthly and an
annual publication. As a monthly, it will contain thirty-two pages
of letter-press, occasionally accompanied with illustrations engraved
on wood; will be on sale two days before the end of every month ;
and will be charged one shilling. As an annual, it will be sold on
or about the 1st of December; will contain twelve monthly numbers,
bound and lettered uniformly with the present volume; and will be
charged thirteen shillings. An alphabetical list, both of contributors
and contents, will be published once in the year.

THE ZOOLOGIST.

FOR 18851.

Notes on Observations in Natural History during a Tour in Norway.
By the Rev. ALFRED CHARLES SMITH, M.A.

(Continued from page 2949).

THE Ptarmigan (Lagopus vulgaris). The bird which gave me the
greatest sport in Norway, and which I most frequently sought for the
sake of food, was the ptarmigan, called by the Norwegians “ rype.”
There are two species of ptarmigan in Norway, Lagopus alpinus and
Lagopus subalpinus; the former of these is somewhat smaller than
the other species, and is the one which we have in Scotland. I
have killed many of both species; and invariably found that while L.
alpinus ranged over the bare and barren rocks, and vast tracts of snow
on the highest fjeld, L. subalpinus always kept to the lower ground
and the sides of the mountains; neither party encroaching on the ter-
ritory of the other, but preserving inviolate the bounds assigned them
by their specific names. In addition to its larger size, L. subalpinus
in its winter plumage may be easily distinguished from its congener
by the absence of the black feathers round the eye, and the lighter co-
lour of its claws: speaking from my own experience, | do not think
it so numerous as the other species. I have generally found the ptar-
migan concealed among the gray lichen-covered rocks on the summits
of the fjelds, and so closely do they resemble these rocks in colour,
that I could scarcely ever see them on the ground; and sometimes
when the more practised eye of my guide would find them, and he
would point out the exact spot, it was not until after a long scrutiny
that I could distinguish the bird within a dozen yards of me. Fre-
quently we would find them on the snow itself, and many a time has
a large circular depression in the snow been pointed out to me, where

IX. B

2978 Birds.

the ptarmigan had been lying, and pluming himself in his chilly bed.
He is a noble bird, free as air, and for the most part uninterrupted in
his wide domain; he can range over the enormous tracts of fjeld,
seldom roused by a human step, and still more seldom hunted by man.
When the winter clothes his dwelling in a garb of snow, he, too, arrays
himself in the purest and most beautiful white: when the summer sun
melts away the snow, and the gray rocks appear, he, too, puts on his
coloured dress, and assimilates himself once more to his beloved rocks.
But the young ptarmigans are my especial favourites: I have caught
them of all ages ; some apparently just emerged from the egg, others,
some weeks older: they are remarkably pretty little birds, with their
short black beaks and their feathered toes ; and so quickly do they
run, and so nimble and active are they in escaping from you, that they
are soon beneath some projecting stone, far beyond the reach of your
arm, where you hear them chirping and calling out defiance and de-
rision. The call of the old ptarmigan is singularly loud and hoarse ;
it is a prolonged, grating, harsh note, and may be heard at a great
distance: indeed, it is quite startling to hear the call of a male bird
amid the silence of the mighty fjeld. I shall never forget the oc-
casion of my hearing and seeing the ptarmigan for the first time: it
was at two o’clock in the morning, on one of the wildest fjelds. We
had been endeavouring to find a way to the great Voririg Foss,
across the mountains; and had travelled one day’s march, partly on
foot, partly on our clever Norwegian ponies; and with them had as-
cended perfect stairs of rocks, clambered over masses of loose stones,
and plunged through bogs and patches of snow, and small lakes, when
a violent snow-storm came on; and after pushing on as best we might
for some time, our guide at length conducted us to a goat-shed, where
we must pass the night: there was no door, and the roof was full of
holes, and unfortunately the wind set right in at the doorway ; how-
ever our Norsk guide soon collected some heather, and we made a
blazing fire, round which our shivering horses as well as ourselves
were glad to crouch, not heeding the suffocating smoke which filled
their noses and throats, nor the bright flame which the crackling
heather gave out. At first we tried to sleep; that was a very forlorn
hope: although the 29th of June, the wind and snow made it intensely
cold, and our time was completely occupied in heaping on fresh
boughs of heather. As we were sitting over the fire in our hut, in
the early morning, while the snow-storm was at its height, and the
ground some inches deep in snow, a fine male ptarmigan came and
perched on a rock within a stone’s throw of our door: neither the

Birds. 2979

blazing crackling fire, which shone in the doorway of our hut, nor the
dense smoke which arose from the holes in the roof, nor ourselves, as
we moved about to heap on the fuel, had any effect in terrifying him:
there he remained within a stone’s throw of our hut for a quarter of an
hour, as if on purpose to give me a good opportunity of watching his
habits. He announced his arrival by a loud crow, which was very
harsh, gruff and prolonged; then he ran about on the snow, in the
same manner as I have often seen a partridge do; then he perched
himself on a piece of rock which overtopped the rest, and turning his
breast to the snow-storm, sat there for some time, as if enjoying the
cold wind and sleet, which was drifting in his face; just as one might
have done on a sultry summer’s day on the top of the Wiltshire downs,
when a cool air was stirring there. Presently the hen bird arrived,
and then he began to crow again. I soon lost sight of her, for she
ran behind the rocks, and I saw her no more; and soon after away
went the cock, flying off down the wind in a sideling way, and with a
whirring noise, and gave a parting crow as he went over the rocks
and was lost to our view.

The Golden Plover (Charadrius pluvialis). In relating the fore-
going anecdote of the ptarmigan, I have made mention of the great
desolate fjeld on which I passed a stormy night: the only birds that
I saw and heard during the two days and nights I was on that fjeld,
were the ptarmigan and the golden plover: the latter were in great
numbers, and so tame, that they would run along the stony ground
within a few yards of me, then fly a few paces, then stand and stare
and run along as before. It is very seldom that these pathless fjelds
are trodden by the human foot; and this accounts for the absence of
timidity displayed by these birds. Our route was marked out (as it
always isin such fjelds) by small stones being placed upright on some
large conspicuous pieces of rock: these little pyramids of stone are
excelleut landmarks to show the way ; the snow does not obliterate or
conceal them, and being readily formed, they are numerous enough to
guide the traveller from one to another. It was while passing be-
tween two of these landmarks, that I discovered a nest of the golden
plover, placed right in our path: the nest was a mere depression of
the scanty grass, unprotected by bush, heather or rock: the eggs, four
in number, and with the small ends toward the middle (as is usual
with all the plover tribe) had been sat upon for some time: but I suc-
ceeded in bringing them away without damage, and they are now in
my cabinet. I know nothing more monotonous and melancholy than
the note of this bird, on a cold windy night, on the desolate uninha-

2980 Birds.

bited fjeld. It was incessantly repeated round our shed, and as the
bird continued to bewail her hard fate (as it seemed to me), and the
wind howled in unison, it became almost insupportable ; and more:
than once did I rush out into the snow to throw a stone at the
offender, and to drive from our hut the miserable bird, whose com-
plaints were so mournful to the listener: and, indeed, I think the my-
thological poets proved themselves to be but sorry ornithologists, or
they would certainly have changed Philomela into a plover rather
than a nightingale ; for the nightingale gives us sweet and delightful
music, whilst nothing can be more mournful and plaintive, and express
more abject woe and melancholy, than the cries of my companions on
the wild fjeld, the golden plovers.

The Hazel Hen. This is the bird most highly prized by the epi-
cure, if, indeed, there be such in Norway, which I am inclined to
doubt, judging from the bill of fare one usually meets in that country.
However, epicures or not, the Norwegians and Swedes do appreciate
the dainty white delicate meat of the “ hjerpe,” which English sports-
men denominate the “hazel hen:” I must confess my ignorance as
to its scientific name. I never shot but one, and that certainly was
the most delicious, tender bird it was ever my good fortune to taste.
I was driving through a thick forest, when two birds, feeding on the
side of the road, and resembling pigeons, flew up among the trees:
I quickly followed them with my gun. The trees and underwood
were so dense that I could not see many yards before me, but at every
step, the whirring noise of a bird rising from the ground within a very
short distance, served to urge me on, with eyes wide open and my
finger on the trigger. It was very evident that I had met with a covey
or pack of some strange fowl’; but before I could emerge into compa-
ratively open space, where I could look around, some ten or twelve
birds must have risen up: and now the last lingerer (as if waiting for
my arrival) rose from the ground some distance off, and flew straight
up to the extreme top of one of the highest larches: bang, and down
he dropped. I knew him at once to be the Norwegian hjerpe: he is
a very handsome bird, with beautifully marked plumage, and about
the size of ared grouse. While I was loading again, I spied two
more sitting on the top of a fir-tree: I soon crept under the tree, but:
the foliage was so thick, and the trees so numerous, that I could not
catch sight of them. Again and again, I dodged about the tree and
tried to get a view of them from underneath ; and again and again I
returned to my former post to assure myself they were not gone: no,
there they sat, side by side, as motionless as the cones around them,

Birds. 2981

with their necks stretched out, as if listening. For full ten minutes
I continued to advance, retreat, edge first this side, then that, but to
no purpose: the intervening branches impeded my view: at length
my patience was exhausted and I fired, but I only scared them away,
and not another could I see, though I felt certain, the rest of the pack
were in the tree-tops above.
Norwegian Jay (Garrulus infaustus). For want of a better name,
I call this bird the “ Norwegian jay ;” he abounds in the forests of
Norway, and with the single exception of the bird last described (the
hazel hen), was the only land bird I saw in Norway which does not
occasionally appear in great Britain. I was wandering in a large
forest on the side of one of the mountains, which rises from the glo-
rious Romsdal, and was searching for capercailzies, and meditating
how I would thrust a bullet into my gun, in case we should stumble
upon a bear (for they abound in these mountains, and during the five
days we have been here, have killed two cows and severely wounded
two others), when the note of a strange bird suddenly sounded in ad-
vance. ‘“ What bird can that be?” I exclaimed to my companion:
“Some kind of hawk ;” he confidently replied. ‘Not a bit of it,”
said I, “no hawk ever had such a voice as that: it was more like the:
note of a fieldfare, or perhaps ajay.” Now the notes of a hawk, a.
fieldfare and a jay, are not exactly alike certainly; and a very casual)
observer might distinguish between them ; but this bird’s note was an:
amalgamation of all three. We could not make it out by its note, so:
we advanced towards the place whence the sound came: there sat the
owner of the voice, an ash-gray bird, with orange wings and tail: we
knocked him down, and examined him at our leisure. He had a
black head and beak, and black legs and feet, was just twelve inches
in length, an elegant bird, and he could erect into a crest the black
feathers on the top of his head. Most appropriate, indeed, was his
name (Garrulus infaustus), though I did not know it, till I saw it in
the museum at Trondhjem, for we should never have found him, had.
he not by his unlucky chattering apprized us that he was near. I af-~
terwards met with many of these birds in the forest: they generally
go in little bands of four or five. They are the most active birds,
rarely stopping many moments on the same branch, but now hanging
from the boughs with their heads downwards, now running and hop-
ping from bough to bough, now perched on the ground, now arching
their neck and erecting their crest, and spreading out their beautiful
bright orange tails, they are remarkably elegant. Their flight is un-
dulating and graceful, but very slow; and as the little band flies:

2982 Birds.

across the road in the.forest, it almost seems to be suspended in the
air, or to be dancing in the sunshine, as I have seen fire-flies dance
on the Pincian Hill at Rome on a warm spring evening.

Snowy Owl (Surnta nyctea). Once, and once only, I caught sight
of this beautiful and very rare owl, as I was riding at 10 o’clock, P.M.
through a thick wood: he came very near me, as he flew past, but so
noiselessly, that I. was not aware of his approach till I saw him steal-
ing away. I was returning from a two days’ shooting excursion on a
fjeld, my gun thrown over my shoulder, and I very tired and quite
unprepared for a shot ; but at sight of the snowy owl, all my energies
revived ; I soon jumped from my horse and went in pursuit. It was
to no purpose; I never saw him again.

) ALFRED CHARLES SMITH.
Old Park, Devizes,

November 8, 1850.
(To be continued).

Birds of Oxfordshire. By the Rev. A. MarrHews.
(Continued from page 2740).

Since the publication of our list of the ornithological productions
of this county and its neighbourhood, two additional species have oe-
curred, both belonging to the class of occasional visitors.

Masked Gull (Larus capistratus). An immature specimen of this
bird was shot close to the town of Newbury several years ago, and is
at the present time in the collection of the Bishop of Oxford.

Water Ouzel (Cinclus aquaticus). This species was observed on
the bank of the river Cherwell, near Weston-on-the-Green, on the 6th
of May, in the present year, 1850, by Mr. Willoughby Beauchamp.

During the last spring and summer months, the following have
been the only Ornithological occurrences worthy of notice.

On the 13th of April a pair of Hoopoes were seen near Risborough,
in Buckinghamshire; one of them was killed, but the other effected
its escape. When first seen they were in a ditch by the roadside ;
the manner in which they were employed was not noticed.

A young specimen of the great northern diver was taken in the
same neighbourhood on the 9th of May. This bird had dropped
during the night in a deep ditch, and unable to extricate himself, lay

Birds. 2983

at the bottom loudly vociferating his harsh cry: the noise soon at-
tracted the attention of a labourer, by whom, after a sharp struggle,
he was captured, and carried to the gamekeeper of Lady Frankland
Russell, of the Chequers Court. Here he lived for some time tethered
by the leg to a stake on the margin of a fish-pond, to the great annoy-
ance of its scaly inhabitants, until he was removed by her ladyship’s
orders to the garden of the Zoological Society. I regret to add that
he died soon after his arrival in the Regent’s Park.

A pair of the lesser tern (Sterna minuta), and also of the black
tern (Sterna nigra), in the adult plumage, were killed on Port Mea-
dow, near Oxford, in the beginning of May. And about the same
time a specimen of the gray wagtail (Motacilla boarula) occurred in
the full summer dress.

A. MATTHEWS.

Weston-on-the-Green,
November, 1850.

Occurrence of the Goshawk (Falco palumbarius) in Norfolk.—Whilst shooting at
Frimlingham, on the coast of Norfolk, on the 17th ult., several gentlemen and myself,
saw a gyrfalcon. He must have been an old bird, as he seemed to us to be almost
of a snowy whiteness. This is the second that has been seen in-that neighbourhood
within the last three years; the other was killed at Beeston, on the 24th of February,
1848, and is now in the possession of Mr. J. Gurney Hoare of Hampstead. A few
days after we had seen the gyrfalcon, two ospreys were seen at Frimlingham, one of
which, a very fine bird of this year, was shot and is now in my possession.—7. Fowell
Buxton; Truman's Brewery, Brick Lane, November 19, 1850.

Eggs of the Redwing.—There are inquiries on this subject in the ‘ Zoologist’
for 1848 and 1850 (Zool. 2141 and 2948), the former of which I might have answered
through its pages, had I not hoped that some one would have done so who had more
conclusive evidence than J had to offer. I have in my own collection, eggs of the
redwing from three or four distinct sources. Two of the earlier sets came from Scan-
dinavia, and one is of the same lot as those figured by Mr. Hewitson, having been
brought over by Mr. Dann. Others which I have, Mr. Procter has received from
Iceland since his visit to that country. Besides these, I have from Iceland, eggs
brought over three years ago by a much valued correspondent of the ‘ Zoologist; and
though, I believe, he did not take them himself, he had not the shadow of a doubt of
their genuineness. All these eggs agreed, in being less than the ordinary eggs of the
blackbird, but in other respects being just like them, and subject to similar variations. I
have within the last few days, seen eggs from two nests of the redwing, taken hy a
friend of mine in Sweden, last June or July, and these too have a similar appearance
to the rest. One of the nests was placed amongst the roots of an overthrown tree,
and the other was in a low bush. I trust this weight of evidence, all from sources

2984 Birds.

worthy of the highest confidence, will be allowed to settle the question of the general
character of the egg of the redwing.—John Wolley ; Roxburgh Terrace, Edinburgh,
November, 1850.

On the true character of the Redwing’s Eggs.—I am unable to furnish, in propria
persona, the evidence sought by your correspondents the Rey. S. C. Malan (Zool.
2141) and the Rev. A. C. Smith (Zool. 2948), to determine the character of the redwing’s
egg, never having been myself in a country where the bird breeds; but I can refer
those gentlemen to a source from which they may obtain testimony of the quality they
desire, and such as, I have little doubt, will satisfy them that the redwing’s egg resem-
bles the blackbird’s, and not the egg of the song-thrush, notwithstanding the closer
bodily resemblance of the latter bird. Some years ago, Mr. Yarrell made me a pre-
sent of a couple of redwing’s eggs (like blackbird’s), which had been sent to him by
Mr. Dann from Sweden, and when my friend Hewitson “ took on with the new love”
that he has adorned so splendidly, and, too mindful of the old adage, broke up his
collection of eggs, he let me have other similar specimens, which came, I believe, from
the same source. Knowing that Mr. Dann had the requisite skill and opportunity to
insure correctness, and having the sanction of such authorities as my friends Yarrell
and Hewitson, I placed these eggs in my cabinet in perfect confidence that they were
correct; when, however, the prevalent doubt had been repeatedly broached, without
provoking observation, and I saw that Mr. Yarrell allowed M. Nilsson’s description of
the redwing’s egg to remain without comment in his second edition of the ‘ History of
British Birds,’ and I learnt from Mr. Hewitson that he had began to waver, my confi-
dence gave way. In this state of affairs I received, in August last, a packet of eggs
from Mr. W. Proctor, curator of the Durham University Museum, containing
amongst others, a redwing’s egg, like a small blackbird’s. Instigated by the doubt
that had grown upon me as before stated, I returned the redwing’s egg, and assigned
my doubt of its correctness as my reason for doing so. This provoked a letter of ex-
postulation from Mr. Proctor, written in a strain of honest indignation, and setting
forth facts from which it was impossible to withhold conviction. He stated that he
had shot redwings from their nests in Iceland and taken the eggs and young birds,
and also addled eggs from nests containing young birds, adding the dates and places
from his journal. He stated, moreover, that there is no other thrush in Iceland to
render mistake possible. I knew that he had been in Iceland, but was not aware that
he had identified the redwing’s egg so clearly, or I should not, of course, have ex-
pressed to him the doubt I did. I can, however, hardly regret having done so, seeing
that my doubt has been thereby dissipated. With his letter, Mr. Proctor sent me
two redwing’s nests and an additional number of eggs. The nests are built and
lined with grass, without the admixture of dirt that prevails in the nests of our native
Merulide. The eggs are not to be distinguished from small blackbird’s eggs. Mr.
Proctor must be known to many of your readers, and his likeness in his Iceland dress,
forming the last vignette in Mr. Yarrell’s ‘ British Birds, must be well known to all.
I feel assured that he would with pleasure answer the inquiries of those who may wish
for additional particulars, or for testimony direct from himself, and it is probable that
he may be able to supply specimens of redwing’s eggs. I can add, for the further sa-
tisfaction of your correspondents, that both Mr. Yarrell and Mr. Hewitson have seen
Mr. Proctor’s letter, and are both satisfied that the redwing’s egg resembles the black-
bird’s and fieldfare’s, and not the egg of the song-thrush. Mr. Yarrell admits that
the reprinting M. Nilsson’s description, in the second edition of the ‘ British Birds,’

Birds. 29895

after he had received the eggs from Mr. Dann, was an oversight. He also tells me
that the representations of the redwing’s eggs in Dr. Thienemann’s late work, resem-
ble those of the missel-thrush, fieldfare and blackbird, and not those of the song-
thrush.—J. P. Wilmot ; Manchester, November 16, 1850.

Occurrence of the Pied Flycatcher (Muscicapa atricapilla) in Norfolk.—A male of
this species was shot at Lowestoft, on the 10th of May, 1849, by a gentleman residing
at that town, and several others were killed in the neighbourhood of Lynn, during the
same month.—J. O. Harper ; Norwich, December 4, 1850.

Blackcap Warbler in November.—This delightful bird usually leaves this neigh-
bourhood in September ; indeed, it seldom stays beyond the first week in that month.
This year, however, has presented us with a remarkable exception ; for on November
11th, a labourer brought to me a fine male, which had just been taken alive, under
the following circumstances. He and another person were walking along a retired
lane near here, when one of them perceived an unusual little bird, gliding leisurely
about the branches of some willows in a holt. They at once determined to take him,
and after considerable exertion ran him down. They described the bird as flying well,
although when brought to me, one wing was somewhat damaged, probably in endea-
vouring to capture him. With the exception of the oak, the trees had lost their
leaves ; the hedges also were bare, yet the bird had lingered with us more than ten
weeks after his companions had departed, braving some cold weather and frosty nights,
and still to all appearance was as healthy, and in as beautiful condition and plumage,
as when summer fruits were abundant and the woods were green. He had evidently
never been straitened for food, and I found from the dung which he dropped that
he had been feeding on ripe blackberries. As soon as I received him, he was put into
a cage and fed upon this fruit and worms, both of which he ate, and still looks lively.
The confinement, however, is not quite so much to his taste as his native fields, fur he
is restless and uneasy, and continually flitting around his cage and trying to escape.
My impression is, that had he not been caught, he would have braved the winter.—
John Joseph Briggs ; Melbourne, Derbyshire, November 17, 1850.

Occurrence of the Shore Lark (Alauda alpestris) near Yarmouth.—A specimen of
the shore lark was shot near Yarmouth about a week since, by a boy who was shooting
small birds. It is a male specimen, in very good condition as to plumage, and it was
also very plump in point of flesh. This is only the second instance (as far as I know)
of the occurrence of this bird in the county of Norfolk.—J. H. Gurney ; Easton, Nor-
folk, November 15, 1850.

Description of the Hairy Woodpecker, chiefly copied from Wilson’s
* American Ornithology. By Kpwarp NEWMAN.

Ir will be within the recollection of my readers that some corres-
pondence appeared in the volume for 1849, on the occurrence in York-
shire of a woodpecker, new to Britain: the first notice is in the July
number of that year (Zool. 2496), where Mr. Higgins minutely de-
scribes the specimen which was shot at Whitby, and which reached

IX. Cc

2986 Birds.

his hands in a very recent state, the body being removed, but the
flesh still adhering to the wing-bones, leg-bones and head. In a
subsequent communication, Mr. Bird identifies the specimen as an
individual of the hairy woodpecker (Picus villosus, Zool. 2528),
and recites the authors by whom it had previously been noticed as
British. I have the pleasure of laying before my readers a hastily
drawn but characteristic sketch of the bird, obligingly furnished by

Mr. Higgins, and of quoting from Wilson’s ‘ American Ornithology’
a more detached description.

Hairy Woodpecker (Picus villosus, Linn.).

“This is another of our resident birds, and, like the yellow-bellied
woodpecker, a haunter of orchards and borer of apple trees, an eager
hunter of insects, their eggs and larve in old stumps and old rails, in
rotten branches and crevices of the bark ; having all the characters of the
woodpecker strongly marked. Inthe month of May he retires with his
mate to the woods, and either seeks out a branch already hollow, or cuts
out an opening for himself. In the former case I have known his nest
more than five feet distant from the mouth of the hole; and in the
latter he digs first horizontally, if in the body of the tree, six or eight

Birds. 2987

inches, and then downward, obtusely, for twice that distance ; carrying
up the chips with his bill, and scraping them out with his feet. They
also not unfrequently choose the orchard for breeding in, and even an
old stake of the fence, which they excavate for this purpose. The
female lays five white eggs, and hatches in June. This species is
more numerous than the yellow-bellied woodpecker (Picus varius) in
Pennsylvania, and more domestic ; frequently approaching the farm-
house and skirts of the town. In Philadelphia I have many times ob-
served them examining old ragged trunks of the willow and poplar
while people were passing immediately below. Their cry is strong,
shrill and tremulous; they have also a single note or chuck, which
they often repeat, in an eager manner, as they hop about, and dig into
the crevices of the tree. They inhabit the continent from Hudson’s
Bay to Carolina and Georgia.

“The hairy woodpecker is nine inches long, and fifteen in extent;
crown, black; line over and under the eye, white; the eye is placed in
a black line, that widens as it descends to the back; hind head
scarlet, sometimes intermixed with black ; nostrils hid under remark-
ably thick, bushy, recumbent hairs or bristles; under the bill are
certain long hairs thrown forward and upward; bill, a bluish horn-
colour, grooved, wedged at the end, straight, and about an inch and
a quarter long; touches of black, proceeding from the lower mandible,
end in a broad black strip that joins the black on the shoulder; back
black, divided by a broad lateral strip of white, the feathers composing
which are loose and unwebbed, resembling hairs, whence its name ;
rump and shoulders of the wing, black; wings, black, tipped and
spotted with white, three rows of spots being visible on the secondaries,
and five on the primaries; greater wing-coverts also spotted with
white; tail, as in the others, cuneiform, consisting of ten strong-
shafted and pointed feathers, the four middle ones black, the next
partially white, the two exterior ones white, tinged at the tip with a
brownish burnt colour; tail-coverts, black; whole lower side, pure
white ; legs, feet, and claws, light blue, the latter remarkably large
and strong; inside of the mouth, flesh-coloured ; tongue, pointed,
beset with barbs, and capable of being protruded more than an inch
and a half; the os hydides, in this species, passes on each side of the
neck, ascends the skull, passes down towards the nostril, and is wound
round the bone of the right eye, which projects considerably more
than the left for its accommodation. The great mass of hairs that
cover the nostril, appears to be designed as a protection to the front
of the head, when the bird is engaged in digging holes into the wood.

2988 Birds.

The membrane which encloses the brain in this, as in all the other
species of woodpeckers, is also of extraordinary strength, no doubt to
prevent any bad effects from violent concussion while the bird is em-
ployed in digging for food. The female wants the red on the hind
head ; and the white below is tinged with brownish. The manner of
flight of these birds has been already described under a former
species, as consisting of alternate risings and sinkings. The hairy
woodpeckers generally utter a loud tremulous scream as they set off,
and when they alight. They are hard to kill; and, like the red-
headed woodpecker, hang by the claws, even of a single foot, as long
as a spark of life remains, before they drop.

“This species is common at Hudson’s Bay; and has lately been
found in England. Dr. Latham examined a pair which were shot
near Halifax, in Yorkshire; and on comparing the male with one
brought from North America, could perceive no difference, but in a
slight interruption of the red that marked the hind head of the former ;
a circumstance which I have frequently observed in our own. The
two females corresponded exactly.”—p. 159, vol. i.

K. NEWMAN.

Death of Martins and Swallows.—A great number of martins and swallows were
found dead or dying in the barns, sheds, churchyards, &c., of this county, on the 10th
and 11th of May, 1849, the weather being cold and boisterous. No doubt they pe-
rished either from the direct effects of the cold, or from the destruction of the insects
on which they generally feed.—J. O. Harper ; Norwich, December 4, 1850.

Occurrence of the Hoopoe (Upupa Epops) in Norfolk—Two specimens of this rare
bird were killed on the 22nd of May, 1849, at Yarmouth, and are now in the posses-
sion of a gentleman residing at Lowestoft: on the 11th of April, 1850, a male was
shot in a sandpit near the church at Lowestoft, and was purchased and preserved by a
gentleman of that town ; and on the 13th of the same month, another specimen was
shot at Yarmouth, by a gentleman of that town, and purchased by Mr. Knights.—
Id.

Note on the Capercaillie (Tetrao Urogallus).—In reference to the interesting par-
ticulars given by the Rev. Alfred C. Smith (Zool. 2944) of the capercaillie* or wood
grouse, I may mention that, more than twenty years ago, a specimen of this noble and
eagle-looking bird was sent from Norway to a gentleman living in Banff, in the same
house with myself. It had been killed about the time that the vessel sailed ; and, the

* Although this name is frequently spelled capercailzie, I have never heard it pro-

nounced in Scotland in any other way than capercaillie. It is said to be Gaelic for
‘stag of the wood.’

Birds. 2989

passage being a quick one, it was quite fresh and in the finest condition. It was the
most beautiful example of the bird which I have ever seen, and weighed upwards of
fourteen pounds. It being determined upon that it should be eaten, it was put into
the hands of the cook, and desirous to ascertain upon what it had been feeding, I was
present when its stomach was opened. This was found to be crammed with the
slender leaves, or, as they are sometimes called, the needles of the Scotch fir (Pinus
sylvestris). These were indigested and entire; and were so numerous as to fill a
common table plate. The flesh had a perceptible flavour of fir, and was, moreover,
as your correspondent remarks, of a somewhat dry character, and rather coarse in the
fibre. The bird was received, so far as I can recollect, in the month of May ; and I
have no doubt, that as the summer advances and gives birth to other kinds of food,
that furnished by the fir is for the time abandoned. Lord Fife had several of these
magnificent birds, both male and female, for some years, in an aviary amid the plan-
tations around Duffhouse. The aviary was retired and spacious, and was planted here
and there with small pine trees, to assimilate the scene in some measure to that of
their natural abode. They bred freely ; but the young ones, after reaching a certain
stage, were uniformly cut off by internal disease, produced by a species of worm in
their intestines. The eggs were very uniform in appearance, being exactly like that
figured by Mr. Hewitson, in his work on the subject. They are remarkably fine eat-
ing. In 1829, I saw nine eggs of the capercaillie, which were sent over from Norway
to his lordship, to be hatched at Marr Lodge in Braemar. They were completely dif-
ferent in appearance from any others of this interesting bird, which have come under
my notice. They were without any spots, and of a deep brown colour, with some
scarcely perceptible yellowish blotches. In the account given by Naumann and
Buhle of the egg of this bird, it is said, “ in warm water all the dots may be washed
off, and then appears the surface, a uniform very pale rust-yellow.” (Kier der Vogel
Deutschlands, Taf. iii. 1). Perhaps the eggs to which IJ allude, had been treated in
some such manner. It was found impossible to hatch them. At certain seasons, the
male capercaillie casts the skin which envelops his powerful looking bill. It comes
off as if it were a sheath, and is soon replaced by a new covering. This was pointed
out to me by an intelligent gamekeeper, who studied the habits of the birds, and I
have myself seen the operation going on. The circumstance, so far as I am aware, is
unnoticed in books.—James Smith ; Manse of Monquhitter, Aberdeenshire, November
20, 1850.

Occurrence of the Avocet (Recurvirostra Avocetta) at Sandwich, in Kent.—A spe-
cimen of the avocet was shot at Sandwich, by a gentleman formerly of Lowestoft, on
the 22nd of April, 1849.—J. O. Harper ; Norwich, December 4, 1850.

Occurrence of the Little Bittern (Ardea minuta) in Norfolk.—A beautiful male
specimen of this bird was shot at South Waltham on the 11th of June, 1849, and was:
preserved by Mr. Knights, of this city. —Jd.

Woodcock Breeding in Sussex.—I have recently received authentic intelligence,
that during the summer of the present year, a brood of four young woodcocks was:
seen at Brede, in the eastern part of Sussex. The spot was a wood, ata short distance
only from a house ; they were only partially fledged, but able to flutter a little, and
they were discovered in consequence of one of the parents pretending to be crippled,
the trick so commonly practised, under the same circumstances, by partridges and
various other birds. It is satisfactory to know that no further molestation was offered
to any of the family beyond taking one of the chickens into the hand for examination,

2990 Birds.

but none of them were noticed afterwards. Though similar occurrences may not be
often heard of, I conceive they may be really less rare than would be supposed. In
some large woods in the parish of Goudhurst, Kent, woodcocks bred not unfrequently,
I believe, twenty years ago ; since which period, all information respecting the estate
has ceased to reach me: and the numerous remains, occasionally extending continu-
ously over hundreds of acres, of the ancient forest of Anderida, in various parts of the
Weald of both Kent and Sussex, present many localities so favourable to the habits of
these birds, that it seems not improbable some may tarry, and raise their young there.
That this may happen, and yet escape observation, issnot a matter to excite much sur-
prise. The woodcock seldom, if ever, moves by day voluntarily, and although it may
proceed to its feeding-ground before the light has departed during the long evenings
of summer, at that season of the year far less attention is generally paid to the birds
which may fly past, than would be the case at other times, beside the additional con-
cealment then derived from abundance of vegetation. In corroboration of the above
conjectural reasoning, very recent information enables me to add some further facts.
There is an estate in the north-western angle of Sussex, comprising a large proportion
of woodland, whither, for at least twenty years past, three or four couples of wood-
cocks have usually, if not invariably, resorted, for the purpose of nidification ; and so
constantly is this known to happen, that the owner of the property would undertake to
exhibit one or more of the birds upon his table on any assigned day in the year; and
annually, for two days during the summer, on some special occasion, it is his regular
practice to produce a dish of woodcocks. Another circumstance I have to state is,
that the friend, from whom the preceding particulars were obtained, was himself taken
with others, at no very distant period, to see a woodcock’s nest, containing eggs, in the
neighbourhood of Godalming, in Surrey.— Arthur Hussey ; Rottingdean, November 19,
1850.

Carnivorous propensity of the Water Rail (Rallus aquaticus).—In preparing one of
these birds for preservation, I found in the gizzard a full-grown specimen of the com-
mon shrew (Sorex araneus); I believe this to be an uncommon occurrence.—J. O.
Harper ; Norwich, December 4, 1850.

On the Swimming of Water Fowl.—I believe I am correct in saying that the differ-
ence in the ordinary mode of swimming of web-footed birds, and those which are
neither webbed nor lobe-footed, has not been noticed, or if noticed, has not been laid
down by naturalists. I think, from observation, that it would be true to assert that
the Natatores, properly so called, in their ordinary mode of direct progression, invaria-
bly row, that is, they strike with both feet at the same time; whilst other birds which
occasionally take the water, as many of the Grallatores, paddle, or use their feet al-
ternately, and that generally in very rapid succession. I have frequently observed
this in the common water-hen. The reason for this difference is obvious, for we have
only to observe a swan or duck in the act of turning, to see how great an effect is pro-
duced upon the motion of the bird by a one-sided stroke. Were the Natatores to use
such powerful instruments as their webbed-feet alternately, the motion, especially of
the larger kinds, would be from side to side, and they would exhibit on the water, as
clumsy a performance as they do on shore, and would remind us of a set of land-
lubbers pulling for the first time down to Eel-pie Island, instead of being more perfect
and regular in their action than the crew of a man-of-war's gig.—Francis K. Amherst ;
St. Mary’s, Oscott, December 6th, 1850.

Occurrence of the Fork-tailed Petrel (Thalassidroma Leachii) at Lowestoft.—W hen

Fishes. 299]

out shooting on the beach between Lowestoft and Yarmouth, on the 28th of November,
1849, I saw three specimens of this rare bird, and fired at them, but was at too great a
distance to obtain either. I was, however, enabled to observe them for some time with
a telescope. A day or two after, a specimen was shot at Yarmonth, and was purchased
and preserved by Mr. Knights, of this city—J. O. Harper ; Norwich, December 4,
1850.

Insensibility of Fish to pain.—Whilst fishing a short time since off Swyre, I
hooked a good sized fish, but before I was able to get it into the boat it broke away,
taking my hook and about two fathoms of my line. Within two or three minutes I
had another bite, and this time succeeded in hauling in a very large bream (Cyprinus
brama), and strange to say, there was my own hook with the line hanging out of its
mouth : on being opened it was found full of bait, and, therefore, must have taken the
hook the second time from wantonness, which I think it certainly would not have
done had it been suffering any pain. I have frequently caught fish with as many as
three or four hooks in them, but never one before with one of my owninit. Bream
afford capital sport when once they get round the boat ; but they are not now consi-
dered so great a luxury as, according to Sir W. Dugdale, they appear to have been in
Henry the Fifth’s time, when they were valued at one shilling and eightpence. The
French, even now, prize them more highly than we do, and to this end have the pro-
verb “‘ He that hath breams in his pond is able to bid his friend welcome.”—R. Roe ;
Leigh, near Sherborne, November 12, 1850.

Aquatic Rencontre.—One day last week, in the beautiful sheet of water, Hatterton
Lake, a novel rencontre was witnessed. A goose, whilst its beak was under water, was
seized by a pike and a struggle for life ensued ; the poor gouse was seen to go under
water several times and come back, only the body being visible, its head not rising
above the surface, till at last it sunk altogether, a prey no doubt to its ravenous as-
sailant.—Staffordshire Advertiser, November 12, 1850.

Occurrence of a Shark (Squalus carcharias) at Portland.—On Wednesday, o3rd of
September, a shark, measuring nine feet, and weighing 500 Ibs., was caught in a
mackerel-net by some fishermen, on the Chisel beach. About six weeks previously, I
saw one evidently in pursuit of some fish: it was so near the shore as to enable me to
see with certainty what it was. Probably the monster of the deep continued in the
neighbourhood, feeding on the herrings which usually strike in about this time.
Several strangers have this year visited our coast, drawn out of their latitude by the
warmth of the weather.—R. Roe ; Leigh, near Sherborne, November 12, 1850.

Occurrence of the Sturgeon in Rivers.—A sturgeon, between five and six feet in
length, was caught in a salmon-net in the Clyde, below Renfrew, on the 15th of April,
1849: another, six feet long and weighing 38 Ibs., was caught in the Nene, about
five miles from Lynn: athird, measuring upwards of five feet in length and weighing
nearly four stone, was caught in the river Northwold, near Stoke Ferry. It is rather
singular that so large a fish should be found so far from the sea—J. O. Harper ;
Norwich, December 4, 1850.

2992 Fishes.

Capture of a Species of Atherine (Atherina Boyeri), new to the British
Fauna. By JonaTHan Coucn, Esq., F.L.S., &c.*

Ir is only of late that more than one species of atherine has been
recognized by naturalists ; and even in the last edition of Mr. Yarrell’s
‘British Fishes,’ no other besides the Atherina Presbyter, popularly
known in the west of England as the common smelt, is recorded as a
British species. It is with much pleasure, therefore, that I am able
to communicate to the Society the fact of the occurrence of another
species, the A. Boyeri, Boyer’s atherine of Risso and Cuvier, on our
coast; and as the circumstances attending its discovery appear to me
to be illustrative of its distinguishing habits, I will be the more parti-
cular in describing the manner in which this fish fell under my ob-
servation.

In the middle of October, 1846, when the weather was turbulent
and the sea much disturbed, a multitude of little fishes made their
appearance in our harbour, and when the water became smooth they
were seen to be loosely scattered in all directions, but not more than
two or three being close to each other, none of them far below the
surface, and all busily engaged in touching or taking minute objects
swimming at the surface ; so that it appeared as if there was perpetu-
ally falling a thinly scattered succession of drops of rain. As these
fishes continued with us for more than a week, I had several opportu-
nities of watching their actions; and I observed that they often
associated into small loosely arranged companies; but the whole
multitude commonly proceeded in one direction, examining every
small attractive object on the surface, that had a little motion, and
dimpling the surface in doing it. But when I proceeded to endeavour
to obtain a few specimens for examination, I soon discovered, that
however earnestly intent they appeared to be on the objects of their
pursuit, they were not less attentive to their own safety. With a hook
I had little success, as, from their small size, none but those which are
used in fly-fishing could be taken into their mouths ; but they showed
much indifference to a bait, and only followed it when by a little
motion it was made to assume the appearance of being alive. I was
made more sensible of their vigilance when I attempted to catch a
few with a hand-net from the rock; for they always kept at a distance

* This paper was read at a meeting of the Natural-History Society of Pen-
zance.

2/2 ¢&~e

Fishes. 2993

from the place where I fixed myself, and by so doing, rendered it ex-
ceedingly difficult to secure a single one. I succeeded at last by
concealing myself behind a projecting ledge, and making a sudden
dip with the net in a direction opposed to their course.

- These fishes were all of one size, about three inches long, and much
resembling the common atherine; but they are distinguished by a
proportionably larger eye, and a somewhat different arrangement of
the fins. They are well described and figured in the ‘ History of
Fishes,’ by Cuvier and Valenciennes ; for access to which, I am in-
debted to my friend Mr. Yarrell, to whom I had the pleasure of pre-
senting the specimens I obtained. It appears that this fish is not
uncommon in the Mediterranean; but although I have watched for
them attentively for three subsequent years, 1 have not seen them
since the date above given.

JONATHAN COUCH.
Polperro, December, 1850.

Remarks on a Fossil Fish of the Old Red Sandstone of Gamrie.
By the Rev. JAMEs SMITH.

I HAVE often felt amazement, and even awe, from the fact that thou-
sands of years before the creation of man, the Almighty. had already
prepared a succession of volumes, so to speak, from which, at a certain
Stage in the progressive advances of his race, man might be enabled
to ascertain what had been the proceedings of his Maker, and what
kinds and varieties of animals had from time to time been formed by
him, on this our planet, during the unnumbered succession of ages
through which, we can now see, it must have passed before it became
the abode of rational and accountable beings. These volumes were
carefully laid up in the most secure and befitting recesses. Their
leaves were of stone; and the illustrations which they contained, were
of the most finished and beautiful description. Unlike what takes
place in the delineations of a human pencil, the animals themselves
drew individually the outline, and furnished the tints, by which their
portrait was to be produced in the most enduring and characteristic
manner. ‘These portraits were intended to form a subject of study to
man ; but it is remarkable, that they were nevertheless to remain un-
known to him till after he had been no fewer than six thousand years
in the world. During that lengthened period, not one of his race was

IX. D

2994 Fishes.

to have even a suspicion of their existence. But the time at length
came when it was the pleasure of the Creator, that access should be
had to these most extraordinary and most interesting records; that
they should be brought to light from the gloom in which they had lain,
so long; that they should communicate decisive although most un-
expected intelligence of what had been going on in our planet from
the morning of its existence; and that they should furnish a new
theme for admiration of him, by whom, in the language of Scripture,
all things were made very good. And the feature, perhaps, which in
a scientific view distinguishes most greatly the now expiring half of
the present century, is the progress which has been made by man in
that portion of the history of the world, which has reference to a
period previous to his own creation.

Among the wonderful volumes, of which we are speaking, may be
regarded as one of the most ancient that which is termed the “ old
red sand-stone formation.” In this great formation there are three
principal beds, or divisions, each of which is characterized by one or
more fossils peculiar to itself, along with some which it may have in
common with the other beds, and with other formations. To the for-
mation of which we are speaking, the attention of the scientific and
even of the literary world, such are the popular graces of his style,
has been largely directed by Mr. Hugh Miller, so justly celebrated
for his extent of geological knowledge, his acuteness of observation,
and his uncommon, most graphical, and even poetical powers of de-
scription. It is, in an especial manner, to the productions of the
lowest of the three beds now mentioned, that his researches have
been detected. Of this bed, the characteristic fossils are, as is well
known, ichthyolites (jish-stones), or petrified fishes, of a very unusual
and peculiar form; and the localities where they have been found
are three, wz., Caithness, Cromarty, and the parish of Gamrie in
Banffshire. On the farm of Findon, and in the parish just named, a
locality of this description has been famous for more than twenty
years ; and the fossils which have, principally speaking, been obtained
from it, are specimens of various species of the Coccosteus or berry-
bone, and of the Pterichthys or wing-fish. This locality has been
visited by not a few of the eminent geologists of our own day; and,
till of late, it was the only one which was known in the parish. Some
time ago, however, the Rev. George Harris was appointed assistant to
Mr, Wilson, the minister of Gamrie; and being one of the few indivi-
duals, at least in this part of the country, who would appear to take
pleasure in making themselves acquainted with the animated beings

Fishes. 2995

which the sovereign Creator has brought into existence in such won-
derful number and variety, he had his attention early directed, in con-
sequence, to those fossil specimens at Findon, for which Gamrie has
so long been not a little remarkable. And thinking it not improbable
that, in the neighbourhood, there might be localities of a similar cha-
racter which were yet unexplored, he instituted researches for the
purpose; and the consequence has been that he has succeeded in
meeting with fossil remains in some deep ravines traversed by water,
and lying at a short distance to the south of the Manse. Among
these fossils, in conjunction with specimens of Pterichthys (figured
Zool. 47), Coccosteus (figured Zool. 48), &c., he has found others,
which, to him at least, are unknown ; and there is one in particular
which is of a singular configuration, and of which, through his kind-
ness, I am now enabled to transmit you a drawing from the pencil of
Mrs. Wilson, Manse of Gamrie. Of this specimen, he has not met
with any individual that takes an interest in fossil researches, who
has either seen or heard of an example. An examination, moreover,
of Mr. Miller’s publication ‘The Old Red Sandstone,’ has strengthened
him in the opinion that the ichthyolite, of which we are speaking,
may, perhaps, be still undescribed and unfigured. Such an opinion,
however, he wishes it to be distinctly understood, is merely that of
himself, and of those to whom he has submitted his specimens; and
he is prepared to find that the ichthyolite, to which I am referring,
has already been noticed, and, it may be, is even familiar to such as
are properly acquainted with the present state of paleontological dis-
covery.
JAMES SMITH.

Manse of Monquhitter by Turriff, Aberdeenshire,
December 14, 1849.

P.S.—Since the above was written, I was informed, both by a notice
on the wrapper of the ‘ Zoologist’ for February, 1850, and also by a
private communication from the Editor, that the ichthyolite referred to, is
the Diplacanthus longispinis of Agassiz’ work, on the ‘ Fossil Fishes
of the Old Red Sandstone.’ Having had an opportunity, the other
day, of examining, for the first time, a copy of the splendid publica-
tion now mentioned, belonging to the noble library of King’s College,
Aberdeen, I paid particular attention to the representation of the
ichthyolite of which I am speaking ; and, so far as I am capable of
seeing and judging, it differs materially from the specimens of the

2996 Fishes.

fossil which are in the possession of Mr. Harris, and to which refer-
ence is. made in the foregoing communication. The head would
appear not to have been present in the specimen figured by M. Agas-
siz. This part is, however, apparently complete in several of the
specimens obtained from the new locality discovered at Gamrie. The
tail, moreover, is altogether different; at least it appears so to others
as well as to myseif, although we would be understood as making no
pretensions to knowledge or to experience in paleontological re-
searches.. But it would, perhaps, be desirable that these differences,
or, as may very probably turn ont, these supposed differences, should
be examined by competent authority, and not through the medium of
a drawing, but from the original fossils themselves. For such.a pur-
pose, | have no doubt that, should you wish it, these originals would
be readily transmitted for your inspection. One of the specimens is
much smaller than the others ; but, except in size, the identity would
seem to be exact between it and those which are larger. In other
respects, such as the sail-like fins on the back, and the character of
the scales, &c., the specimens agree exactly with the beautiful and
highly finished representation of the Diplacanthus longispinis as
given by M. Agassiz.

Mr. Flarris has in his possession a large fossil specimen, discovered
in the same locality, in which the scales are of great size, and are
most beautifully and distinctly marked. In the plates alluded to,
none of the scales delineated are, to all appearance, of exactly the
same character as these now mentioned.

JAMES SMITH.
November 16, 1850.

Notes of the Marine Zoology of Moray Firth. By the Rev. GEORGE
HARRIS.

(In the Preface to the ‘ Zoologist’ for 1848, you regret (p. xvii) the
comparative paucity of communications on Fishes, Crustacea, Ra-
diata and Zoophytes; and you invite the attention to these branches
of Natural Science of all such individuals, competent for the purpose,
as are resident on the coast; and as, in consequence, have frequent
opportunities of examining those multitudinous productions, which are
given up by the mighty deep, but which, when they do not happen to
contribute to the food of man, are allowed, almost in every instance,

Fishes. 2997

to go to decay upon the beach, unexamined and even unnoticed, how-
ever rare in themselves, and however wonderful in their structure or
brilliant in their colour. On this account I feel persuaded that the
following communication from the Rev. George Harris, of whom men-
tion has already been made in the ‘ Zoologist’ will be deemed of
interest and of value, both by yourself, and by those of your readers,
to whom the above-mentioned divisions of the animal kingdom
afford a particular and a-favourite study. I embrace. the present
opportunity of correcting an error in regard to the Ophiocoma parmn-
laria (Zool. 2936). The depth of water at which it was obtained should
have been fifteen fathoms and not five-—James Smith ; Manse of
Monquitter).

I beg to transmit the following notices of the more rare fishes,
which have been taken, within the last eighteen months, in the Moray
Firth, off the fishing stations of Pennan, Aberdeenshire, and Garden-
ston, Banffshire.

The first, which I shall mention, is the Motella vulgaris, the three-
bearded rockling, or whistle fish. This fish was brought to me in the
beginning of the summer of 1849, and the specimen measured twenty
and a half inches in length. As neither Mr. Yarrell in his ‘ British
Fishes, nor Dr. Parnell in his ‘ Fishes of the Firth of Forth, takes
notice of any specimen as above sixteen inches long, the size now
mentioned, may, perhaps, be admitted as rather unusual. Both of
these gentlemen agree in describing the colour of the head, back and
sides as yellowish brown, with chestnut-brown or dusky spots; the
pectoral, dorsal and caudal fins as a rich chestnut-brown ; and the
ventral and anal fins as a pale yellow-brown. In the specimen in
my possession, when fresh from the sea, the colour of the upper por-
tion of the body was reddish brown; that of the lower, or ventral,
yellowish brown ; while the spots were of a dusky purplish hue. The
fins were all of a reddish brown, with the exception of the ventral,
which is brownish yellow. There is considerable disparity in the
numbers of the fin-rays of this species of fish as given by naturalists.
According to Yarrell, they are

2nd. D. 55—P. 20—V. 7—A. 49—C. 18.

In the specimen described by Parnell, they are

Ist. D. 76.—2nd. D. 57—P. 23—V. 7—A. 50—C. 20.

In the specimen examined by myself, they are

Ist. D. 80.—2nd. D. 60—P. 20—V. 7—A. 50—C. 30.

These rays are also different, with the exception of the ventral, as

2998 Fishes.

they are enumerated by Jenyns in his ‘ Manual of British Vertebrate
Animals,’ p. 450. And from all this it would appear, that the number
of fin-rays is uniform in the ventrals only; the closest approximation
to correspondence in the others being in those of the pectorals and
anals. Dr. Parnell remarks of this fish, that it is by no means of
common occurrence towards the north; and that it is rare in the
Firth of Forth, as well as along the whole of the eastern shores of
Scotland (Id. p. 355). The fishermen here tell me, however, that they
meet with it frequently. The denture,* which in my specimen is
very perfect, does not appear to be particularly described in either of
the works of Yarrell and Parnell. Both jaws are furnished with a
double row of teeth. There is first a broad flat row of minute, thickly-
set, pointed teeth ; and along the side of these, a row of irregular-
pointed ones, of larger dimensions. But, on the upper jaw, this se-
cond row is external to the flat seam, while, on the lower jaw, it is on
the inside of it. When the jaws are compressed, there is thus formed
a natural box, as it were, for confining the food which is to be crushed ;
and there is, also, an angular patch of teeth fixed to the bone of the
palate, which correspond in structure to the flat broad rows in the
jaws. Such an apparatus is obviously adapted for tearing as well as
crushing ; and there can be no doubt that it is indispensably neces-
sary for those feeding instincts, with which the animal has been en-
dowed.

My next specimen is the Motella quinquecirrata, or five-bearded
rockling, which was captured in April of this present year. I am in-
debted for this, as well as for several others of the rarer productions of
the deep, to the kindness of Mr. William West, of Pennan, a most in-
telligent and obliging individual. The specimen in question is about
seven inches in length, and corresponds so closely with the descrip-
tions of Yarrell and Parnell as to leave no room for particular remarks.
There is, however, a slight variation in the number of rays in the
second dorsal; and the dingy skin had more of a metallic appearance
than would seem to have been shown in the specimens under their
consideration.

The species, which I shall next notice, derived also from Mr. West,
was caught in May last, off Troup Head, in eighteen fathom water,
and is a beautiful example of the Callionymus Dracunculus, or sordid

* Ts this a strictly accurate expression for the idea intended? By some it is
maintained that dentition, the word more commonly used, means merely the cutting
or breeding of the teeth ; and that the word denture ought always to be employed in
referring to these when they are fully grown, and are permanently fixed and formed.

Fishes. 2999

dragonet. It is about the same length as that described by Yarrell,
and it corresponds in every respect with the statements of my two
authorities so often mentioned (Yarrell and Parnell), save that Yarrell
takes no notice of the protractile snout, which, in the specimen of
which I am speaking, was capable of an elongation of two-eighths of
aninch. As it has been suggested that this species may possibly be
only the female of Callionymus Lyra, or gemmeous dragonet,* I think
it proper to mention, that the specimen in my possession contained a
milt, or soft roe. This fact may not be without interest, as it confirms
a similar occurrence, in respect to the fish before us, which is reported
by Dr. George Johnston, of Berwick. That the matter in the present
case might have every justice done it, as far as circumstance would
allow, I had recourse to the following expedient. On turning out the
the substance and satisfying myself as to what it was, I called in two
females, the one an experienced housekeeper, and the other an indivi-
dual who is employed in cutting up and preparing fish for the market,
and who, in this manner, passes some thousands annually through her
hands, Without any previous remark, I requested them to tell me, if
they could, what sort of thing this was, directing their attention to the
substance before me. Both agreed in at once pronouncing it to be a
milt. This circumstance fortifies the opinion, entertained by Yarrell,
that the sordid and the gemmeous dragonet, are two distinct, inde-
pendent, and well-marked species. Of this, 1 have for my own part,
no doubt whatever. .
Following these, I now introduce a very beautiful stranger, in the
person of the Belone vulgaris, the garfish, or, as it is called upon this
coast, the green-bone. ‘The specimen in my possession was extracted
from its aqueous element, in September of this year, off the Bay of Gam-
rie, at a depth of sixteen fathoms. Its capture was in consequence of
its audacity in attacking a mackerel line. It would seem that my two
authorities speak of this fish as occurring on the Scottish coast, only
in the Firth of Forth. By what I can learn, however, an example or
two are commonly caught off our stations here in the course of every
year.t The present specimen is twenty-six inches in length, being
two inches longer than any of those noticed in my two guides.{ The

* This is the opinion of Neill (Wern. Mem., vol. i. p. 529), and Dr. Fleming seems
evidently inclined to agree with him (‘ British Animals,’ p. 208).

+ It is also caught at Banff; and, from the circumstance of its having a local
name there, the sea-needle, it may be presumed to be by no means uncommon along
the whole shore of the Moray Firth.

{ Mr. West tells me that he has met with a specimen three feet long.

3000 Fishes.

colours are the same as those described by Yarrell ; but the fin-rays
coincide with the numbers which are given by Parnell. It took the
bait when the line was passing through the water at the rate of, pro-
bably, two miles an hour. According to the general opinion of our
practical fishermen at these stations, it takes a mussel bait or a piece
of the belly of a mackerel. Some of them, however, affirm, that its
more common and ordinary food is grub and sand-eels, which they
say it extracts by digging down into the soft bottom of the ocean.
The contents of the stomach, as examined by myself, certainly indi-
cate a soft molluscous pabulum, the whole being pulpy and passing
into a thick mucus. I mention these things, because Yarrell says,
that in the works to which he has access, he finds no mention of the
nature of its food. (‘ British Fishes,’ vol. i. p. 393.)

My next species is one of a very slippery character, being the
Myxine glutinosa, or glutinous hag. This fish does not appear in the
roll of those which are given by Dr. Parnell as the finny inhabitants
of the Firth of Forth. Yarrell says, that as a British fish, the Myxine
occurs most frequently on the eastern coast (‘ British Fishes,’ vol. ii.
p. 463); and he particularizes Scarborough and Berwick as localities
where it may be met with. He describes it, moreover, as being with-
out eyes; but Dr. Dickie, of Queen’s College, Belfast, to whom I
transmitted specimens from this locality, assures me that it has eyes.
On minute examination, I find that this is the case. They are,
however, not very readily discernible, in consequence of their being
covered over with skin. Naturalists, perhaps, would on this account
describe them as rudimentary.

The Sea Bream (Pagellus centrodontus), has now become a common
fish on this coast. An intelligent fishcurer informs me that it has
vastly increased during the course of the last three years ; and that, at
the present moment, it is quite abundant. Yarrell’s description of it
appears to be perfect, unless that he overlooks a faculty possessed by
its snout, which I find is commonly capable of a protrusion of half an
inch. Of this fish Dr. Parne]l observes that, as we advance farther
north on the east coast of Scotland, it seems to become scarcer than
in the south ; and that in the Firth of Forth very little is known re-
garding it, its appearance there being of rare occurrence. He adds,
however, that two specimens have been noticed in the Firth just men-
tioned. (‘Fishes of the Firth of Forth, p. 208). As a viand it is not
in greater favour here, than it would seem to be in other localities.
By way of variety, 1 have caused to be tried the improved method
of cookery suggested for it by Mr. Yarrell (‘ British Fishes,’ vol. i. p.

Fishes. 3001

209); but, with all due deference to his skill and philosophy in the
culinary art, those who tasted of it, as prepared according to his re-
ceipt, were, without exception, of opinion that it was very indifferent
eating ; and that, although at no time. good, it is, nevertheless, least
displeasing when it is merely subjected to. the simple operation of
the frying-pan.

In the course of last year, and during the season, of summer, a fine
specimen of the short sunfish (Orthayoriscus Mola), and aapthee of
the fishing frog (Lophius piscatorius), were brought ashore by the
fishermen of Pennan. The former measured four feet two inches in
length, and had the caudal fin much more deeply scalloped than it
appears in the cut given of this fish by Yarrell. The latter seemed
more compressed horizontally than one would be likely to imagine
from looking at the first figure which appears of the fishing frog, in
that gentleman’s valuable history of ‘ British Fishes.’

In the division Radiata, I shall at present only take notice of a
most lovely specimen of the Goniaster equestris, or knotty cushion
star, which was drawn from deep water off Troup Head, in the month
of June, last year. “ This cushion star,” says Mr. E. Forbes, “is one
of the rarest and most beautiful of our native starfishes.” (‘ British
Starfishes,’ p. 126). I learn, however, that it is by no means very un-
frequent on this particular line of coast.* The example to which I
am alluding, answers so minutely to the very accurate description
given of this species by the gentleman just now named, that I shall
only observe that the colour of the upper surface was, when the spe-
cimen was fresh, a fine rich cream-yellow, intermingled with the
faintest tint of pink; the under surface was a little more pale; and
the base of every mammiform tubercular spine was surrounded by a
ring or circle of bright but delicate pink. Perhaps, also, the angles,
or corners, are rather more obtuse than those which are shown in the
cut given by Mr. Forbes of this species.

As regards the Crustacea, I have, in all probability, obtained only
three specimens, which are worthy of being named. The first is the
Lithodes Maia, or northern stone crab, which, as I am informed, is
now and then met with upon our coast. “This remarkable species,”
observes Bell, “ must be considered as one of the rarer of our British
Crustacea.” He describes the colour as yellowish red, the spines
darker, the under surface paler. The colour of the specimen in my
possession, when it newly came out of the water, was a burnished

* Ihave myself, during the course of the present summer, obtained four speci-
mens of it.
IX. E

3002 Fishes, &c.

dullish scarlet. In other respects, it accorded with the account
given by the writer now mentioned of this particular species. The
second is the Portunus puber, or velvet swimming crab. It exhi-
bited, when fresh, a great assemblage of tints, the prevailing one
being purplish brown, the others blue and dull red. The velvety
appearance which it presents, is very striking. It would appear to be
rather common on some parts of the English coast; but, so far as
Mr. Bell has been able to learn, it does not seem to have been hitherto
noticed to the north of Berwick. The third is the Galathea strigosa.
In an English edition of ‘ Cuvier’s Animal Kingdom’ (1834), I find the
following references under the name of this species:—Penn. Brit.
Zool. iv.14. Leach, Malac. Brit. 28,b. The remarks of Cuvier him-
self, in regard to this beautiful although diminutive crustacean, are
very brief and unsatisfactory; and, not having access to any of the
authorities which he has indicated, I am, in consequence, unable
to determine the value of the species as viewed in connexion with
the locality from which I obtained it.
G. Harris.

Proceedings of the Zoological Society.

Monthly General Meeting, November 7, 1850.—W. YarRELL, Esq., V. P., in the
chair.

His Excellency The Baron Brunow, J. 8. Gaskoin, Esq., R. Hartley Kennedy,
Esq., and G. Routledge, Esq., were elected Fellows. Thomas Brooksbank, Esq.,
was proposed as a candidate for the Fellowship.

The Report of the Council stated, that the number of visitors to the Gardens
during the current year has been 344,590, and that there has been an increase in con-
sequence, of £5,600 in the receipts as compared with the corresponding period of
1849. Upwards of eighty animals have been added to the menagerie since the
meeting in September, by purchase and donation. The principal objects of interest
are a polar bear, three grisly bears, and a male brush turkey (Talegalla Lathamt), of
which species the Society had previously only obtained a female. The principal gifts
are a lioness from Mosambique, presented by Her Majesty the Queen of Portugal ; a
lioness, presented by Gen. Sir Harry Smith, Governor of the Cape; and a herd of
reindeer, presented by W. C. Domvill, Esq. The first portion of a collection, which
has been obtained in Ceylon, by Alexander Grace, Esq., reached the Gardens on the
Ist inst., and will be regarded with interest, as coming from a country of which the
Zoology is still very imperfectly known.

The first evening meeting will take place at the Society's house, on Tuesday, No-
vember 12th, when, among other papers, Dr. Mantell will make a communication on
the discovery of a living specimen of Notornis (a bird hitherto only known in a fossil
state), in the Middle Island of New Zealand.

.

Zoological Society. 3003

November 12.—Mr. YarreEtt, Esq., V. P., in the chair.

Professor Owen read a paper‘ On Dinornis: Part V., on the cranium of the large
species called giganteus and ingens. He commenced by referring to a former me-
moir, in which four generic types of structure had been determined in fossil crania of
birds from New Zealaad,—viz., Nestor, Notornis, Palapteryx, and Dinornis proper ;
and proceeded to describe an additional series of fossil skulls obtained by Governor
Sir George Grey, from a cave in the district, which lies between the River Waikato
and Mount Tongariro, in the North Island. The most remarkable of these specimens
was an almost entire skull, measuring eight inches in length, and five inches across
the broadest part of the cranium ; which in the extent of the ossified part of the man-
dible and its downward curvature, resembled the smaller skull described in a former
memoir, and there referred to Dinornis. In the structure of the occiput and base of
the cranium this large skull more resembled the characters of that ascribed to Palap-
teryx. The indications of the muscular attachments, and the form and size of the
massive beak bespoke the great power and force with which it had been habitually
applied in the living bird. Its anatomical characters were minutely detailed. Com-
parisons of the area of the occipital foramen for the transmission of the spinal marrow
with that of the spinal canal in different vertebre, were made with a view of determin-
ing the species to which the cranium in question might belong ; and the peculiar con-
traction of the spinal canal in the vertebre of Dinornis, as compared with that in the
ostrich, was pointed out. The inference deduced was, that the cranium, notwith-
standing its great size, belonged probably to the species called Palapteryx ingens,
which was the second in point of size. A mutilated cranium of a much younger bird,
showing all the sutures, but of nearly equal size with the skull first described, might
belong to the Dinornis giganteus. Two crania referable to two distinct species of
smaller birds of Palapteryx were described, and sections of the cranium were shown to
demonstrate the form and character of the brain. In the collection transmitted by
Governor Grey, Prof. Owen had, for the first time, recognized a portion of a diminu-
tive wing-bone, similar, in the absence of the usual processes for the muscles of flight,
to that in the Apteryx, and confirmatory both by this character and its extreme rarity,
contrasted with the abundance of vertebre and leg-bones that had been transmitted, of
the inference as to the rudimental condition of the wings in the Dinornis and Pala-
pteryx. The memoir concluded with a description of a cranium of the Notornis, more
perfect than that framentary one on which the affinities of that bird to the Rallide or
Rail tribe had originally been founded, and its generic distinction from Porphyrio es-
tablished. Thespecimen exhibited confirmed the accuracy of the conjectural restora-
tions in the figure of the original specimen in a former volume of the ‘ Transactions
of the Zoological Society.’

Dr. Mantell read the following ‘ Notice of the Discovery by Mr. Walter Mantell,
in the Middle Island of New Zealand, of a living specimen of the Notornis, a bird
allied to Brachypteryx, and hitherto unknown to naturalists except in a fossil state.’

“It was in the course of last year, on the occasion of my son’s second visit to
the south of the Middle Island, that he had the good fortune to secure the recent No-
tornis, which I now submit, having previously placed it in the hands of the eminent
ornithologist, Mr. Gould, to figure and describe. This bird was taken by some sealers
who were pursuing their avocations in Dusky Bay. Perceiving the trail of a large and
unknown bird on the snow, with which the ground was then covered, they followed
the footprints till they obtained a sight of the Notornis, which their dogs instantly

3004 Zoological Society.

pursued, and after a long chace, caught alive in the gully of a sound behind Resolu-
tion Island. It ram with great speed, and on being captured, uttered loud screams,
and fought and struggled violently. It was kept alive three or four days on board the
schooner, and then killed, and the body roasted and eaten by the crew, each partaking
of the dainty, which was declared to be delicious. The beak and legs were of a bright
red colour. My son secured the skin, together with very fine specimens of the Kapapo
or ground parrot (Strigops), a pair of Huias (Neomorpha), and two species of Kiwi-
kiwi, namely Apteryx Australis and A. Oweni. The latter very rare bird is now added
to the collection of the British Museum. Mr. Walter Mantell states, that according
to the native traditions, a large rail was contemporary with the Moa, and formed a
principal article of food among their ancestors. It was known to the North Islanders
by the name of “ Moho,” and to the South Islanders by that of “'Takahé”; but the
bird was, considered by both natives and Europeans to have been long since extermi-
nated by the wild cats:and dogs; not an individual having been seen or heard of since
the arrival of the English colonists. On comparing the head of the bird with the
fossil cranium and mandibles, and the figures and descriptions in the ‘ Zoological
Transactions’ (Plate 56), my son was at once convinced of their identity. It may not
be irrelevant to add, that in the course of Mr. Walter Mantell’s journey from Banks’
Peninsula along the coast to Otago, he learned from the natives that they believed
there still existed in that country the only indigenous terrestrial quadruped, except a
species of rat, which there are any reasonable grounds for concluding New Zealand
ever possessed. While encamping at Arowenua, in the district of Timaru, the Maoris
assured them that about ten miles inland there was a quadruped which they called
Kaureke, and that it was formerly abundant, and often kept by their ancestors in a
domestic state as a pet animal. It was described as about two feet in length, with
coarse grisly hair; and must have more nearly resembled the otter or badger than the
beaver or the Ornithorynchus, which the first accounts seemed to suggest as the proba-
ble type.. The offer of a liberal reward induced some of the Maoris to start for the
interior of the country where the Kaureke was supposed to be located; but they re-
turned without having obtained the slightest trace of the existence of such an animal :
my son, however, expresses his belief in the native accounts, and that if the creature
no longer exists, its extermination is of very recent date. In concluding this brief
narrative of the discovery of a genus of birds once contemporary with the colossal
Moa, and hitherte only known by its fossil remains, I beg to remark, that this highly
interesting fact tends to confirm the conclusions expressed in my communications to
the Geological Society, namely, that the Dinornis, Palapteryx, and related forms, were
coeval with some of the existing species of birds peculiar to New Zealand, and that
their final extinction took place at no very distant period, and long after the advent of
the aboriginal Maoris.”

Mr. Gould then read a paper pointing out the zoological characters of the
bird discovered by Mr. Mautell, which he had no hesitation in identifying as the
species formerly characterized, from its osseous remains, by Prof. Owen under the
name of Notornis Mantelli. Mr. Gould in adverting to the extreme interest with
which the present existence of a species which was certainly contemporary with the
Moa must be regarded, pointed out from the preserved skin, which was on the table,
how accurate a prevision of its characrer had been made by Prof. Owen, when investi-
gating the fragments from which our first knowledge of it had been derived.

Zoological Society. 3005

November 26.—R. H. Sorry, Esq., in the chair.

A paper by Mr. Strickland ‘ On the Birds of Kordofan, was read. It enumerated
112 species which had been collected by Mr. Petherick ; and of which three were al-
together new, and several not previously enumerated as natives of North-east Africa.
Mi. Strickland also distinguished those species which are common to West Africa,
determined principally by reference to Dr. Hartlaub’s valuable list of West-African
birds in the ‘ Verzeichniss Hamburgischen Gymnasium.’

Mr. Gray read a synopsis of the species of deer, including the description of a new
species of Cariacus from California, presented to the Society by Lieut. Jones, R.N.,
and now living’ in’ their menagerie. The most interesting portion of the paper had
reference to the Brockets of South America ; of which two species are now living in
the menagerie, and three or four at Knowsley. These {species were illustrated by
drawings from life, which had been executed for the Karl of Derby by, Mr. Wolf.

Mr. Gaskoin communicated an account of suspended animation, during four years
at least, in a specimen of Helix lactea now living in his possession. A remarkable
feature in this case is, the fact that utero-gestation was suspended, and resumed its
process with the resumption of vitality.

Mr. L. Fraser communicated descriptions of five species of undescribed birds in
the collection of the Earl of Derby. The most conspicuous of them is a beautiful
species of curassow, now living at Knowsley, which was acquired during the present
year. Mr. Fraser gives to this bird the name of Crax Alberti: having on a previous
occasion dedicated a fine species of crowned pigeon to Her Majesty under the name
of Goura Victorie.

The next paper read was, ‘ An Account of Fishes discovered or observed in Madeira
since the year 1842,’ by the Rev. R. T. Lowe. The number of species enumerated is
eighteen ; of which it will be sufficient to mention a new type of Murenide, obtained
by the Duke of Leuchtenberg during his late residence in Madeira. It is described
under the name of Leptorhyncus Leuchtenbergi.

Dr. Hartlaub communicated a figure and some account of Turdus vulpinus, de-
scribed by him in the ‘ Revue et Magazin de Zoologie’ in 1849. The only known
example of this bird exists in the Museum at Hamburgh.

Monthly General Meeting, December, 5.—Apmirat BowteEs, M.P., V. P., in the
chair.

Thomas Brooksbank, Esq., James Busain, Esq., and Captain Gimblett, were
elected Fellows. James Crowdy, Esq., and Lancelot Dent, Esq., were proposed as
candidates for the Fellowship.

The Report of the Council stated that the visitors to the Gardens during Novem-
ber, exhibited an increase in their number of 4060 as compared with the corresponding
month of last year, making a total excess of 186,887 in 1850 over 1849. A compa-
rison of the income showed an improvement of £5,801 14s. 11d., which will be further
increased by the receipts of the current month. The Council have received commu-
nications from Lord Harris, Governor of Trinidad, and from Lieut.-Col. Butterworth,
C.B., Governor of Singapore, of their respective intentions to transmit several valuable
_ additions to the collection in the course of the ensuing spring.—D. W. M.

EERE

3006 Entomological Society.

Proceedings of the Entomological Society.

December 2, 1850.—G. R. WaTERHOUSE, Esgq., President, in the chair.

The following donations were announced and thanks ordered to be given to the
respective donors; ‘The Zoologist,’ for December; presented by the Editor. ‘ Ento-
mologische Zeitung, for October and November; by the Entomological Society of
Stettin. ‘Separat-Abdruck der Zeitschrift der Entomologische Gesellschaft zu
Breslau; by Herr Zeller, Honorary Foreign Member. ‘ Abhandlungen de Zoolo-
gisch-Mineralogischen Vereins zu Regensburg; by Dr. Herrich-Schaffer: and an
‘ Article on the Fulgorelle ; by Dr. Schaum. Also five specimens of Cheimatobia
boreata ; presented by Nicholas Cooke, Esq.

John Gray, Esq., of Wheatfield House, near Bolton, and J. Newman Tweedy,
Esq., of 47, Montagu Square, were balloted for, and elected Members of the Society.

The President announced that the requisite number of subscribers for the ‘ Insecta
Britannica’ being nearly obtained, the committee had decided to proceed with the
publication of the series, and that the first volume would be published early in 1851.

Mr. Evans exhibited a Lampyris from Rio de Janeiro, and read the folienvanig ex-
tract of a letter, dated Rio de Janeiro, November 12th, 1849.

“‘ T send you at last a specimen of the Rio firefly, which I certify to having captured
myself while in the act of emitting light, and further, that having taken it home, I
placed it under a tumbler in a dark room, and was enabled, by the light it emitted, to
read letters printed on a paper on which the glass was put. P.S.—Near the caudal
extremity underneath, is a white enamel-like spot, which emits the light—F’. Pen-
nelly.”

Mr. Evans communicated an extract from the Sydney Morning Herald, of the
22nd of June last, announcing the establishment, in that city, of the Australian So-
ciety for the investigation of scientific subjects, and stating that at the first meeting,
the attention of the Society was directed by the Rev. G. E. Turner, to a grub, which
is found in vines, and excites some alarm among the vine-growers of the colony.

Mr. Evans exhibited a Scolopendra electrica, and Mr. Westwood referring to its
luminous properties, stated as a fact that had come within his own observation, that
Lithobius forcipatus also emitted light.

Mr. S. Stevens exhibited some fine specimens of the variety of Ornithoptera Pria-
mus, from Richmond River, New Holland, and also that singular Lepidopterous in-
sect, Myrmecopsis Eumenides, Newm., which so resembles a Hymenopterous insect.

Mr. Stainton exhibited five new species of British Tineide: viz., Coleophora par-
titella, Z., C. vulnerarie, Z., C. lithargyrinella, Z., C. juncicolella, Sta., and Ela-
chista Treitschkeella, F'-v-R., and read the following notice, by Mr. Jordan, of a small
Lepidopterous larva (probably of the genus Goniodoma).

“ During a short excursion in Kent, in the month of August last, I gathered and
brought to town amongst other wild flowers, several specimens of Origanum vulgare.
On the next day, as I was looking at the flowers, two buds from one of the heads of
this plant seemed to be crawling about, and on closer examination, it proved that
these two were in reality the tents of larve of some minute Lepidopterous insect.
They so exactly resembled a single flower-bud of the Origanum, that it was difficult to
distinguish them when at rest, from those in the head around them; the lower part of
the case bearing a complete resemblance to the calyx, and the upper portion to the

Entomological Society. 3007

unexpanded corolla both in colour and form; in fact these were the materials out of
which the case was formed. Both larve unfortunately died in two or three days. The
Origanum was gathered in a small chalk-pit, near Darenth Wood, where no doubt the
larva may again be met with another season.”

Mr. Douglas read a letter from Mr. E. Wilson, in which it was stated, that in the
United States it was impossible to preserve a collection of insects of any extent ; as in
some years during the very hot weather, owing to a peculiar state of the atmosphere,
everything that was closely shut up became covered with a white har, and that from
this cause a pair of boots in a cupboard would become as white as snow ; that in order
to guard against these sudden attacks, the cases of birds at the Academy of Philadel-
phia, instead of being closed as they are in this country, have chimneys to cause an
artificial draught, and every box of insects is required to be opened during the con-
tinuance of these attacks so as to expose them as much as possible to the air.

Mr. Westwood stated that M. Guérin-Meneville, in his researches on insects des-
tructive to tobacco, had found that many different species fed thereon. One of these,
a new species, named Catorama Tabaci, he at first thought was allied to the genus
Ptinus, but afterwards found it more nearly related to Dorcatoma. In this latter
genus he had been able to clear up the doubts as to the number of joints in the an-
tennz (which had been variously stated by different authors to be eight, nine, ten and
eleven) ; having determined from the examination of two specimens that the real
number was ten in the male and nine in the female. Another species detected by M.
Guérin-Ménéville was Xyletinus serricornis. Mr. Westwood said that in a cigar for-
warded to himself for examination, he had found the pupa of a beetle, the abdominal
portion of which was encased in the skin of the larva, the skin itself, including the
head, remaining perfect, and he thought probably that the species was Xyletinus ser-
ricornis. The cigar purported to be from Havannah, but if the insect should prove to
be H. serricornis, this was very doubtful, as that beetle was North American, and the
observations of M. Guérin went to show that the native country of tobacco might be
ascertained by the insects found in it.

Mr. Wilkinson thought this idea of M. Guérin fallacious, as tobacco in this country
coming from different places, was piled in the bonded warehouses often for a consider-
able time, and insects might easily travel from one package to another.

The President observed that many insects were found all over the world, instan-
cing the species of Dermestes and Trogosita Mauritanica, and that it remained to be
proved that the beetles referred to were peculiar to one country.

Mr. Saunders then read the following note :—

In acommunication I have lately received from Mr. H. G. Harrington, dated at sea,
the 7th of October last, in lat. 17 deg. S., long. 35 deg. W., he says, “ I have taken two
very beautiful moths decidedly exotic, one in lat. 27 deg. 36 min. N., long. 19 deg.
34 min. W.; the other in lat. 13 deg. 12 min. N., long. 24 deg. 32 min. W., and three
beetles south of the line a few miles.” Laying down these positions on a good chart,
I find that the first is about eighty miles from land, nearly west of the Island of Tierso,
one of the Canary group; and the second is about ninety miles from land, due south
of Brova, one of the Cape de Verd Islands. The exact position where Mr. Harring-
ton took the beetles is not so easy to determine ; but looking to the route taken by the
ship, Sir E. Parry, which may be very nearly ascertained from the positions given by
Mr. Harrington in his letter, it is evident that the distance from the nearest land,
that of the small island of Femana Noronha, was at least 240 miles, and from the

3008 Entomological and Microscopical Societies.

coast of Brazil, 350 miles. The small island alluded to is only about two leagues in
length, and is about seventy leagues distant from the mainland of Brazil. Facts so
well authenticated as the foregoing on the flight of insects are very interesting, and it
is well that they should be recorded, although at present, the names of the insects
which have ventured out so far to sea, or have been driven by necessity to undertake
a long flight over such an extent of water, cannot be ascertained. I hope hereafter
to procure from Mr. Harrington more information on this point, which I shall have
pleasure in communicating to the society.

The President observed that once when crossing the channel to Dublin in very
calm weather, the vessel was surrounded the whole distance by insects of all kinds, of
which as most conspicuous he had noticed the common white butterfly, which invaria-
bly flew close to the water.

Mr. Bond stated that the larve of Acherontia Atropos had been unusually common
in Cambridgeshire this autumn, and that two had squeaked audibly while yet in the
pupa state.

The President announced that Part 3, of Vol. i., new series, of the Transactions,
was on the table —H. T. S.

Proceedings of the Microscopical Society of London.

November 13, 1850.—Dr. ArtHur Farre, President, in the chair.

Dr. Carpenter made some remarks on Foraminifera, in reference to the paper by
Mr. Williamson on that subject, read at the meeting in June last.

Mr. De la Rue described the construction of a dissecting microscope made by M.
Nachet.

A paper by J. S. Bowerbank, Esq., ‘On Ciliary Action in the Spongiade,’ was
read.

After some preliminary remarks, in which some observations of Dr. Dobie on the
same subject were alluded to, Mr. Bowerbank stated, that wishing to follow out the
investigation, he had, in the autumn of the present year, located himself at Tenby, in
South Wales, where the sponge, Grantia compressa, examined by Dr. Dobie, is found
abundantly. The specimens selected for examination were not more than a quarter
of an inch in length, and upon placing one of these beneath the microscope in a
closed cell, after a short time the excurrent action commenced and continued steadily
for a considerable time, the fecal matter being ejected with much force. On examin-
ing the exterior of the same specimen, the incurrent action over the whole of its sur-
face was equally well, although less forcibly demonstrated. Having thus. succeeded
in seeing the continuous entrance and exit of the surrounding fluid, the great saccular
cavity was next examined. This was done by carefully opening the sponge from the
entrance of the sac to its base, with a pair of fine scissors, cutting through its com-
pressed edges. The halves thus produced were mounted for examination in a closed
cell as before, with the inner surface towards the eye. The sponge was now seen to
be composed of angular cells, constructed of triradiate calcareous spicule, and packed
together like the cells of a honeycomb. They are of the same diameter downwards
for the length of about half their own diameter, and then terminate in a perforated

Microscopical Society. 3009

diaphragm, the circular mouth of which is of about half the diameter of the cell above
it. Beneath this diaphragm, an elongated cavity or cell extends, and opens on the
outer surface of the sponge; the whole length of the cell, from the inner edge of the
diaphragm to its termination near the outer surface, being closely studded with tessel-
lated nucleated cellular structure: within the diaphragm, and between the inner ter-
mination of the incurrent orifices, are situated the cilia, which are of excessive tenuity,
and comparatively of considerable length. Upon focussing the diaphragm, the cilia
may be seen in rapid motion within the area of the circular orifice, many of them
being tipped with a minute portion of gelatinous or of fecal matter; and the whole
of them continually oscillate in a plane parallel to the edge of the diaphragm, occa-
sioning a continual current through its orifice.

Although both the presence and action of the cilia were very clearly shown by this
mode of examination, still neither the extent of surface covered by them, nor their
insertion, could be determined. By dividing, however, one of these cells through its
whole length, which after many trials and failures was at last effected, portions of
these, examined in the same manner as in the preceding instances, exhibited ciliary
action; and as the vital energy decreased and their motions became languid, one
cilium in particular was observed, which continued for nearly half an hour to wave
gently backward towards the outer surface of the sponge, and then rapidly forward to-
wards the mouth of the diaphragm. Many other cilia were observed, but none so
distinctly exhibited their peculiar action as this; and it was found that although it
may be highly probable that the cilia are based upon, or spring from among, the tes-
sellated cells, it was not possible to ascertain the fact precisely ; but sufficient was
shown not only to prove the existence of ciliary action in the sponge, but also, by the
peculiar motion just described, to account for the flow of the currents in one direction.
—J. W.

December 11, 1850.—Dr. AntHur Farre, President, in the chair.

A paper by P. H. Gosse, Esq., ‘On the Notomata parasita, EHhrenb., a Roti-
ferous Animal inhabiting the Spheres of Volvox globator, was read.

After stating that this animalcule was first described by Prof. Ehrenberg in 1835,
Mr. Gosse stated that he first observed it, June 26th, 1850, in specimens of Volvox
globator in water, given him by Alfred Rosling, Esq. He afterwards obtained it from
a little pool near the railway-station at Leamington, in Warwickshire. This creature
is too small to be seen by the unassisted eye, its greatest length being about z1,th of an
inch. The author minutely described the anatomy of this animalcule, and also gave
an account of its curious habits, it being parasitic in the elegant Volvox globator,
within the globe of which it lives at ease, swimming about like a gold fish in a glass
vase. It appears to subsist upon either the green granules with which the gelatinous
surface of the Volvox is studded, or else upon the embryo clusters. It often happens
that two or more Notomata are seen in the same Volvox, and Mr. Gosse stated that in
one individual he had met with as many as four, with an egg besides. They are to be
found chiefly in the smaller Volvoces, and especially in those which have the embryos
in a very immature state. They have also been met with in the embryos themselves
when almost grown and nearly ready for escape from the parent globe. The operations
of this parasite do not appear to occasion any perceptible inconvenience to the con-
taining Volvox. In some spheres, eggs are found with Notomata ; in others eggs alone.

TX. EF

3010 , Fishes—Iusects.

Mr. Gosse also stated his opinion that it was possible that this parasite is always
hatched in a parent Volvox, but that the embryonic globe is entered from without.
He next described the eggs, some of which are smooth, and others covered with
prickles, and he suggested that, as in these animals the sexes are distinct, both as re-
gards size, form and structure, the smooth eggs might be those of females, and the
prickly ones those of males. He concluded with some remarks on the habits of this
curious parasite.

Another paper, by G. C. Handford, Esq., ‘Ona White Mirror for the Microscope,’
was also read.

Wishing to correct the unpleasant glare, and other inconveniences attendant on the
reflected light of an ordinary silvered glass mirror, the author was induced to construct
one by which he considers these defects may:be remedied. It consists of a thin con-
cave glass, three inches in diameter, the back of which is rendered white by means of
plaster of Paris or of zinc paint. This is mounted in brass and fitted over the frame
of the ordinary silvered mirror, thus not requiring the latter to be removed. The ad-
vantage gained by this mirror he stated to be, that the whole of the rays, reflected
from the surface of the plaster of Paris were brought into one focus, together with
those refiected from the surface of the glass, and thus a more equal and also a more
brilliant light is produced than by any of the means heretofore employed for the pur-
pose of getting a perfectly white light.—J. W.

Occurrence of the Opah or King-fish at Redcar.—A splendid specimen of the opah
or king-fish, measuring in length three feet five inches, and in depth (including dorsal
fin) two feet five inches, and weighing 72 [bs., was taken yesterday at this place.
Another specimen of Ray’s bream was found on the beach last week.—T. S. Rudd ;
Redcar, November 18, 1850.

Occurrence of Ray's Bream and Argentine at Redcar.—Two other specimens of
Ray’s bream have been found on our beach this week. The fishermen of this place in-
form me that the above fish only makes its appearance on this part of the coast during
the months of October, November and December. The argentine only occurs here
from January to May; where they are to be met with during the rest of the year I
have not been able to ascertain, but conjecture they migrate into the river Tees. The
argentine, when found, has precisely the same cucumber-like smell as the smelt.—Jd. ;
December 4, 1850.

Occurrence of Deilephila Celerio in Cumberland.—A very fine specimen of Deile-
phila Celerio was taken at rest on a window-shutter, at Brampton, near Carlisle, on
the 5th of last month (October) ; is not this very late in the season? The specimen is
now in my cabinet, and is in beautiful condition. I also got one a short time ago,
taken in this town.—J. B. Hodgkinson ; 12, Friday Street, Preston, November 23,
1850.

Note on Cheimatobia borearia.—When a previously supposed rare insect occurs in
any plenty, it may fairly be presumed that its supposed rarity originated in our not

ee eS

re ee se

Insects. 3011

having a proper knowledge of its habits. This has been evidently the case with Chei-
matobia borearia, for with the exception of three or four captured by Messrs. B. and
N. Cooke, in 1848, and one taken by myself last year, the insect had escaped notice,
until the appearance of the last published sheet of Mr. H. Doubleday’s valuable ‘ List,’
when the insect was identified: previous to that time, the captured specimens were
looked upon as varieties of other species. By the perseverance of Mr. N. Cooke,
the habits of the species were detected, and it has turned up in considerable numbers
in Delamere Forest, the same locality in which Hypenodes humidalis occurred.—
James Cooper ; Museum, Warrington, November 17, 1850.

Note on Cheimatobia borearia.—This appears to be a very common insect, at least
in the locality where we find it here, a part of Delamere Forest, where there are plenty
of birch trees. It is found in abundance during the evening, by searching the birch
trees, or fern, &c., in their neighbourhood. At dusk a few females may be seen
creeping up the trees, and in about an hour afterwards the moth may be taken in
pairs. In the males the wings vary in expanse from 1} inch to14 inch. The time of
its appearance commences in the last week of October: the allied species, C. brumaria,
occurs with it, but is not nearly so numerous in the same situation.— Benjamin Cooke ;
Warrington, November 12, 1850. |

Capture of Lepidoptera near Meonstoke.—The following are some of my best cap-
tures this season, in the neighbourhood of Meonstoke. I was there but a short time ;
but saw enough to convince me that the place would prove, to a collector who had the
time to search it thoroughly, peculiarly rich in Lepidoptera. I might have included
many other good insects in my list.

Lithosia griseola. August 5, fifteen, from the wild clematis.

Lithosia stramineola. August 7, three.

Eiuthemonia Plantaginis. June 19, fir-trees, by beating.

Platypteryx Hamula. September 23, one poor specimen, beaten from hazel. Is
not this very late ?

Triphena fimbria. August 10, Stoke wood ; three specimens from the long grass.

Pyrausta cingulalis. August 12, three, from Beacon Down.

Botys flavalis. Beacon Down; abundant. I did not find it till August 12, when
nearly all the specimens were so faded as to be scarce worth capturing.

Botys pandalis. August 10, in the long grass, in Stoke Wood ; twenty-four spe-
acimens.

Botys hyalinalis. June 25, one, from the same place.

Geometra papilionaria. August 10, one, beaten from birch, in Stoke Wood.

Epione advenaria. June 21 to 25, ten, from hazel.

Ennomos lunaria. June 18, Stoke Wood.

Tephrosia extersaria. June 21, one, from privet.

Anaitis plagiaria. August 9 to 27, abundant in clover fields.

Anticlea derivaria. May 10, one, beaten from hawthorn.

Anticlea rubidaria. June 17, two, from wild clematis.

Phibalapteryx tersaria. June 17 to 22, ten specimens, from wild clematis.

Phibalapteryx vitalbaria. June 19 and August 7, seven specimens, from the same.

Xerene adustaria. August 10, two, from hazel.

Xerene procellaria. June to August, not uncommon in the hazel copses.

Bapta taminaria. May 30, Stoke Wood, one specimen only.

3012 Insects.

Bapta temeraria. May 28 to June 13, thirteen, beaten from oak.

Ephyra trilinearia. June 19, nine, from the birch wood on Beacon Down.

Eupithecia coronaria. August 7, Stoke Wood.

Eupithecia subfulvaria. August 12, one, from birch, on Beacon Down.

Minoa Euphorbiaria. June 19, one, beaten from hazel.

Tortrix Crategana. June 27, oak.

Peronea Schalleriana and P. comparana. Are not these identical? I have taken
intermediate varieties of every shade of colour; and never found comparana where
Schalleriana was not plentiful. Of the latter I have a beautiful variety, where the
red patch is suffused over the greater portion of the anterior wings.

Phoxopteryx derasana and P. diminutana. August 11, one of each, from hazel,
Stoke Wood.

Pedisca profundana. August 19, seven, from oak. This includes three of the va-
riety ethiopana.

Pyrodes Rheediana. June 25, one, from the bramble.

Crambus falsellus. August 6, one, from an old wall.

Crambus petrificellus? August12: this insect is much smaller than petrificellus,
and has something the appearance of a hybrid between that insect and C. geniculeus :
I took it on Beacon Down.

Nemotois Frischella. August 19, three, from the great scabious.

Plutella sequella. September 23, one, from hazel.

Hyponomeuta plumbella. August 7, 19, and September 3, twelve, from hawthorn.

Hyponomeuta cognatella, August, this pretty species was tolerably abundant ; fre-
quenting the wild clematis.

Depressaria Alstremeriana. August 21, Stoke Wood.

Depressaria purpurea. August 7 and 21, two, beaten from hazel.

Depressaria depressana. August 12, one, attracted by light.

Gelechia luculella. August 21, two, from bramble.

Pterophorus Hieracii. August 5 to 19, fourteen, from the long grass, in Stoke
Wood.—P. H. Newnham; Oxford, November 2, 1850.

Captures of Lepidoptera at Hornsey, Wicken and Burwell Fens, between June the
8th and July 1st, 1850.—

Lelia cenosa. One larva, found feeding on the common reed; bred a fine male.

Leucania pudorina. Common, at sugar.

Nonagria Arundinicola, Two, at sugar.

Luperina aljecta. One, attracted by light.

Neuria Saponaria. Nine, at sugar.

Hadena Atriplicis. Seven, at sugar.

Hydrelia uncana, Thirty, flying in the day. .

Nascia cilialis. Two, at sugar.

Harpalyce sagittaria. Three, by beating.

Lobophora sexalisaria. Five, by beating.

Phibalapteryx polygrammaria., ‘Ten, flying at night.

Phibalapteryx lignata. Flying at night.

Eupithecia sparsaria. ‘Thirty, at sugar and by beating.

Kupithecia Piperaria. Fifty-four, by beating.

Depressavia Angelicella. Six, at sugar.

°

Insects. 3013

Psecadia funerella. About fifty, flying at night.

Chilo mucronellus. About fifty, flying at night.—J. Bond; Kingsbury, Decem-
ber 12, 1850.

Capture of Lepidoptera at Almondsbury, Gloucestershire.—I have little to report
this month, unless it be that the splendid weather of September appears to have been
favourable to the development of the autumnal Lepidoptera. Through September,
I took, by lantern, off a garden-flower called by our “old wives” ‘ Aaron’s rod,
amongst twenty-one commoner species, Triphena interjecta, Noctua bella, Anthocelis
lunosa, Xanthia citrago, Epione apiciaria, Harpalyce achatinaria, Endorea coarctata
and Depressaria propinquella. From the end of September till the end of October, the
Scotch firs near my house produced me Anthocelis litura, Xanthia cerago, Xylina
rhizolitha, X. semibrunnea and about ten other common species. From the begin-
ning of October to this date, the ivy in my garden, and in our village, has yielded me,
freely, the following thirty-three species, besides the rarer ones afterwards named ;
viz., Phlogophora meticulosa (that elegant pest), Caradrina cubicularis, Triphena
connuba and orbona, Segetia xanthographa (worn), Noctua C-nigrnm, Agrotis sege-
tum and suffusa (very fine), Orthosia lota, Anthocelis lunosa and litura, A. pistacina,
Scoliopteryx Libatrix, Xanthia ferruginea, X. cerago, Glaa spadicea, G. Vaccinii and
polita, Scopelosoma satellitia, Miselia Oxyacanthe, Polia flavicincta, Hadena pyrotea,
Plusia Gamma, Stenopteryx hybridalis (worn), Eubolia mensuraria (worn), Thera
variaria, Harpalyce russaria, Y psipetes elutaria, Cheimatobia dilutaria, C. Brumaria,
Eudorea coarctata, Plutella porrectella and Pterophorus pterodactylus. The scarcer
kinds from the ivy have been, Orthosia macilenta, Hub., one; Xanthia citrago, one ;
Dasycampa rubiginea, three (in first week of November), I missed a fourth, by its

dropping too quickly through the ivy; Xylina rhizolitha, fifteen; X. petrificata,

twelve ; X. semibrunnea, twenty-five ; Calocampa exoleta, one; C. vetusta, one seen,
but lost, by dropping through the ivy, and Phesyle psittacaria, one. My friend, the
Rev. Joseph Greene, of Lower Guiting, on the Cotswolds, tells me he took vetusta on
the ivy, near his house, at 7 p.m., October 23, and also one exoleta. His locality is
very elevated and cold, yet he has had his assiduity rewarded by many good things.
Though too late for this season, I have hopes that this communication may, next year,
direct the attention of my brother knights of the “‘ net and pen” to the most probable
localities for the Xyline, &ec.—J. Allen Hill ; Almondsbury House, November 12,
1850.

Impregnation of the Queen Bee.—Mr. Ridsdale’s observations on the impregna-
tion of the queen-bee, as recorded in the ‘ Zoologist’ (Zool. 2960), brought to my
mind a fact which I myself witnessed. In July, 1844, I was walking along the cliffs
between Brighton and Rottingdean, when I saw flying towards me what appeared to
be an immense humble-bee (Bombus terrestris). On its alighting on the grass I ran
to the spot, and discovered two humble-bees im coiti, ut apud muscas mos est. They
remained in this position for a quarter of an hour at least, and then separated and
flew away. The fact made an impression upon me at the time, from the obscurity in
which the impregnation of the queen of the honey-bee was involved, and I thought I
had made a great discovery ; but I find, in Dr. Bevan’s work on the honey-bee, p. 31,
that he was fortunate enough to be an eye-witness of a similar fact. Although rea-
soning from analogy is said to be dangerous, yet, from these and other instances, it is
only reasonable to conclude that the queen of the honey-bee is impregnated in a
similar way, though it is singular that the impregnation should, for so long a period,

3014 Radiata, &c.

have escaped the observation of so many diligent inquirers.—R. Wakefield ; Lower
Clapton, November 16, 1850.

Notice of a specimen of the Goniastor Equestris with Six Rays.—This specimen
was brought me on the 5th ult., and was taken from twenty fathom water, off the Bay
of Gamrie. The diameter of the disk portion is from five to five and a half inches.
The greatest distance between the extremities of two opposite rays or arms is nine
inches. The madriporiform tubercle is two-eighths of an inch in diameter, and si-
tuate one-third of the radial distance from the centre. The colour of the upper
surface, when newly out of the water (referring to ‘ Werner's Nomenclature of Colours ’)
was tile-red; that of the lower surface, between buff-orange and cream-yellow. When
recent, the upper surface was turgid, and showed five depressions radiating to the
points intermediate between the rays, the fifth depression passing in a line with the
external edge of the additional arm or ray. The fluid that dropt from it was tinged
of the same hue as that of the soft tuberous thready matter which occupied the inte-
rior, and was of an aurora-red tint. Referring to ‘ Forbes’ British Star Fishes, the
normal form of this star-fish is pentangular, although he also notices a specimen of a
square form, which is described and figured by Dr. Johnston in the ‘ Magazine of
Natural History’ for March, 1836. In the present example, the form which is hex-
agonal, is therefore to be regarded as abnormal, and the specimen supplies abundant
confirmation of this. In the first place, the external depressions are five ; secondly,
there is the same number of partitions or walls dividing the internal parts; thirdly,
the additional arm is rather smaller than any of the others, and the edge-line of the
plates on the lower surface somewhat irregular ; fourthly, it comes away more abruptly
than the others from the disk, and its avenue, instead of terminating in the centre of
the fish, terminates in the avenue of the adjacent ray, which, in consequence, has suf-
fered distortion. On these grounds, I should think, the specimen must be set down
as an irregulayity, and this may have originated in some damage sustained at an
early period of its growth.—George Harris; Manse of Gamrie, October 16, 1850.

Notices oF New Books.

Game Birds and Wild Fowl.*

Mr. Knox is already so well known to our readers as an acute and
patient observer of living birds that an introduction is perfectly unne-
cessary. His ‘ Ornithological Rambles in Sussex,’ of which a full
notice was given in a former number, will be fresh in the recollection
of our readers. The second work is doubtless called forth by the well-
merited success of the first, and we venture to predict that it will prove
a still greater favourite. Its getting up is admirable, and the illustra-

* ‘Game Birds and Wild Fowl, their Friends and their Foes.’ By A. E. Knox,
M.A., F.L.S. Van Voorst, 1850.

Notices of New Books. 3015

tions by Wolf will add yet another laurel to the chaplet of that ex-

*

quisite artist. The author’s style is as agreeable as formerly, and the
matters discussed have as genuine a flavour of the open air.

Still we do not like this book so well as the ‘Rambles.’ Mr. Knox
is a sportsman and a naturalist: this is no new discovery: it was
evident from every page of the ‘ Rambles ;’ but in that work the na-

turalist was predominant, the sportsman being kept in abeyance: in

this the naturalist is in abeyance ; the sportsman reigns supreme. The
very title of the book seems a misnomer—‘ Friends and Foes.’ Alas!
from Mr. Knox’s teaching, one would think the feathered creation
had no friend, and one single foe, and that foe, man! It must not,
however, be supposed that Mr. Knox’s book is a simple record of
slaughter. Interspersed here and there are anecdotes which illustrate
the habits, or speak to the tractability of species, and a few of these
we shall cite, as more agreeable to naturalists than the destruction of
one thousand and twenty-six woodcocks in six days (see p. 45), or five
hundred and seventy-four hares in one day (see p. 118); or even than
the following list of‘ vermin’ destroyed on the celebrated Highland pro-
perty of Glengary, of which list Mr. Knox himself says, “ speaking
as a naturalist rather than a sportsman, it cannot but be a matter of
regret that the excessive protection of the grouse involves the indis-
criminate slaughter of so many interesting birds and quadrupeds be-
coming exceedingly rare amongst us.” To this lament we most
heartily say, Amen!

“11 Foxes
198 Wild-cats
246 Martin-cats
106 Polecats
301 Stoats and weasels
67 Badgers
48 Otters
78 House-cats, going wild
27 White-tailed sea-eagles
15 Golden eagles
18 Ospreys or fishing eagles
98 Blue hawks or peregrine falcons
275 Kites, commonly called salmon-
tailed gledes
5 March harriers, or yellow-legged
hawks
63 Goshawks
7 Orange-legged falcons
11 Hobby hawks

285 Common buzzards
371 Roughlegged buzzards
3 Honey buzzards
462 Kestrels or red hawks
78 Merlin hawks
9 Ash-coloured hawks, or long blue-
tailed ditto
83 Hen-harriers, or ring-tailed hawks
6 Jer-falcon toe-feathered hawks (?)
1431 Hooded or carrion crow
475 Ravens
35 Horned owls
71 Common fern owls. This I ima-
gine was the short-eared owl.
Surely not the insectivorous
nightjar !
3 Golden owls. Probably the white
or barn owl
8 Magpies.”—Page 116.

3016 Notices of New Books.

In some the names are somewhat ambiguous, but in most instances
they are sufficiently clear, and the record sufficiently astonishing, al-
though the preservation of grouse by the destruction of badgers and
otters seems rather problematical. The toe-feathered hawks must be
the hawk owl, Strix funerea of Linneus, a bird abundant in the high
latitudes of both continents, and one which makes the species of
grouse almost exclusively its prey. The only other record of its |
having been killed in Britain is in the present number of the ‘ Zoolo-
gist.’ We now proceed to more agreeable pickings.

Peregrines. “A friend of Colonel Bonham, the late Colonel] John-
son of the Rifle Brigade, was ordered to Canada with his battalion, in
which he was then a captain, and being very fond of falconry, to
which he had devoted much time and expense, he took with him two
of his favourite peregrines, as his companions across the Atlantic.

“Jt was his constant habit during the voyage to allow them to fly
every day, after ‘ feeding them up’ that they might not be induced to
take off after a passing sea-gull, or wander out of sight of the vessel.
Sometimes their rambles were very wide and protracted. At others,
they would ascend to a height as to be almost lost to the view of the
passengers, who soon found them an effectual means of relieving the
tedium of a long sea-voyage, and naturally took a lively interest in
their welfare, but as they were in the habit of returning regularly to
the ship, no uneasiness was felt during their occasional absence. At
last, one evening, after a longer flight than usual, one of the falcons
returned alone: the other, the prime favourite was missing. Day
after day passed away, and however much he may have continued to
regret his loss, Captain Johnson had at length fully made up his mind
that it was irretrievable, and that he should never see her again. Soon
after the arrival of the regiment in America, on casting his eyes over
a Halifax newspaper, he was struck by a paragragh announcing that
the captain of an American schooner had at that moment in his pos-
session a fine hawk, which had suddenly made its appearance on
board his ship, during his late passage from Liverpool. The idea at
once occurred to Captain Johnson that this could be no other than
his much-prized falcon, so having obtained leave of absence, he set
out for Halifax, a journey of some days. On arriving there, he lost
no time in waiting on the commander of the schooner, announcing
the object of his journey, and requesting that he might be allowed to
see the bird; but Jonathan had no idea of relinquishing his prize so
easily, and stoutly refused to admit of the interview, ‘ guessing’ that
it was very easy for an Englisher to lay claim to another man’s pro-

Notices of New Books. 3017

perty, but ‘calculating’ that it was a ‘tarnation sight’ harder for
him to get possession of it; and concluding by asserting in unquali-
- fied terms his entire disbelief in the whole story. Captain Johnson’s
object, however, being rather to recover his falcon than to pick a
quarrel with the trucculent Yankee, he had, fortunately, sufficient self-
command to curb his indignation, and proposed that his claim to the
ownership of the bird should be at once put to the test by an experi-
ment, which several Americans, who were present, admitted to be
perfectly reasonable, and in which their countryman was at last per-
suaded to acquiesce. It was this; Captain Johnson was to be ad-
mitted to an interview with the hawk (who, by the way, had as yet
shown no partiality for any person since her arrival in the New World,
but on the contrary had rather repelled all attempts at familiarity),
and if at this meeting she should not only exhibit such unequivocal
signs of attachment and recognition as should induce the majority of
the bystanders to believe that he really was her original master, but
especially if she should play with the buttons of his coat, then the
American was at once to waive all claim to her. The trial was imme-
diately made. The Yankee went up stairs, and shortly returned with
the falcon, but the door was hardly opened before she darted from his
fist and perched at once on the shoulder of her beloved and long
lost protector, evincing, by every means in her power, her delight and
affection, rubbing her head against his cheek, and taking hold of the
buttons of his coat and champing them playfully between her mandi-
bles, one after another. This was enough: the jury were unanimous.
A verdict for the plaintiff was pronounced: even the obdurate heart
of the sea captain was melted, and the falcon was at once restored to
the arms of her rightful owner.”—Page 177.

Pheasants. “The habit of crowing, indulged in at all hours of the
day during the breeding-season, is not restricted to the purposes of
love or the hour of rest. The same note is uttered on quitting his
perch at early dawn, and the sound of thunder or distant cannon
never fails to produce it. How often, though at a distance of thirty
miles, have I heard it elicited by the booming of the Portsmouth guns,
when the weather was calm, or the wind in a favourable quarter. But
the most remarkable instance of this kind that ever came under any
notice, occurred on the 11th of March, 1850. It was a clear sunny
day, the air cold and frosty, with a gentle breeze from the north-east.
{ had been riding through Charlton Forest, and had just begun to
descend the northern slope of the downs by a rugged path, above the
village of Graffham, when I was induced to halt for a moment to

EX. G

3018 Notices of New Books.

admire the magnificent panoramic view that here suddenly bursts upon
the sight. The dark, hanging woods of Lavington clothed the steep
hills on one side, while on the other their natural forms were varied
by smaller clumps of beech and juniper. Below me lay the long and
picturesque valley of the Rother, extending from the borders of
Hampshire as far as the eye could reach, and varied with wild,
heathery commons, evergreen woods, brown copses, and cultivated
fields. Immediately opposite was the elevated range of the lower,
green sandstone formation, which forms the southern boundary of the
weald of West Sussex ; beyond which, again, in the distance, might
be seen the blue outline of the Surrey downs, as they stretched far
away into the eastern horizon. I had not gazed long upon the mag-
nificent scene, before a deep, hollow booming, or protracted concus-
sion (for it was rather felt than heard), shook the earth for some
seconds. At the same moment a pheasant, in an adjoining copse, an-
nounced his consciousness of the shock by a sudden crowing, which
had hardly ceased, before a second explosion, succeeded after another
interval, by a third, the loudest of all, induced every cock pheasant
in the woods of Lavington, to sound his note of alarm. As to myself,
I confess I was puzzled how to account for the phenomenon. It was
quite different from the rumble produced even by the loudest artillery,
and the clear cloudless sky forbade the supposition of its being caused
by even distant thunder. On my way home, I passed several persons
who had heard it, and many of whom had noticed its effects on the
pheasants, especially one party of labourers who were employed in
repairing a fence near a long hanger (one of the best preserves in the
county); they told me that a loud and long-continued crowing pro-
ceeded from all parts of the wood for many minutes after the last ex-
plosion. They, too, were unable to conjecture the cause of the
sound, nor was the mystery unravelled until the following day; when
intelligence arrived of the awful explosion and loss of life, at Messrs.
Curtis and Harvey’s powder-mills, at Hounslow, nearly fifty miles in
a direct line from the spot where I heard it.”—Page 187.

Capercaillie in Scotland. “Through the kindness of a relative of
Lord Breadalbane, I am enabled to add a few particulars connected
with the present state and condition of the capercaillie at Taymouth
(July, 1850), furnished by the intelligent head keeper, Mr. Guthrie, to
whose judicious management their establishment and preservation are
in a great measure to be attributed. Ample details of the most ap-
proved method of keeping the birds in a state of confinement and of
rearing the chicks, nearly similar to that pursued by Mr. Guthrie, are

Notices of New Books. 3019

given in Mr. Yarrell’s ‘ History of British Birds;’ but Mr. Guthrie
found that the treatment of the chicks, after the eggs had been hatched
under domestic hens, was attended with much more difficulty than in
the case of the pheasant. Experience showed him that it was neces-
sary to move the coops to different parts of the forest, according to
the state of the weather; placing them, on a sunny day, under the
shadow of trees or among tall grass or fern; but during damp or wet
weather, removing them to dry, bare, or sandy spots. While trans-
porting them from one place to another ‘he put the chicks into a small
woollen bag, and the hen into a basket covered with a cloth to keep
her in the dark. When a fortnight or three weeks had elapsed he
did not think it necessary to move the coops. He remarks, ‘ After
a time I gave the young birds very little food out of hand, except
wild berries, and as soon as I got them to feed on the larch branches
I considered them safe. The Scotch fir is rather hard for their bills
when young.’

“Tn 1838 and 1839, Lord Breadalbane received from Norway fifty-
four adult capercaillie, about two-thirds of which were females.
Some of them were liberated in the forest, and others kept in a large
aviary for the purpose of procuring the eggs. The plan of placing
these in the nests of grey hens, subsequently pursued by Mr. Guthrie,
proved eminently successful. The birds have steadily increased of
late“years, and now ‘all the old woods about Taymouth Castle are
full of capercaillie, such as Drummond Hill, Kenmore Hill, Croftmor-
raig Hill, &c. Several migrate every season down to Strath Tay,
Blair Athol, Dunkeld and the woods about Crieff;’ so that the truly
noble enterprise originally undertaken by Lord Breadalbane has been
crowned with perfect success, and the king of the game birds may
now be said to be restored to his hereditary dominions.”—Page 22].

The Arctic Ocean.*

“My brother Harry having embarked with Sir John Franklin, in
1845, it need not be wondered at, that, as year after year wore on,
and still there came no intelligence, I, as well as the rest of my family,
began to feel anxiety. I incidentally heard of Mr. William Penney,

* ¢ An Arctic Voyage to Baffins Bay and Lancaster Sound, in Search of Friends
with Sir John Franklin.’ By Robert Anstruther Goodsir, late President of the Royal
Medical Society of Edinburgh. London: Van Voorst, 1850.

3020 Notices of New Books.

a

master of the Advice, of his enterprising character and energetic dis-
position —————. I offered my services, and a few days afterwards
sailed with Mr. Penney, from whom, during the whole voyage, I met
with unremitting kindness and attention.”—Preface, p. v.

Thus writes Mr. Goodsir, explaining, in a brief but lucid manner,
the object and origin of the voyage: on such a subject the author
need not express the hope “ that the feelings will be taken into con-
sideration, which led one brother to search for another; nay, for
many brothers ; for surely every one of our fellow-countrymen will
welcome back as brothers each and all of the long missing ones.”
It is impossible that any one should fail to participate in, and fully to
appreciate, the author’s feelings and motives in undertaking such a
voyage: every one must admit them to have been most natural, most
unselfish, and most noble: but two matters connected with the voy-
age, do not seem equally clear or equally capable of satisfactory ex-
planation. rst, we would ask, what did the author expect to learn
on board a whaler, that neither deviated, nor was authorized to de-
viate, from her usual course? and, Secondly, why does the author
publicly record a want of success, which was an essential and integral
part of the expedition, and was as certain and inevitable when he
sailed from Stromness on the 17th of March, 1849, as when he landed
at Aberdeen, quoting the illustrious B. Simmons, on a day at present
unrecorded.

We cannot for a moment imagine that Mr. Goodsir supposes he is
making any additions to our knowledge of the whale fishery: he has
read Beale and Scoresby, and must know that this is not the casé:
he must, indeed, be imbued with an inordinate love of authorcraft to
have made this adventure on the world of literature. But we cannot
help thinking, and know not why we should refrain from saying, that
he has mistaken his vocation.

Tke following passages are selected as most likely to interest the
readers of the ‘ Zoologist.’ We should have rejoiced to have found
others equally quotable; for after all there is no way so fair towards
an author as allowing him to speak for himself.

The Fulmar. “The fulmar of the north, except in size, may well
be likened to the albatross of the south. Their habits and peculiari-
ties are always the same. They are strong and graceful on the wing,
flying almost in the teeth of the strongest gale, without any seeming
movement of their beautifully rounded pinions: now swooping along
in the troughs of the sea, now skimming on the snowy crests. ‘They
are almost constantly on the wing, night and day, never alighting on

———S Ss,

Notices of New Books. 3021

the water, except during calm and moderate weather, and then but
rarely. They are very bold, flying close to the side of the ship, al-
most within reach of the hand. I have more than once been startled
in the evenings, by one flitting close past my face, with noiseless wing,
like some gigantic moth.

- At the beginning of the season, before they are gorged with blubber,
and their flesh has become rank and oily, they are occasionally killed
for food, and taste not unlike an ill-fed chicken. They are constantly
on the look out, keeping a vigilant eye on the wake of the vessel for
anything that may be thrown overboard. They are sometimes, too,
like the albatross, caught by a baited hook; but generally, the Davis
Strait’s sailor has a kindly feeling for the harmless ‘ Mollys;’* and
many a reproof, strengthened generally by a not very gentle oath, have
I heard the ‘green Orkney boys’ get for molesting them during
‘flensing’ or ‘making off.’ For it is then that they can be best seen,
and their habits particularly noted. ‘Though, previously, but a very
few may be in sight, immediately upon a ‘fish’ being struck, they
begin to assemble, and are soon seen hovering over the ‘ fast-boats ’
in countless flocks, and alighting to feed upon the broad pellicle of
oil and blood, which forms a wake after the wounded whale. During
‘flensing,’ their boldness and impudence are often very amusing. I
have seen them get on the fish, and tear at the blubber, even amongst
the men’s long knives, and under their very feet: and more than once,
I have seen one which was roughly laid hold of, and pitched out of
the way, with a hearty shake, coolly return again to his repast.
During ‘ making-off, or the process of finally packing the blubber
into the casks, when all the refuse parts, or ‘ krang’ are cut off and
thrown overboard, they are seen sitting in the water, in all directions,
tearing at the floating pieces. They are exceedingly pugnacious, and
are constantly driving one another away from any piece that may ap-
pear more tempting than another. The noise they make at such times
is sometimes almost deafening, and exactly resembles that of poultry,
something between the cackle of the hen and the quack of the duck,
whilst the ‘ ploutering’ in the water adds to the hubbub. Hovering
overhead, but never deigning to soil its snowy plumage in the greasy
water, an ivory gull (Larus eburneus), may occasionally be seen,
stooping down to a piece of ‘ krang, which none of the fulmars may

* “The sailors have a strange saying that the ‘ Mollys’ are animated by the
spirits of ‘ Old Greenland Skippers; I suppose the fondness of both for blubber has
led Jack to think this.”

3022 Quadrupeds.

happen to be touching, pecking at it whilst fluttering over it. The
fulmars, when able to eat no more, make the best of their way to the
nearest ice, where, squatting flat upon it, they sleep until ready for
another gorge. The ivory gull, also, when satisfied, makes its way to
the ice, to rest and sleep, but takes up its position on the topmost
pinnacle of the nearest hammock, when it can only be distinguished
by its black legs and bill. The fulmar, graceful as it is on the wing,
is the very reverse on its legs; its walk is awkward and feeble.”—

Page 6.
King Duck. “Whilst passing over the Bank we saw immense

flocks of ducks, principally the king duck (Somateria spectabilis).
They were literally covering the water in myriads, but were so wild,
that we could not get within shot of them.”—Page 20.

Time of Breeding and Period of Gestation of the Oiter—There seems to be some
considerable discrepancy in accounts of the otter as to the period of the year in which
they produce their young. Mr. Bell says “ March or April :” Mr. Jenyns, “ March :”
and in the ‘ Zoologist’ (Zool. 1901), the pair kept in the Gardens of the Zoological
Society (where, however, the male had been but recently introduced), are recorded as
breeding in August. Probably it is more irregular in this than most animals, as I
have just seen three young ones, taken at Rawworth, probably from their size (about
eighteen or nineteen inches long) six weeks or two months old, and therefore born in
November. Perhaps some other of your correspondents can give us additional infor-
mation on the subject. Is it probable that the female has two broods in a year ?—
H. T. Frere; Blofield, January 9, 1851.

Period of Gestation and Number of Young in the Guinea-pig.—It is strange
that no one has yet called attention to the assertion repeated by the two authors
mentioned above, and by every writer on Natural History, with whose works I
am acquainted, as to the number of young produced by the guinea-pig. They talk
about its having from four to twelve in a litter. As far as my experience goes (and in
my younger days I have often kept them) this is much too high an estimate. I never
remember a litter of more than five, and much more frequently two, three, or four ;
often only one. Its time of gestation, too, is put down by Mr. Bell as from twenty-
five to thirty days ; it ought to have been six weeks. Now, when such errors, for such
I say without question they are, are countenanced by such men, and this in the history
of an animal, for learning whose habits we have every opportunity, how great are those
likely to be which are committed by less learned men in matters more difficult to be
examined. Mr. Bell very properly derides the idea that this animal drives away rats.
The fact is, that they seem to have a peculiar attraction for them ; and I remember a
case where I got some to keep rats out of the rabbit-hutches, and the guinea-pigs were
half eaten by the morning, by the very vermin I had got them to repel, and heartily
laughed at I was for my cleverness.—Id.

White Hedgehog.—On the 19th of October, 1850, I obtained a specimen of this
animal, the spines of which were entirely white: it was brought to me by a rat-catcher,
who found it in the parish of St. Faith’s, near Norwich. On dissection, I found the

Birds. 3023

nerves in connexion with the muscles for the contraction of the skin, to be greatly
diseased. Query, did not this account for the loss of colour in the spines ?—J. O.
_ Harper ; Norwich, December 4, 1850.

Notes on Observations in Natural History during a Tour in Norway.
By the Rev. ALFRED CHARLES SMITH, M.A.

(Continued from page 2982).

THE Summer Snipe (Totanus hypoleucos). One of the commonest
species of birds to be seen in Norway during the summer months, is
the summer snipe: you may see them by every mountain stream, on
the banks of every inland lake, and even on the shores of the fjords.
If wandering quietly by the water-side, I was sure to have an oppor-
tunity of watching their elegant motion, unobserved : now they are
running on the soft sand, over which the rippling water has just
strength left to curl, jerking their tails up and down, and stretching out
their necks: now they are standing on some inland stone, motionless
and quiet: now as your advancing form meets their eyes, away they
skim over the water, their short wings outstretched, and uttering their
peculiar note. I once fell in with the young of this bird in some
numbers: I had been visiting the beautiful waterfall of Hone-fos, and,
hearing that some miles higher up the river made two still greater
plunges, had followed its course through a glorious forest, the tremen-
dous roar of the river, as it dashed down the fall, and the clouds of
spray which rose far above the trees, giving unmistakeable proofs that
I had not been deceived. After watching the rushing, boiling, foam-
ing water, as it was hurled into the abyss below, till my eyes ached,
and I was half stunned with the noise, I followed the course of the
river higher up for some distance: here the river was broad, deep,
_ clear and quiet, flowing calmly on through the silent forest, as if col-

lecting its strength and preparing for the toil and turmoil into which
it must soon be dashed: the contrast, indeed, was great; and so re-
freshing and inviting did it look, that I threw down my gun, and was
soon swimming about in the clear water; but though the day was very
hot, and the sun had great power, the water was so intensely cold, that
I was quickly on the bank again. I had noticed the great numbers of
summer snipes, which were flitting across the river and uttering their
piping notes from both banks, and I had been a good deal surprised
to see them sometimes extending their flight in amongst the trees, and
now and then even perching on the tops of the young larches. Whilst

3024 Birds.

bathing I disturbed two from the bank, and from their frequent return
to the same place, their peculiar cry, and strange antics to decoy me
away from the spot, I felt sure that they had nests or young in the
tufts of long grass which abounded; nor was I mistaken. After a di-
ligent search for some time, I found two young birds covered with
down, of a brownish hue above and white below: so motionless were
they, and so well in colour did they assimilate to the heather and long
grass around, that I might well have passed them over many times,
when searching in the very spot where they were. Presently I found
two more, in another part of the river-bank; and soon after a low
chirping attracted me to another spot, where I found two others: in
all I found about ten, on various parts of the bank, but never more
than two in one spot, which was strange, as it is well known that the
summer snipe lays four eggs. As some of these little birds could
scarcely hobble over the heather (which they invariably did as fast as
they could, when I put them down and restored to them their liberty),
and as they appeared to be just hatched from the egg, I hoped to find
a nest, and long and diligently did I seach for one: but though I
looked in all the most likely spots, among the stumps of grass in the
boggy soil; amidst the heath on the river-bank, and the pebbles on

the shore ; amongst the tangled grass and the bunches of reeds below.

the little fir-trees and bushes; though I frequently got wet in my
earnest search, and once sank into the black boggy mud; I could
find neither the eggs, nor the nest with the broken egg-shells, from
which the young I had just before found, must have come: and yet
as some of these young birds were but just hatched, and could
scarcely crawl over the rough grass, their cradle must have been very
near to me. I cannot close this account of the young of the summer
snipe, without remarking on the extreme accuracy of the figure of it,
as given by Mr. Yarrell in his most valuable work, in the vignette at
the end of the description of this bird.

The Hooded Crow (Corvus cornix). As the summer snipe, last de-
scribed, abounds more than any other bird on the banks of every
stream and lake; so the hooded crow may be seen in vast numbers
throughout the valleys and marshes in Norway: indeed, this bird is
the great representative of the genus Corvus in that country, as the
rook is in this’; and frequently have I seen a hundred and more of
these birds wandering over the short grass of a newly-mown meadow,
and digging their beaks into the ground for worms and slugs. I never
saw a rook or a carrion crow in Norway, and only once did I see the
jackdaw, but the hooded or royston crow is numerous enough to sup-

Birds. 3025

ply the place of them all, and a handsome bird he is. In some parts
of the country, and especially in the neighbourhood of Christiania, in
lieu of the light smoke-gray, which is the usual colour of their backs
and under surface, a light rose-coloured tint pervaded these parts: I
have seen a large flock with this rosy colour, and when the sun has
happened to shine on their backs, the delicate pink has been very
perceptible and beautiful, though I can assure your readers that this
effect is not to be ascribed altogether to the agency of pododauturos ‘Has,
for even on a cloudy day the same tint remained.

The Raven (Corvus corax). The high table-land, which, on reach-
ing the plateau of a mountain, you have to cross, and which frequently
extends for many miles, the very acmé of all that is wild, solitary and
desolate, comprises the famous Norwegian fjeld: too cold and inhos-
pitable for habitation, and too barren for cultivation, the fjeld only
serves, in its best and most fertile parts, to give a scanty subsistence to
the few cows which the farmer sends there during the summer months.
These fjelds present every variety of savage wildness; some are
nearly flat, others undulating; others again exceedingly steep, and
difficult to traverse ; some are covered with heather, some with lichen
and reindeer-moss ; some, devoid of any vegetation, are mere wilder-
_nesses of dark rock, or enormous beds of snow which never melts. I
think I never crossed one of these fjelds without seeing a raven
perched on a rock, overlooking his wild domain, and croaking out his
welcome, or, perhaps, his malediction, and then, as you draw nearer,
flying heavily and surlily away ; for the raven is a bird of great dignity,
and will not brook familiarity or too great intimacy. Very often, on
winding round a rock, we would come suddenly upon five or six of these
birds, probably the whole family, sitting quietly together, not dreaming
of an intruder on their privacy ; and then what a hubbub they made,
and what a bustle they were in, to get away ; and what a rustling of huge
black wings, and what a croaking of hoarse angry voices, as they rushed
away helter-skelter, and never stopped till they had placed the greater
part of an English mile between us, when we could see them settle
together again on a projecting rock, to recover their fright, and exa-
mine us who where the causes of it. I have often in England ad-
mired the caution and great wariness of the raven, and having lived
some years near the Cheddar Cliffs, where some were always to be
seen, had frequent opportunities of remarking their wide-awake pro-
pensities, and have always thought it as unlikely to ‘catch a raven
asleep’ as a weasel: but in these desolate Norwegian fjelds, where a
human being is so seldom seen, not even a raven thinks it worth while

IX. H

3026 Birds.

to be always on the look-out, on so remote a chance, and so we often
caught them napping, or something very like it. I believe the raven
is one of the very few birds which never changes the colour of his
dress, in the icy winters of these northern countries.

The Ring Ouzel (Turdus torquatus). The ring ouzel is by no
means an uncommon bird in Norway; he delights in the copses of low
bushes, which clothe the sloping sides of the mountains near their
base, and when these copses extend down to the margin of a lake the
ring ouzel seems to me to have all he delights in: at any rate it is in
such a locality that I have most frequently seen them. The ring
ouzel, too, is a tamer bird in Norway than he is described to be with
us, though being only a summer visitant there, he must be pretty well
acquainted with man, and his tyranny over, or rather persecution of,
the feathered race. I had a great opportunity of admiring the ring
ouzel, and his fearlessness, when staying a few days near Skjolden,
not far from the foot of the highest mountain in Norway, the Skagstéls-
Tind, whose peaks rise about 8000 feet above the level of the fjord
below. Many times in the course of the day a ring ouzel would, in
passing to aud from his nest, rest for a few minutes on the turf-roof of
an adjacent chalet: here he would perch and turn his head round in

his peculiar manner, and sing a small stave, and away again on his.

labour of love. |

The Common Dipper (Cinclus aquaticus). A very great favourite
of mine is the common dipper or water ouzel: he chooses such a de-
lightful place for his residence, generally in the midst of splendid
scenery, and always amongst the rocks and banks of a rushing, roaring
torrent, or a clear, babbling mountain stream: the noise of the water
as it hurries over its rocky bed is the sweetest music to him. I agree
with him in this, and I can sit at the foot of a large water-fall, such as
one sees in Norway, and gaze for hours at the leaping water, as it
foams over the edge and plunges down, and listen to its perpetual
roar and bellowing as it dashes on the rocks below: but the water
ouzel must have more than this; he can never be happy, unless the
sound of his native torrent is constantly heard: he never leaves it:
let it wind about as it may, he will follow its meandering course, now
up the stream, now down, but always near the water; or he will sit on
a stone in the middle of the brook, and the water will splash around
him, and he will sing his melodious little song in the gladness of his
heart. As Norway is nowhere level, but divided into mountains and
narrow valleys, and as every valley has its clear mountain torrent, such
as the dipper loves, of course I saw them very frequently, and in great

Birds. 3027

numbers. In many respects the dipper is very like the common wren,
especially when he flirts his tail up and down, and his nest, too, is very
similar. I once saw a pair of water ouzels going backwards and for-
wards to their nest, which was situated in a strange place; it was in
the Canton Appenzell, in Switzerland, at the foot of the famous Eben
Alp, and where the torrent, in three successive leaps, falls some hun-
dred feet from its feeder, the deep little lake of See-Alp, said to be
unfathomable: behind one of these falls, where the stream shot out
from the face of the rock, the water ouzels had made their nest; they
were very busy supplying their young ones with food when I was
there, and so I saw them going and returning many times; flying to
the side of the great fall, and then darting in behind the descending
sheet of water: what a strange place for a cradle, and how difficult it
must have been for the young ones to leave their nest for the first time:
the body of water was so great, and the fall so high, that had they
fluttered into it, they must have been dashed to death against the
rocks; but no doubt the old birds knew how to guide them safely
away.

ALFRED CHARLES SMITH.

Old Park, Devizes,
January 2, 1851.

(To be continued).

Remarkable Bird’s Nest.—The nest mentioned in the ‘ Zoologist’ (Zool. 2967) by
your correspondent, the Rev. Mr. Amherst, is undoubtedly that of the lesser redpole.
I have frequently found its beautiful little nest in a situation exactly similar to that
described by him, and sometimes as smoothly lined with the pure white catkins of the
willow, as a box of jewels with the finest cotton wool. There is no other small English
bird, except the chaffinch, which chooses a similar situation for its nest, and no other
bird besides, except the gold-crested wren, which makes so small a nest. The eggs
are sometimes so blue as to retain much of the colour after they are blown.— W. C.
Hewitson ; Oatlands, January, 1851.

Occurrence of the Golden Eagle (Aquila chrysaétos) in Herefordshire.—Thinking
you may not happen to hear of the occurrence of the golden eagle in Herefordshire, I
copy the following notice from the ‘Worcester Journal.’ “A few days ago a large
eagle, quite a rara avis in this part of the country, was taken in a trap, near the man-
sion of J. Arkwright, Esq., of Hampton Court, Herefordshire, by one of the under-
keepers. Its wings, when expanded, measure seven feet from tip to tip. It is said
to be of the golden species.” W. H. Cordeaux ; Canterbury, January 8, 1851.

Occurrence of the Goshawk (Falco palumbarius) in Norfolk.n—A specimen of the
goshawk, apparently a female of the present year, was shot last week, a few miles

3028 Birds.

from Norwich. A second specimen was seen in company with it, but was not obtained :
the one which was killed was shot whilst preying on a hare.—J. H. Gurney ; Easton,
Norfolk, November 20, 1850.

Occurrence of the Gyrfalcon (Falco Gyrfalco) in Norfolk.—Whilst shooting at
Frimlingham, on the coast of Norfolk, on the 17th ult., several gentlemen and myself,
saw a gyrfalcon. He must have been an old bird, as he seemed to us to be almost
of a snowy whiteness. This is the second that has been seen in the neighbourhood
within the last three years ; the other was killed at Beeston, on the 24th of February,
1848, and is now in the possession of Mr. J. Gurney Hoare, of Hampstead. <A few
days after we had seen the gyrfalcon, two ospreys were seen at Frimlingham, one of
which, a very fine bird of this year, was shot, and is now in my possession.— 7. Fowell
Buxton ; Truman’s Brewery, Brick Lane, November 19, 1850.

Falcons hiding their Prey—I do not know whether it be a general, or if so, a well-
known habit of the falcons to hide their prey ; if not, my remarks may, perhaps, be in
some measure interesting to ornithologists. I havea young kestrel (Falco tinnunculus),
which, when not out in the air, I frequently allow a perch in my own room, where he
is sometimes very amusing. Having, about a month since, given him a mouse, he
did not eat it all as I expected, but after killing it and eating the head, began to carry
the body about the room, and in a few minutes hid it very carefully under one of the
window-curtains, which hung down to the floor; he then left it, and I took him up and
set him on his perch; when in order to satisfy myself as to the cause which induced
him to leave his breakfast, I offered him a small piece of meat (his usual food), but
he would not take it. He remained tolerably quiet for about two hours, when he sud-
denly became restless, and looking across the room flew to the curtain and putting his
head underneath drew forth his store and ate it. A few days after this he killed and
hid another mouse in the same place, and, when he felt inclined, found it, eat the
head and hid the body as before: I have no doubt he would have finished this also,
had he been allowed, but I then turned him out, and when he was again admitted, it
was too dusk for him to find it. I have had no opportunity of making subsequent
observations, but should these be of any value, it will be a source of pleasure to me.—
T. S. Carte ; Sidney College, Cambridge, December 16, 1850.

The Lanner.—I have lately procured the bird mentioned in the notice (which I
enclose) extracted from the ‘ Bedford Times.’ I perceive that Mr. Yarrell considers
the specimen hitherto procured and called lanner, to be young female peregrine.
With regard to the bird here mentioned, Mr. Mantel, bird-preserver, Bedford, informs
me it exactly answers Bewick’s description of the lanner, with the exception of the
mark over the eye to the back of the head being of a kind of sandy instead of white
colour. He does not consider the specimen a young bird.

“Shot, near Bedford, in the neighbourhood of Hawnes, a fine specimen of that rare
and valuable bird, the lanuer (Falco lunarius). It weighed two pounds anda quarter ;
near four feet in the stretch of the wings, and twenty inches length of the body. This
highly-prized bird is a native of the south of Europe, and is said by Montagu to fly
at the rate of one hundred and fifty miles an hour. Colonel Thornton, an expert
faleoner, estimates the flight of this bird in pursuit of a snipe to have been nine miles
in eleven minutes, without including the frequent turnings. Anderson, in his ‘ Birds
of America,’ states that he has seen the falcon come at the report of a gun, and carry
off teal not thirty yards distant from the sportsman who killed it, with a daring as-
surance as surprising as unexpected. The above specimen is preserved by Mr. Man-

sential ceria

Birds. 3029

tel, of Bedford, and is in the collection of Mr. Hervey Smith, Aspley House.”—C.
flervey Smith ; Aspley House, near Woburn, December 4, 1850.

[I have no idea that any distinct species of falcon answering to the name and de-
scription of the lanner occurs in this country.—H. Newman.]

Occurrence of the Common Buzzard (Buteo vulgaris) at Laughton.—I obtained a
very fine old female specimen of this very uncommon bird, last month, from the above
place.—J. B. Ellman; Lewes, December 12, 1850.

Bond fide British-killed Hawk Owl. By E. T. H1eetns, Esq.

THE subject of the present communication was shot on the 25th
or 26th of August, 1847, about two o’clock in the afternoon (the sun
shining bright at the time), whilst hawking for prey on Backwell Hill,
near the Yatton (Clevedon) Station, on the Bristol and Exeter Rail-
way, and on the day following, whilst still in the flesh, came under my
observation’; for the genuineness of the specimen I can therefore
vouch. The delay in the record of its capture has arisen from my
inability to obtain the bird for description sooner, and thinking that a
mere statement of its appearance, without any account of locality, &c.,
would be neither satisfactory nor interesting, I preferred waiting until
I could give some positive information about it. Having at length
had it placed in my hands for description, I hasten to bring it before
your readers ; and as it differs in some respects from the individuals
recorded in Wilson’s ‘ American Ornithology,’ Yarrell’s ‘ British
Birds,’ &c., have drawn up the following sketch.

The Hawk Ovel.

Surnia Ulula. G. R. Gray’s ‘Genera of. Birds,’ p. 33.
Strix funerea. Gould’s ‘ Birds of Europe,’ pl. 45.
Strix funerea. Yarrell’s ‘ British Birds,’ vol. 1. p. 139, 1st edition.

Facial disk small and incomplete, the inner feathers of each side
projecting over and almost concealing base of bill and cere: nostrils
large, oval, and placed obliquely at the margin of the cere: exposed
portion of bill, white: lower mandible horn-colour, nearly hid by the
curling upwards of bristly feathers: eyebrows projecting; irides
straw-colour: feathers of facial disk dull white, terminating in dark,
purplish, black points, forming a curved band, extending from above
external canthus of eye to lower edge of disk, and thence continued
to front of wing. Just behind the ear, is given off another, though less

3030 Birds.

distinctly marked band, passing down to point of shoulder: chin and
front of throat, dusky; sides of throat nearly white, with black lines,*
giving them a strigose appearance: crown and back of head black,
with numerous round, white spots (each feather is furnished with three
white spots on a black ground); on the nape of the neck the spots

The Hawk Owl (Surnia funerea).

are larger, but less regular: upper part of back and shoulders dull
white, mottled with brownish black: back, sepia-brown, irregularly
blotched with white: primaries and secondaries sepia-brown; the

* The black lines are due to the colour of the shafts of the feathers.

Birds. 3031

former having four or five distinct and nearly equidistant white spots
on outer web, towards the tips; the latter are adorned with large,
nearly square, white spots on outer web, forming two or three irregu-
lar white lines; a few of the secondaries have white spots on their
inner webs ; tertials long and downy, with large, white spots on their
outer webs, forming, when the wing is closed, a broad, elongated band
of white, with a few transverse, irregular, brownish bars: rump and
upper tail-coverts umber-brown, with irregular white markings, and
a broad terminal white spot: tail seven inches and a half long, pro-
jecting three inches and a quarter beyond the closed wings, cuneiform,
containing twelve feathers, of which the centre pair are one inch and
a half longer than the outer; upper surface sepia- brown, with nine or
ten whitish bars (three upper bars concealed by upper tail-coverts),
a broad terminal white band. The bars are most strongly marked on
the inner webs; the white is but slightly seen on the outer webs, and
only in the form of indistinct spots. The striated appearance is best
seen on the under surface, where the bars form, when the tail is ex-
panded, eight or nine crescentic bands * of dull white ; when the tail
is closed, they form transverse bars: under tail-coverts with broad,
white, and narrow, brown bands: in front of the point of either wing
is a blackish blotch, connected with the opposite by an irregular band
of dull white feathers, having stripes and spots of sepia-brown ; be-
neath this and across upper part of breast, is a broad, pale band, spa-
ringly marked with brown: lower part of breast, belly and sides, dull
white, with numerous transverse, slightly waved bars of hair-brown :
legs and feet thickly covered with yellowish brown feathers, barred
with dark brown: claws bluish black, long, curved and sharp; mid-
dle claw furnished with a projecting sharp inner edge. Total length
143 inches ; from point of wing to tip, 93 inches; length of central
tail feathers, 74 inches, First quill feather shortest; third longest ;
fourth a little shorter; second less than fourth: feathers on under
surface of wing white, with sepia-brown bands, which on some are
regularly transverse, but in others the brown is placed alternately on
inner and outer webs.

By comparing the above description with those of Messrs. Yarrell
and Wilson, it will at once be seen how far the present specimen re-
sembles, and in what respect it differs, from those examined by them.
There are certain points on which I have been, perhaps, unnecessarily
minute ; but as they are points on which the above-named authors

* The convexity being towards the points of the feathers.

3032 Birds.

have but lightly touched, I may be excused for having done so, as
they present such very strongly-marked characters, which, however,
may not be constant, or only to be noticed in immature individuals,
This is in all probability a young bird; I say “in all probability,” be-
cause the rare birds, which have at different times been obtained in
England, have, with scarcely an exception, been examples of the first
or second year.

May we not from this remarkable, but well-known fact, reasonably
conclude that the occurrence of these accidental visitors is to be at-
tributed to their instincts not being sufficiently developed to enable
them to retrace their way, when carried to a distance from their natu-
ral habitat by a strong current of wind.

In their general appearance, the hawk owls so closely resemble the
species of Circus, that in the best arranged catalogues, the genus
Surnia is placed first amongst the owls.

“This genus was established by Dumeril to embrace those species of
Strigide which show a close approximation to the Falconide, not
only in the habit of hawking by day, but also in form, having smaller
heads, less complete facial disks, and longer tails than the other
owls.”* The feathered tarsi and toes, however, point out its relation
to the Strigide.

The peculiarities of its appearance and habits have been so graphi-
cally described by Wilson, that I have availed myself of his account.

“This is an inhabitant of both continents, a kind of equivocal
species, or rather connecting link between the hawk and ow] tribes,
resembling the latter in the feet, and in the radiating feathers round
the eye and bill; but approaching nearer to the former in the small-
ness of its head, narrowness of its face, and in its length of tail. In
short, it seems just such a figure as one would expect to see generated
between a hawk and an owl of the same size, were it possible for
them to produce, and yet is as distinct, independent and original a
species as any other. It has also another strong trait of the hawk
tribe in flying and preying by day, contrary to the general habit of
owls. It is characterized as a bold and active species, following the
fowler and carrying off his game as soon as it is shot. It is said to
prey on partridges and other birds; and it is very common at Hud-
son’s Bay, where it is called by the Indians ‘ coparacoch.’”

K. T. Hieerns.

* Selby’s ‘Illustrations of British Ornithology.’

s

Birds. 3033

Anecdote of the Song Thrush.—A person named Edwards, living in this neigh-
bourhood, found a thrush’s nest with the young just ready to take flight; he caught
two, but the rest escaped: the two were placed out of doors in a cage, and the old
birds continued to feed them. Fourteen days afterwards, Edwards found a second
nest with five young ones; one of them was killed by a cat; two others died; and
the remaining two were put in the cage with the older ones, who, strange to say, being
now fully able to feed themselves, actually took to feeding their young and helpless
companions also, and continued to do so until they could feed themselves ; when all
four birds were put into separate cages. It is rather remarkable that the elder pair
would never feed the younger if they thought themselves observed, so that it was ne-
cessary to conceal one’s self very carefully in order to watch this proceeding.—R. W.
Hawkins ; Upper Brook Street, Rugeley, Staffordshire, December, 1850.

Occurrence of the Chiffchaff in January.—My friend My. Croker, of Bavry, has
just brought me a specimen of the chiffchaff (Sylvia Hippolais), which he shot yester-
day, at a farm about a mile from Torquay: the bird appears to have been in good
condition, and was singing on a tree when it was shot. Perhaps it may interest some
of the readers of the ‘ Zoologist’ to know that this bird has been met with at such an
unusual time of year.— Robert Battersby ; Torquay, January 11, 1851.

Occurrence of the Black Redstart (Sylvia Tithys) at Lewes—A female specimen of
this bird was shot in a chalk-pit near this town, last month.—J. B. Elliman ; Lewes,
December 12, 1850.

Occurrence of the Black Redstart near Lewes.—On the 20th of November a hen
bird of the above species was killed in a chalk-pit near this town: it is now in my
possession.—C. Potter ; Lewes, December 23, 1850.

Blackcap Warbler in Winter.—In the ‘ Zoologist’? (Zool. 2985), there is a notice
by Mr. Briggs on the occurrence of the blackecap warbler in November, which has
brought to my recollection an instance still more conclusive as to the fact of its occa-
sionally remaining here all the winter, which occurred at Duddingstone some years
ago. The bird in this instance was a female, which used to come constantly to the
crumbs before the dining-room window, along with the blackbirds, sparrows and tit-
mice. I remember its coming almost daily during the months of January and
February, and have little doubt that it survived till the woods and fields were green
again, and it was rejoined by its relatives from the south. Mudie mentions several
instances of its occurrence during winter in the southern counties of England, and
there is a notice to the same effect in vol. i. of the ‘ Zoologist, page 76.—R. F.
Logan ; Duddingstone, near Edinburgh.

Occurrence of the Continental Crested Lark near Penzance.—I was informed yes-
terday of the capture of another example of this rare lark in this neighbourhood,
which is the third instance of its occurrence in the county. I examined the bird after
it was mounted by Mr. Vingoe, and it corresponded with the two individuals which I
reported to you some time since as having been captured between this place and Ma-
razion.—H.H. Rodd; Penzance, October 25, 1850.

Arecdotes of a Raven.—When out shooting a few days since, I observed an old
man apparently in conversation with some other person: on reaching him he informed
me he had been talking with Mr. Crowther’s raven, which was perched in an elm-
tree near him, keeping crows from a wheat-field ; I called to the bird by his name,
Taff (which I previously knew) ; he immediately answered “ Halloo,” in a very deep
and hoarse tone: this was about a mile from Mr. Crowther’s house. A few days after-

IX. I

3034 Birds.

wards I saw a young gentleman who resides with Mr. Crowther, and on relating the
above circumstance to him, he replied, “ Ah! poor fellow, he will never keep crows
again.” I found, on inquiry, he had been killed by a grayhound whilst indulging his
propensity for biting the end of its tail: at the same time I learned the following par-
ticulars of this remarkable bird. He was very tame, having his meals with the
servants, and his dessert with his master, to whom he was much attached, sitting on
the sill of his bedroom-window as soon as it was light, and remaining there until he
got up: if he went from home, Taff would go part of the way with him, and meet
him on his return, watching in a tree for hours; and on seeing him, would fly and
perch either on the horse’s head or his master’s shoulder. He was of great use, and
took great delight in coursing, frequently turning a hare by his swoop. He was very
mischievous, hiding anything he could get, especially glittering things: on one occa-
sion he took from.the above-mentioned young gentleman’s dressing-table, seventeen

shillings; and the thief might for ever have remained undetected, had he not seen .

Taff flying away with a shilling in his mouth. He had a great dislike to children,
attacking them whenever they came near him. His roosting-place was a high tree
near the house, and he frequently alarmed persons passing underneath, by some un-
earthly ejaculation.— Hubert Beadles ; Broadway, Worcestershire, December 16, 1850.

Gray variety of the Rook (Corvus frugilegus).—A curious variety of this bird was
killed in Northamptonshire: it appears to be a very old bird: it is gray on the back
and wings ; the back is much darker than the wings, and the tail is grayish ; all the
rest is quite black.—L. H. Irby ; Poringland, near Norwich, January 13, 1851.

Golden Oriole nesting near Deal.—A few days since, when at Sandwich, a person
there who partly gains his living by bird-stuffing, told me that ten years ago the
golden oriole bred in Word Wood (a small wood on the border of the marshes, very
boggy in winter, with very luxuriant Carices and tall herbage) ; that he saw an old one
but would not shoot it, hoping to find the nest, for which he ineffectually searched.
On making a second visit to the spot, a few days after, he was told by a countryman
that he had found a nest with young ones, which he had given to his ferrets; and
from the description of the nest, he had no doubt it was that of the golden oriole.—
J. W. Hulke ; Deal, January 8, 1851.

Note on the Figure of the Hairy Woodpecker (Picus villosus).—Will you allove me
to offer one or two remarks upon the clever and nearly correct sketch of the hairy
woodpecker in the ‘ Zoologist’ (Zool. 2986)? Is there not an inaccuracy about the form
and shape of the bill? It appears, in the drawing, to be slender, sharply pointed, and
slightly curved, greatly resembling the bill of the common creeper (Certhia familiaris),
whereas P. villosus (or at least the only specimen I have seen), like all true wood-
peckers, has the bill straight, strong, conical or wedge-shaped, very broad at the base,
with the extreme point squared off. I would also observe that, in the cut, the bird
appears to have but one hind toe ; whereas it really has two, being a four-toed species,
May I add, that I think it would have been desirable that the artist should have shown
the fringe of hair-like feathers which grow down the centre of the back, and which
give the bird his name (Pie chévelu, Buffon)? I trust that neither yourself nor the
gentleman who has so kindly contributed the sketch, will consider me hypereritical
or needlessly minute, in the remarks I have ventured to make upon it. P. villosus is
now, for the first time, established as an undoubted English visitor, and it is highly
desirable that the first impressions which your ornithological readers may form of the

stranger, should be most accurate ; and the pretty woodcut, coming with the stamp of

Birds. 3035

your valuable approbation, as ‘characteristic,’ might perhaps mislead. It is the
more necessary to be correct in the particulars I have noticed, because some species
of the Picide, both European and American, have but three toes, and an African sub-
genus has the bill curved. ‘There is an accurately drawn and coloured representation
of this woodpecker in Lewin’s ‘ British Birds. —W. F. W. Burd ; 5, King’s Road,
Bedford Row, Jannary 4, 1851.

Occurrence of the Wood Sandpiper (Totanus glareola) at Yarmouth.—Two speci-
mens of this sandpiper, male and female, were killed at Yarmouth, on the 2nd of
August last, and are now in my possession.—L. H. Irby; Poringland, near Norwich,
January 13, 1850.

Occurrence of Baillon’s Crake (Crex Baillouii) near Deal.—In the latter part of
October last, my friend Mr. C. A. Delmar, obtained a second specimen of Baillon’s
crake, not far from the spot where he procured one in the September previous. It is
now in my possession.—J. W. Hulke; Deal, January 15, 1851.

Occurrence of the White Stork (Ciconia alba) in Scoiland.—Happening to notice
that our leading and most recent writers on Ornithology, such as Yarrell, Jardine, &c.,
speak only of one example of the white, or common stork, as having hitherto been
met with in Scotland, perhaps you will allow me to mention that, in the stormy and
unusually severe season of 1837-38, a specimen of this bird was killed in a swampy
moss in the parish of Lonmay, and at no great distance from the loch of Strathbeg,
an extensive sheet of fresh water, lying near to the sea-shore, about half-way between
the towns of Peterhead and Fraserburgh, in this county. It had evidently been driven
by stress of weather from the opposite continent, while in the course of its vernal mi-
gration. It attracted the notice of the neighbourhood; but no one was able to tell
its name, a similar bird never having been seen in that quarter befure. By the
country people its legs were not unaptly compared to red Turkey leather. As there
was no individual, either on the spot or in the vicinity, who was aware of its rarity,
and consequently of its value as an object of science, it was nailed to the end of a
barn, which, with his usual felicity, is characterized by White, of Selborne, as the
*countryman’s museum” (Sir W. Jardine’s edit. p. 34). In this position it minis-
tered to the gratification of the-curious, till it went finally to decay. I obtained its
bill, which is still in my possession, and which, beyond a doubt, identifies the bird, of
which at one time it formed an important and a conspicuous portion.—J. Smith ;
Manse of Monquhitter, Aberdeenshire, December 17, 1850.

Occurrence of the Red-necked Phalarope (Phalaropus hyperboreus) at Lewes.—I ob-
tained a specimen of this bird in winter plumage last month, from a pond near this
town.—J. B. Ellman ; Lewes, December 12, 1850.

Occurrence of the Red-necked Grebe (Podiceps rubricollis) in Devonshire.—A fine
specimen of this bird was killed near Barnstaple, last February, and sent to me; the
man who stuffed it told me the eggs were considerable advanced.—L. H. Irby ; Po-
ringland, near Norwich, January 13, 1851.

Occurrence of the Great Northern Diver (Colymbus glacialis) in Devonshire.—The
recent gales from the north-west have driven quantities of the great northern divers
on our shores, five of which have come to my hands, one among them being a mature
male in full dress, having all the beautiful markings characteristic of its species.—H.
Nicholls ; Kingsbridge, South Devon, December 9, 1850.

Occurrence of the Great Northern Diver (Colymbus glacialis).—A specimen of the

3036 Birds.

above bird was picked up on the top of a high ridge of the chalk downs in the parish
of Beddingham, on the 20th of December. It is in the possession of Thomas Ell-
man, Esq., of the above parish, by whom it was found.—C. Potter ; Lewes, December
23, 1850.

Occurrence of the Black-throated Diver (Colymbus arcticus) at Pevensey.—1 ob-
tained an immature specimen of this bird from the above place last month.—J. B.
Ellman ; Lewes, December 12, 1850.

Occurrence of the Little Gull (Larus minutus) at Lewes.—A very beautiful adult
specimen of this bird was shot near this town about the Ist instant.—Jd.

Occurrence of the Little Gull at Lewes.—I have a specimen of this little rarity
in my possession, which was shot in the Levels, two miles to the south of Lewes, on
the 29th of November. It was flying in a north-easterly direction, unaccompanied
by any other, and was supposed to be a tern by the person who shot it, until,
getting it in his hand, he was convinced to the contrary by the size and colour of
the legs and feet. I should suppose the bird in adult winter plumage ; on which I
solicit your opinion from the enclosed drawing by a lady of my acquaintance. You
will perceive both mandibles are broken, which was ngeEP in shooting.—C. Potter ;
Lewes, December 23, 1850.

[I think the drawing represents an adult bird.—E. Newman. |

Rare Birds at Bishop Auckland.—In the last week of June, a fine specimen of the
black tern was got on the “ Batts,” near to this place, which is about twenty-one miles
from the coast in a direct line. In the same week a gray phalarope was shot on the
Tees. About the 3rd of June another ‘spotted sandpiper was shot, which we think
justifies the insertion of such as British birds ; for it is not unlikely that many which
have been considered as occasional visitors are regular migrants, but may not be ob-
served; or even if taken, not known; or if known, not recorded: the person who shot
the bird did not know what it was, and had it not come into hands that did, we might
not have known that the spotted sandpiper had been got for three successive years.
About three weeks ago a female red-backed shrike was got, near Barnard Castle. In
the spring of 1842, a fine specimen of the kite was shot by Mr. John Robson, keeper
to R. D. Shaftoe, Esq., of Whitworth, near this place; and up to the year 1843, a
pair of peregrine falcons had bred for nine successive years in one of the mountain
gorges, called Shawnberry Crag, a few miles west from here; but in the above-named
year the female was shot on the nest: the following year, a pair again began the
work of incubation in the same place, the male no doubt having found another mate,
which soon shared the same fate: the male remained a few days and then disap-
peared for nearly a fortnight, when he again returned with another female; when, I
am sorry to say, both noble birds perished by the hand of the same unrelenting indi-
vidual: since that time no more noble peregrines have been seen hunting in concert,
as they were wont to do, the moor cock, the curlew, or the plover; but for the last
three years, the very same place has been occupied by much less interesting, yet
equally as useful birds, namely, a pair of ravens, who have reared their broods each
year in safety, notwithstanding many means have been tried for their capture. In the
spring of 1846, a pair of very fine gyrfalcons were got at Wemer Gill, in Northumber-
land, and are now in my possession: in the same year a king duck was got at Bed-
lington, in Northumberland, on the north bank of the Tyne: in the early part of
August, same year, and near the same place, an immature, small bustard was shot,

Zoological Society. 3037

and is now in the possession of Mr. H. Cornal, of this town. On the 17th of August
last, when going up to the moors, I observed six crossbills, two old and four young
birds, evidently a brood of this season, near to Hopyland Castle, about a mile and a
half west of where I saw them last year. A watcher informed me he had found two
erossbill-nests this year, near the grove, belonging to R. Surtees, Esq., but I could
gather no particulars from him about the nest or eggs worthy of note; but his de-
scription of the bird proved to me that he knew them, for he described them accu-
rately, and he has promised me a nest with eggs if possible next year: at present,
in the grove, and also in the shull plantations, belonging to Jonathan Backhouse,
Esq., may be seen, almost every day, flocks of from thirty to forty —J. Duff ; Bishop
Auckland, December 16, 1850.

Proceedings of the Zoological Society.

Ewening Meeting, December 10.—Proressor Owey, F.R.S., Vice-President, in the
chair.

Mr. Westwood read a paper on the Dipterous insects of Africa, known under the
names of the Tsetse and Zimb. After noticing the different modes of attack of in-
sects upon horses and oxen, together with the effects thereby produced, a new species
from the neighbourhood of the new lake was described, under the name of Glossina
morsitans, which had been observed by Capt. F. Vardon to attack horses, occasionally
causing their death. Mr. Westwood also referred to the description of the Zimb given
by Bruce, and considered that that writer had united in one account, the attacks of
the Tsetse and those of the species of Cistrus, which infest the camel, rhinoceros, &c.
Descriptions were added of two additional species of Glossina from Western Africa, as
well as a new and remarkable allied genus from Sierra Leone.

Mr. Gould exhibited and described a new form in birds, obtained from the interior
of Africa, by Masfield Parkyns, Esq. Baleniceps rex is a stork with a perfectly
anomalous beak of immense power, somewhat resembling that of Cancroma; but of a
stature which nearly equals that of the marabou and adjutant.

The Secretary read a note by Capt. Hardy, communicated by Lieut.-Col. Sykes,
on a curious native superstition relating to Buceros ginginianus.

Professor E. Forbes, F.R.S., read a paper on the ‘ Marine Mollusca collected by
Capt. Kellett, R.N. and Lieut. Wood, R.N., during the Surveying Voyage of M.H.SS.
Herald and Pandora.’ The collection consists of 317 species of marine gasteropoda,
one cephalopod, and fifty-eight marine bivalves. They were procured chiefly on the
coast of Southern California, from San Diego to Magdalena, from the shores of Ma-
zatlan and from the Sandwich Islands. Some very interesting and remarkable shells
were found,; the genera of which species are most numerous in the collection are
Murex, Purpura, Trochus, Terebra, Strombus, Conus, Collumbella, Littorina, Oliva,
Cyprea, Natica, Patella and Chiton; Venus and Area. Among the more local genera
are Monoceros, Pseudoliva, Cyrtulus, Saxidomus and Crassatella. In this paper the
new Gasteropods were described : they are three species of Purpura, one of them re-
presenting remarkably the P. capillus of the Atlantic; one Fusus (F. Kelletti, a very

3038 Zoological and Entomological Societies.

singular shell); four Nasse; one Natica and three Trochi. A new Pseudoliva is a
very fine species, and throws fresh light on that obscure genus.

My. Bartlett exhibited a considerable series of specimens of the genus Apteryx,
including the original specimen figured by Shaw, which was obligingly lent by the
Earl of Derby. The result of Mr. Bartlett's investigations goes to prove, that the
specimen in the possession of Lord Derby was unique until the arrival of Mr. Man-
tell’s specimen from Dusky Bay. The bird which has hitherto been considered to be
Apteryx Australis is in reality distinct, and consequently without a name. Mr. Bart-
lett therefore pruposed to give it the name of Apteryx Mantelli.

Several new Entomostraca were described by Dr. Baird ; and Mr. A. Adams com-
municated monographs on Scutella and T richotropis.

Monthly General Meeting, January 2, 1851.— W. Yarre.t, Esq., V. P., in the
chair.

Lancelot Dent, Esq. and James Crowdy, Esq., were elected Fellows. Edward W.
Cox, Esq., Mansfield Parkyns, Esq. and W. Hartree, Esq., were proposed as candi-
dates for the Fellowship.

The Report of the Council stated that the number of elections during 1850 {was
nearly double the average of the four years immediately preceding it: and that the
total number of visitors to the Gardens amounted to 360,402, exceeding the most suc-
cessful year hitherto known (1831) by nearly 100,000. Upwards of fifty species of
animals, which had not been previously exhibited, have been added to the collection,
and among them three of the most singular and interesting in existence, namely, the
hippopotamus, the wart-hog and the thylacine. Many new names have been added
to the list of donors; and the prospect of additions during the ensuing season, both
from this source and by purchase, are of the most promising character. The First
Part of the Fourth Volume of the ‘Transactions’ has been published, and a second,
containing the anatomy of the rhinoceros, by Professor Owen, and other important
papers, is in the press.

The income of the Society during 1850, exhibits an increase of £6186 over that
of the preceding year.—D. W. M.

Proceedings of the Entomological Society.

January 6, 1851.—G. R. Wateruovss, Esq., President in the chair.

The following donations were announced, and thanks ordered to be given to the
donors: The ‘ Zoologist’ for January; presented by the Editor. The ‘ Journal of
the Royal Agricultural Society of England, vol. xi. part 2; presented by the Society.
‘Annales de la Société Linnéenne de Lyon,’ 1847-9; presented by the Society.
‘Mémoires de Académie des. Sciences, Belles-Lettres et Arts, de Lyon;’ ‘Classe
des Lettres,’ tom. i. et ii.; ‘ Classe des Sciences, tom. i. et ii. ; presented by the Society.
‘ Annales des Sciences Naturelles d’ Agriculture et d' Industrie de Lyon, tome xi. 1848,
1849 and 1850; presented by the Society. ‘ List of the Specimens of British Animals

s

Entomological Society. 3039

in the collection of the British Museum ; Part v. Lepidoptera, by J. F. Stephens, Esq.’ ;
presented by the Author. Six specimens of Pterostichus oblongo-punctatus ; presented
by the Rev. C. Kuper, from Trellich, Monmouthshire. Specimens of the rare Formica
ceunicularia, male ; Mononycus Pseudacori, and Vespa Crabro, male and female ; pre-
sented by F. Smith, Esq.

T. A. Preston, Esq., of Brampton Place, Bexley, was balloted for and elected a
Subscriber.

Mr. Douglas, on the part of Mr. Allis, exhibited a specimen of the rare Neuropte-
rous insect Drepanipteryx phalenoides, taken by him at Bowness.

Mr. S. Stevens exhibited some fine specimens of Dynastes Jupiter or Neptunus,
from Columbia ; also a foreign Bombyx, with the case of the larva of a Tinea? at-
tached to its head.

Mr. Douglas observed, in reference to the note of Mr. Jordan, read at the last
meeting, that on looking at some dry flowers of Origanum, which he had gathered in
October, near Dartford Heath, he found that two of the withered calyces, or rather
combination of calyces, for two or three were joined together, were removed by their
insect tenants from the bulk of the plant, and attached to the cage in which they were
placed. Since then, Mr. Stainton and he had gathered some withered flowers of Ori-
ganum with living larve in them, one of which Mr. Stainton exhibited to the
meeting.

Dr. Wallich read a translation which he had made from the Danish at the request
of William Spence, Esq., V.P., of the elaborate memoir of J. C. Schiddte, entitled
‘Specimen Faune Subterranez, of which the following is an epitome.

In 1768, was discovered that singular blind reptile Proteus anguinus in the caves
of Krain, and occasionally found since in the Magdalene cave, near Adelsberg, in
Illyria. In 1840, Koch published a figure of a Crustacean, of the family of Oniscus,
Pherusa alba, discovered in the cave of Adelsberg ; and four years later was found in
the Lueger cave, an insect of the Coleopterous family Carabide, Anophthalmus
Schmidtii. It was not only their locality which attracted attention to these animals,
though it was striking enough that animals should be found existing under conditions
so unfavourable to animal life ; but the fact that they had no eyes, organs so well de-
veloped in all other members of the respective groups to which they belong. In the
Proteus, indeed, the eyes if not altogether wanting, are yet so little developed, that
beyond the mere perception of light, they must be incapable of receiving impressions
of images. It is very easy to perceive the connexion that exists between the want of
light in the caves and the want of visual organs in their inhabitants. So long as only
one form of animal was known to exist there, inhabiting, moreover, a running stream
and not, therefore, exclusively doomed to darkness, this blindness was viewed as an
exceptional phenomenon for which there were analogous instances. But on becoming
acquainted with other occupants of these caves, not only blind, but in their structure
belonging to peculiar forms, the idea arose that these animals stood related to each
other, as links of one chain of a subterranean Fauna, whose common characteristic
was blindness. On the other hand, F. Schmidt found in these caves some few ani-
mals not materially different from the usual forms. Erichson, in his ‘ Monography of
the Staphylinide,’ describes a new species of Homalota, under the name of spelaca,
and quoted as an inhabitant of the cave at Adelsberg a species of Carabidae, Pristony-
chus Schreibersii. Both these insects differ from allied species by their strikingly
minute eyes.

3040 Entomological Society.

In 1841, were found in the Mammoth cave at Kentucky, about a mile from the
entrance, a fish and a Crustacean, both with eyes concealed under the skin, as in
Proteus, concerning which, various communications have been made public. Tel-
kampf notices these, and described some new Articulata and a fish in 1844.

In 1845, Schiodte examined three caves near Adelsberg and one near Trieste, in
all of which he found the animals already known and several new ones. The latter
were new Coleoptera Silphide, viz. —

Bathyscia (n. g. allied to Choleva, but differing chiefly in its want of eyes), two
species ; and Stagobius (n. g., so peculiar in its structure that it is unlike any
other of the Silphide, and minutely described).

A new Thysanoura, Anurophorus Stillicidii, on clusters of Byssus fulvus.

Two remarkable blind Arachnoides, each the type of a new genus, viz., Stalcta, and
another not named. |

A Crustacean of the family Amphipodes, (new genus) Niphargus.

The term, subterranean fauna, may with propriety be applied collectively to those
animals which exclusively inhabit caves, and are expressly constructed for such locali-
ties. They may with tolerable precision be arranged under the following heads :

Shade-animals ; extensive genera and species, inhabiting caverns near their en-
trance, and generally all cool, shady and moist localities.

Twilight-animals ; they belong to widely spread genera, but are peculiar to the
caves, and distinguished by their small eyes. They are principally found
near the entrances to the caves, but proceed deeper into the darkness than the
shade-animals.

Cave-animals ; they form, at least in part, peculiar genera; are wingless and co-
lourless, and exist exclusively in total darkness. The terrestrial division is
blind ; the aquatic has a perception of light.

Stalactite Cave-animals ; Insects, Arachnoids and Crustacea, appertaining to pe-
culiar genera; wingless, blind, living in total darkness, peculiar to stalactite
caves ; in part occupying the columns, and constructed accordingly.

The following papers were also read :

‘ Descriptions of Six New British Diptera, by F. Walker, Esq.

‘On the Genus Acanthosoma, by W. S. Dallas, Esq.

‘On the British Species of the Genus Gelechia’ (Fifth Part), by J. W. Douglas,

Esq.

‘On the Genus Gracilaria,’ by H. T. Stainton, Esq.

The President appointed Messrs. J. F. Stephens, W. W. Saunders, W. S. Dallas,
S.J. Wilkinson, E. Shepherd and F. Smith, auditors of the Treasurer’s accounts, and
gave notice that the Anniversary Meeting would be held on the 27th inst. : when the
Council recommended that the following gentlemen should retire from the Council,
viz., Messrs. Desvignes, Parry, Spence and J. F. Stephens ; and that the following
should be elected in their stead, Messrs. E. Shepherd, F. Smith, S. Stevens, and 8. J.
Wilkinson; also that J. O. Westwood, Esq., should be President ; W. Yarrell, Esq.,
Treasurer; and Messrs. J. W. Douglas and H. T. Stainton, Secretaries, for the year
1851.—H. T. 8.

Birds. 3041

Notes on Observations in Natural History during a Tour in Norway.
By the Rev. ALFRED CHARLES SmiTH, M.A.

'(Continued from page 3027).

The Snow Bunting (Emberiza nivalis). Imet with the snow bunt-
ing on the very highest and most barren fjeld: I was shooting
ptarmigan, and had slept at a ster, or mountain farm, the preceding
night aud with my companion, a Norwegian officer, who was a famous
mountaineer and an excellent naturalist, walked over the highest fjeld
I ever crossed, from 4 a.M. to 8 p.M.: this fjeld was by far the most
wild and barren I had ever seen; it was near the Horungtinderne
range of mountains. Some idea of its loneliness and sterility may be
formed from the fact, that during those sixteen hours which we spent
in traversing it, we not only saw neither hut nor human being, but no
tree, or shrub, or heath, or earth: nothing but hard, bare, barren,
lichen-covered rocks, or enormous patches and fields of snow: here
and there a little rein-deer moss filled the crevices of the rocks, and
this was all the verdure of this wilderness of rocks and snow. Some-
times we had to plunge through the soft snow above our knees for
many a weary mile; this was very fatiguing: at other times through
bogs of moss and melted snow; and then, perhaps, through a wide
torrent, whose waters reached to our middle. Now we had to cross a
ridge of sharp rock, which stood like an island out of the snow; the
sharp edges of the granite cutting into the leather of our shoes, now
completely soft and sodden with the melted snow. Now we had to
descend a steep snow-mountain: this was very difficult, and not with-
out considerable danger to those unaccustomed to them. As your
readers may not know what the descent of a Norwegian snow-mountain
is, I will explain it. Let them imagine a very steep mountain, co-
vered with deep never-melting snow, perhaps five or six hundred feet
in height, the side presenting a bank of snow as steep as the roof of
a house: to try whether the descent was practicable, we always placed
a large stone on the top, gave it a gentle push, and watched its pro-
gress. If the snow was soft enough to impede its pace, and allow it
to form a furrow for itself and glide gradually down, the descent was
pronounced feasible: if, on the contrary, the snow was not soft enough
for this, but the stone descended in successive bounds, it was pro-
nounced too dangerous to attempt. It was quite wonderful to see
the rapidity and ease with which our guide shot down these snow-

IX, K

3042 Birds.

mountains, like an arrow from a bow. Placing both feet together,
with nothing in his hands to steady him, but bearing our heavy pro-
vision-box and blankets at his back, down he went, his pace accele-
rating every second till he reached the bottom, and enveloped all the
way down in a wreath of snow, which he cast off on both sides of his
feet and legs, as if it had been turned up by a plough, and marking
his track by a deep furrow. The captain and I followed, much more
slowly, holding the barrels of our guns across us, while the butt end
was plunged deep into the snow to steady us and to slacken our pace.
If we leaned forward too much, we were in danger of going down,
head over heels; if we leaned back too much, our feet would slip
from under us, and the same result would inevitably follow, and we
should have a roll of perhaps some hundred feet, without a chance of
stopping till we reached the bottom ; by no means pleasant, even on
snow, and especially when the snow-hill ended (as was not unfre-
quently the case) in a rocky precipice; to roll over which must be
certain death. Right glad was I to get to the bottom of these snow-
mountains, and though I went down many such, it was never when by
going round I could avoid them: it was in such scenery as this, and
amongst these snow-mountains, that I saw the snow-bunting. I saw
four of them in various parts of this fjeld, and I never saw one on any
other occasion: they were all alike, in their summer plumage of black
and white (this was on the 11th of July), and were all upon the snow
itself, hopping and running about upon it, and then flying a short
distance to another part. I never saw so much snow as on this day:
indeed, as the sun was very bright, and the snow of the most pure,
dazzling white (for there was no dust or earth amongst the rocks to
discolour it), I was nearly blinded by it, notwithstanding a green
veil that I put on: for miles and miles we had to plunge through it,
and all around us it lay in larger or smaller patches, far as the eye
could reach, till in the distance we saw, on one side, the rounded
snow-capped summits of the mountains of Justedal and the Fille-fjeld,
or, on the other, the sharp pointed rocks and needle-like peaks of the
Horungtinderne range. I have entered into rather a longer and more
minute account of this fjeld, because, in addition to its peculiarly wild
and barren character, and the magnificent views from it, I fell in with
so much to interest me as a naturalist. There were the ptarmigan of
both species, alpinus and subalpinus ; the snow-buntings ; two herds
of tame rein-deer ; several ermines ; some of those curious and mys-
terious creatures, the lemmings (of all which animals more hereafter,
when I come to speak of the quadrupeds of Norway); besides the

meee

Birds. 3043

fresh tracks of a bear (which must have crossed the snow that morn-
ing), to see which for the first time in the wild fjeld was by no means
an indifferent matter.

The Pine Grosbeak (Pyrrhula enucleator). I procured two spe-
cimens of this bird while in Norway, a male and a female, both in
excellent plumage: I was not fortunate enough to see one alive; and
I learned on inquiry, that they are by no means numerous, a devoted
ornithologist and a thorough field-naturalist having assured me that
he had only seen the bird alive twice.

The Robin (Hrythaca rubecula). An Englishman would soon miss
this great favourite, the children’s pet, and the tamest and best-beloved
of all our pretty songsters: 1 had often looked for him in vain, and
had concluded that he never penetrated so far north; and it was not
till two months after my arrival in the country, that I one day heard
his well-known voice, and saw his red breast, as he hopped from twig
to twig. He looked so thoroughly English, that I quite hailed him
as a countryman, and felt sure that he must understand English better
than Norsk. I quite pitied his hard fate, and wondered whether he
flew farther south, or braved the ice and snow and piercing winds of
a long Scandinavian winter.

The Blue-throated Warbler (Pheenicura suecica). This pretty
little bird, so rare in England, seems to be much more frequently seen
in Norway: though arriving from southern latitudes, and bearing the
appearance of an inhabitant of sunny climes, he annually visits the
valleys of Norway. I did not see him there myself, but I was assured
by several persons, on whose judgment I could rely, that he was by
no means an uncommon visitor; and, indeed, I see it mentioned in
Yarrell, that Mr. Hewitson himself saw it there. It seems very
strange that a bird which is essentially a denizen of warm countries
should make its appearance annually in so northern a land, whilst it
is never seen in the south of Sweden or Denmark, and but very rarely
in England. Possibly it may be that the climate is not unsuited to
him in the summer months, as from the almost continual presence of
the sun, the air is not chilled by night; and consequently in the
valleys the temperature is at all times warm during summer, and very
often oppressively hot: indeed, it is a very common observation, that
it is hotter during summer in Norway than in Rome. From this I
must entirely dissent: I have been in Rome in May, when the Corso
was quite deserted, aud I dared not walk down even the shady side of
the street on account of the heat; but in Norway, though I often

3044 Birds.

preferred driving by night, I have never been prevented by the hot
weather from travelling or shooting, or taking other exercise. 1 may
here observe, that, though fully prepared for it, nothing seemed so
strange and astonishing to me, when first I reached Norway, as the
total absence of darkness or even dusk at night. In Christiania the
people were walking about the streets at all hours; and during about
two months, I never saw a candle, and could see plainly to read and
write, during the very short period of time from the setting to the
rising sun: it was literally broad daylight, without intermission, for
nearly two months: for when the sun did set, it merely dipped below
the horizon, and then rose again. The birds, too, seemed never to
know when to go to roost; they were singing at all hours; when the
sun was shining far above the horizon at 16 and 11 o’clock, P.M.
They must have been puzzled ; and indeed, I think, that like the Nor-
wegians themselves, they sleep through the long and dark winters,
and make the most of the short, but brilliant summers, by resting as
little as possible ; and then, only at such times and in such places as
they happen to be, when thoroughly tired.

The Common Partridge (Perdix cinerea). I had thought the par-
tridge to be so hardy a bird, as to be found in every climate; and was
surprised to hear that he was a rara avis in Norway, and never pene-
trates beyond the extreme south of the country. As I was never on
land in Norway, south of Christiania, and I understand the partridge
never reaches higher north than the latitude of that city, of course I
never saw him. I cannot comprehend that law of nature which ena-
bles a bird, as the blue-throated warbler, whose habitat is essentially
a warm and southern land, and whose appearance at once bespeaks
him to be delicate, to penetrate into the heart of Norway ; whilst it
forbids the partridge, who can brave our frequently severe winters in
England, to visit beyond the extreme south of the country.

ALFRED CHARLES SMITH.

Old Park, Devizes,
February 5, 1851.

(To be continued).

Birds. 3045

Catalogue of Birds taken in Pembrokeshire, with Observations on
their Habits, Manners, &c. By Mr. JAMES TRacy.*

(Continued from page 2642).

Bullfinch. Common. Bullfinches, in confinement, if fed on hemp-
seed, soon change colour; and in two or three years become black.
One kept for several years at an inn in this town was quite black,
and afterwards changed again to his original colour, which was con-
sidered an ill omen, as the landlord died the same year.

Common Crossbill. <A single specimen, taken near Angle, in a very
exhausted state, was sent me some ten or twelve years ago, and is the
only specimen I have seen.

Common Starling. Common. Arriving here in immense numbers
in October, and remaining during the winter. A few pairs remain and
breed here, and during the last four or five years have increased very
considerably. 5

The Chough or Redlegged Crow. Common on our sea-coast, from
‘Tenby to St. David’s Head. They breed in holes and crevices in the
cliffs, mostly in some arched, overhanging place, where they are inac-
cessible. I have been some years endeavouring to procure their eggs
for a friend, but as yet unsuccessful : last year (1850), however, I found
a nest which was accessible, and after procuring a man to get it,
was again disappointed, as the eggs were hatched and the nest con-
tained three young ones (5th June): these we took ; one the man killed
in bringing it up; another was hurt, and died a few days afterwards ;
the third is now in my possession, alive, well, very healthy, and so
perfectly tame, docile and affectionate, that were both his wings good
I should not be able to keep him from my head or shoulder, at home
or abroad. His food consists of bits of raw and cooked meat and
crumbs of bread ; he will pick up a few grains of wheat, barley or
oats ; he also eats a great variety of small insects, particularly beetles,
grasshoppers, &c. When alone, he is constantly chattering, squalling
and making a variety of noises, but I have not heard him distinctly
articulate any word yet, although he appears equally capable with the
parrot. He is by no means averse to strangers, nor does he peck the
children, but is constantly with them, and will stand to have his head

* Communicated by Viscount Emlym.

3046 Birds.

scratched for hours. I have never seen them more than a mile or so
from the sea-coast: they keep in families during the autumn and
winter, until the pairing season.

Raven. Tolerably common round the sea-coast, where they breed:
they also breed on some of the old castle-walls, and on Treffgarn
rocks, in the upper part of this county: they are early breeders. I —
have a note of seeing their eggs in a nest, on the 14th of February,
1842, and of taking six from a nest on the 4th of April, the same year.

Carrion Crow. Common. These birds breed in trees, and in the
cliffs round our sea-coast.

Hooded Crow. A few of these birds arrive here in the autumn, but
do not remain long.

The Rook. Common. Mr. Yarrell gives a vignette of an accidental
malformation in the beak of a rook, where the under mandible is elon-
gated and curved upwards. One killed by Major Bowling, at Wood-
field, near Pembroke, and presented to Viscount Emlyn, in whose
collection it now is, has the upper mandible elongated and curved
downward, a full inch and a quarter longer than the under one.

Jackdaw. Common.

Magpie. Common. |

Jay. Common in the upper or more inland and wooded part of the
county.

Green Woodpecker. Tolerably common.

Great Spotted Woodpecker. Very scarce. A specimen taken at
Lawrenny, is now in the collection of R. J. Auckland, Esq., of Boul-
ston, near Haverfordwest.

Lesser Spotted Woodpecker. Equally scarce as the last.

The Common Creeper. Common.

Wren. Common.

Hoopoe. Rare, although during a period of twenty years, I think
seven have been taken in different parts of the county. A fine speci-
men was shot near St. David’s, on the 30th of March last, and is now
in the collection of H. Matthias, at Haverfordwest.

The Nuthatch. ‘Tolerably common.

Common Cuckoo. Common. I have never found the egg of this
bird in any nest but those of the meadow or tree pipits.

Yellow-billed American Cuckoo. The specimen from which Mr.
Yarrell figured his bird was killed by my brother, near Stackpole
Court. I first noticed it on the top of an ash-tree, in the act of feed-
ing on some small insects on the wing, very similar to the golden-

Birds. 3047

crests ; seeing it appeared a nondescript it was shot immediately, and
nothing more observed as to its habits.

Bee-eater. Very scarce. I picked up a specimen, on some high
land near the sea-coast, which had not been long dead: I succeeded
in skinning and setting it up, and I think it is in the collection of J.
Stokes, Esq., of Cuffern.

Kingfisher. Common.

Swallow, Martin, Sand Martin and Swift. Common.

Nightjar. Common.

Wood-pigeon. Common.

Rock Dove. A few pairs breed in our cliffs on the sea-coast.

Turtle Dove. Scarce.

Pheasant. Common.

Common Partridge. As its name implies, very common.

Redlegged Partridges were attempted to be introduced by the Earl
of Cawdor, on his estate at Stackpole Court, but I do not think the
attempt proved successful, as I have not heard of their being noticed
since that time.

Common Quail. I receive a specimen or two almost every autumn,
or during the winter.

Golden Plover. Common.

The Ringed Plover. Common. A pair of these birds nested on a
rabbit-warren, on a high exposed piece of ground. I took the eggs
from the nest; and in a week the female had laid her four eggs again
within a few yards of the former ones: these I again took; and in
thirteen days, four more eggs were laid, very near the last nest; but
these were decidedly much smaller than the former ones. On visit-
ing the place, about three weeks afterwards, I again found a nest con-
taining four eggs; but these were a great deal smaller, and had almost
lost their character, as they were nearly round, and not pointed at the

_ end, like the true type of the plovers’ eggs. One, which I suspect to

have been the last laid, was not larger than a robin’s egg, and quite’
round ; clearly showing she had completely exhausted herself in her
efforts to “increase and multiply.” I have no doubt of their being
the same pair, as there were no others seen near the place.

Gray Plover. These birds may be said to be scarce, for only in
severe weather are they seen on our sea-shores; and then they are
very easily obtained, as they are by no means shy.

The Peewit, or Lapwing. Common throughout the year.

The Turnstone. Scarce. Only an occasional one taken in the
autumn, and mostly the young of the year.

3048 Birds.

The Sanderling. Scarce. |

Oystercatcher. Tolerably common. I have several times obtained
the eggs of this bird on a small island, in the entrance to Milford
Haven,

Heron. Common. Mr. Yarrell gives a list of heronries in England ;
to these I may add one at Linney Head, on the cliff, in company with
cormorants, guillemots, &c., where from six to twelve nests are ar-
ranged nearly side by side on the ledges of the rocks, and quite inac-
cessible. |

The Bittern may now be said to be scarce, although I receive a few
specimens every winter, from different parts of this and the adjoining
counties. Some seven or eight years ago I had no less than thirteen
bitterns at one time to set up, all killed the same week, the weather
being very severe at the time.

~The Glossy Ibis. A specimen killed at Slebach Hall is now in
possession of the gamekeeper, and was a fine old bird.

Curlew. Common, during winter. I do not think they breed near
here.

The Whimbrel. Common. I strongly suspect this bird breeds in
this county, but [ have been unable to find its eggs. I have watched
several pairs, during the summer months, so late as the latter end of
June, that had every appearance of having nests in the locality, but
without success. They then generally leave us about two months, as
I do not see them again until the latter end of September.

Spotted Redshank. Rather scarce. Those I have had were taken
in the autumn, and were young birds.

Common Redshank. Common.

Green Sandpiper. A few of these beautiful birds may always be
obtained, about the margins of our fresh-water rivers and ponds,
during the autumn and winter.

The Common Sandpiper. Common. I make no doubt these birds
breed here, but I have never found their eggs.

Greenshank. Occasionally taken in the autumn.

Avocet. Rare. Only two specimens havs come into my hands to
stuff, and these were killed near this place in winter.

Blacktailed Godwit. Scarce.

Bartailed Godwit. Common.

Woodcock, Snipe and Jack Snipe. Common.

The Great Snipe has, in several instances, been killed in this
county.

*

Birds. 3049

_ The Knot. Common in autumn: and these are young birds of the
year.
The Dunlin. Common.

Purple Sandpiper. Rather scarce.
JAMES TRACEY.
Pembroke, February, 1851.

Observations on the Waawing (Bombycilla garrula).
By the Rev. James SMITH.

By a communication from Mr. Thomas Edward, of Banff, I am
informed that a specimen of the waxwing was shot, near that town,
in the earlier part of this present month. It was a male; and its
plumage was more beautifully vivid than that of a female, which the
same individual examined last season with the utmost care, and of
which he inserted a minute description in a local newspaper. This
difference in the brilliancy of the plumage, he is inclined to attribute
to the difference of sex. In the female, now referred to, the carmine
tags, which constitute the tips of several of the secondary quills, and
which so closely resemble the finest red sealing-wax, were six in
number ; whereas, in the male, to which the present communication
refers, they were only five, and were, moreover, not so long. This
bird was, when shot, in fine condition, was full of flesh, and was very
fat. On dissection, his stomach was found to be crammed with ‘ rod-
dens,’ which is the name in Lowland Scotch for the berries of the
mountain-ash (Pyrus aucuparia *), or the rowan-tree, or in Scotland

* Aucuparia is, apparently, a barbarous adjective formed from aucupium, ‘ the art
of bird-catching’ ; and it may intimate that by means of its conspicuous berries, the
mountain-ash possesses the property of catching, or of attracting, many of the fea-
thered tribes while they are in quest of their food. It would, perhaps, be not unworthy
of your editorial station, were you to impress upon your correspondents the propriety
of, now and then, explaining the meaning of such scientific, but by no means obvious,
terms as they may have occasion to use. I cannot help being strongly of opinion that
this is a boon which many of your readers who are ignorant of the dead languages,
as they are called, would be inclined to regard as by no means inconsiderable. It is
astonishing how long an individual will continue, without reflection, to make use of a
word, which to him is, strictly speaking, nothing but an unsubstantial and an un-
meaning sound. How different does such a word become, when he is aware of its
roots and of its literal signification ; and what a pleasing and a continued light does
it emit, where formerly all was darkness and uncertainty! It is like the opening of a

if e L

3050 Birds.

the rauntree, * along with a few seeds of dog-hippins, that is, the hips
of the common dog-rose (Rosa canina).

The word Bohemian ought never to be used as constituting a part of
the name of this bird. The waxwing is neither peculiar to Bohemia,
nor would it seem to be the case that it makes its appearance there
more frequently than in many other portions of Europe. One of the —
names, indeed, by which it is known in Germany is snow-bird (Schnee
vogel), showing that, in the opinion of the inhabitants, it proceeds
from where winter has his stern sway. The generic name Bomby-
cilla, is evidently from bomby2z, bombycis, ‘ the silk-worm’, and also ‘a
robe of silk’; in composition, perhaps, with célleo, or cileo, to ‘move’
or ‘agitate’, a verb, which soon becanre obsolete, but which was used in
the earlier ages of Roman literature. It refers, without doubt, to the
silky appearance of the plumage, and to the habits of the bird in
raising and depressing its crest, and in moving and probably expand-
ing its tail. For a similar reason, it has received in Germany the ap-
pellation of silk-tail (Sezden schwanz), the strict propriety of which I
cannot, however, perceive, as the silkiness of its plumage is not con-
fined to the tail.

It is, at all times, interesting to trace the links by which the Al-
mighty proceeds so minutely in the amazing chain of existence,
rendering it difficult, or rather impossible, to say at what point
any particular structure absolutely ends, and another absolutely com-
mences. In this curious and most important department of zoo-
logy, Mr. Swainson has undoubtedly done much; although, of his
labours, I cannot help entertaining the general impression that he
has become entangled, as it were, in a favourite theory ; and that, un-
conscious to himself, he is sometimes more anxious to make nature
bend to the quinary system, than simply to receive and to expound

dark lantern. In reading and writing, moreover, we are sometimes too apt to think,
that whatever may happen to be familiarly known to ourselves, will, as a matter of
course, be equally so in the case of all others.

* In many parts of Scotland the mountain-ash, and the woodbine or honeysuckle,
were, and it is to be feared, in some few quarters still are, regarded as a sovereign
spell or protection against witchcraft. A portion of either of them, placed above the
door, was sufficient to prevent the most formidable of those malicious beings, the
witches, from entering the house, or from doing its inmates harm. Hence the well-
known Scottish couplet :

“ The rauntree an’ the woodbin
Will haud the witches on come in.”

|

Birds. 3051

the varied phenomena which arise before him in his survey of the
works of creation. I would say this, however, with diffidence, be-

“cause the circles, representatives and affinities, the typical and

aberrant species, and the osculant points of his system, are so com-

plicated, and require so numerous an array of precise and special —
ideas to be present to the mind at one and the same moment, that I
have never been able to obtain a conception of it as a whole so dis-
tinct in its character as to be in any measure satisfactory or instructive.
I may thus be guilty of speaking against an arrangement, which may,
after all, be found to unfold the general plan which was adopted by
the Almighty when he called into existence the animated beings to

be met with in our world. But to return: Mr. Swainson remarks

that there is an evident relationship between the waxwings (Bomby-
cilline), of which three species only have hitherto been discovered,
and the well-known family of the swallows. This is seen in the
wide gape, the lengthened wings, and the comparative weak feet of
the waxwing. On this account, he proposes to call them swallow-
chatterers. By this, he at least gets rid of the anomaly, which is
caused by the Japanese waxwing (Bombycilla Phenicoptera) having,
in reality, so far as is yet known, no wax-like appendages at all.
When we wish to know anything of the waxwing, beyond its mere
name and its technical description, we must betake ourselves to
foreign sources. In the language of science, the bird for many a year
has been garrulus or garrula; varied only according to the gender of
the word to which it has been attached; and in our own tongue it
has, in like manner, figured for the same period as an incorrigible
chatterer. But what is the testimony of those, who have endeavoured
in person to make themselves acquainted with its character and man-
ners? ‘ No name,” says the Prince of Musignano,* “ could be more
inappropriate for these birds than that of chatterers, as there are few
less noisy ; and they might even be called mute with much better

reason. When taking wing, they utter a note resembling the sylla-

bles 27, 27, 77, but are generally silent.” (Wilson’s ‘ American Orni-
thology, Sir W. Jardine’s edition, vol. iii. pp. 459 and 463). Dr.
Richardson, who, in his remote and dreary locality in the Arctic

* In one particular, this distinguished ornithologist is apparently inconsistent in
regard to this beautiful bird. In page 458 of the volume mentioned, he speaks of it
as being exclusively frugivorous, whereas in p. 459 he informs us that in summer it
Seizes upon insects, catching them dexterously in the same manner as its distant re-
latives, the flycatchers ; and, in p. 462, he observes that, during summer, insects con-
stitute its principal food.

3052 Birds.

regions of North America, seems to have neglected no opportunity of
investigating the habits of the animal creation, informs us that he one
day saw a flock of waxwings, consisting of three or four hundred,
alight in a grove of poplars, and all on one or two trees, making a loud
twittering noise. (‘ Fauna Boreali-Americana,’ Birds, p. 238).*

It will be remarkable if this beautiful bird shall appear, in the pre-
sent season, in the same unusual numbers as it did at this time last
year. Although there exists, no doubt, a sufficient and a propelling
cause why it should abandon its native fastnesses during particular
years to a greater extent than during others; and why, in a great ma-
jority of years, it should not be seen in Britain at all; it is, neverthe-
less, true, that the most observant and sagacious ornithologists have
hitherto been unable to obtain any satisfactory information on this
seemingly anomalous, but very interesting point. But be this as it
may, no one will deny that it is not a little consolatory to be able to
say that the appearance of a greater number of waxwings than ordi-
nary does not now alarm the nations of Europe, as it did in the days
of our comparatively unenlightened and superstitious forefathers,
when such an event was looked upon as the infallible harbinger of
public calamity, and the ominous herald of the demon of war. And
yet, as regards themselves, the waxwings visit our shores in the en-
lightened times in which we are so frequently told we live, with a far
greater certainty of death than when they were even denounced and
execrated as the immediate forerunners of supernatural wrath. No
sooner are they beheld, than every gun in the vicinity is pointed
against them; and they are hunted from tree to tree, and from thicket
to thicket, till an end is put to their inoffensive existence ; and till
they dye with their blood the inhospitable soil, from which their in-
stincts were insufficient to keep them away. Why should this be the
case; and why should not those individuals, in whose locality they
may chance to appear, find far more pleasure, and incomparably more
amusement and instruction from admiring their silky and radiant
plumes, while these are glowing all over with life and with health;
and from studying those wonderful habits and movements, which their
Creator, who wishes them to be as happy in their way as he wishes
ourselves, has taught them unerringly to exhibit, than from looking at

* He considers the front and the under tail-covers of the waxwing as affording an
example of the colour knuwn to the ancients by the name of helvolus, or helveolus

(Pliny, lib. 14, cap. 2,4). Of this colour, the component parts are said to be buff,
tile-red and chestnut-brown.

os

:

Birds. 3053

their dingy, and at best, their distorted forms, as they stand stiffened,
and staring with unmeaning eye, on the dusty shelves of a crowded
museum? Who can tell what stay they might not be induced to make
among us, and what opportunities might not, in consequence, be in
our power of ascertaining numerous particulars of which we are at
present profoundly ignorant, were they not incessantly persecuted,
killed, or frightened away? Of all the notices, and they were exceed-
ingly numerous, which appeared in the ‘ Zoologist,’ in regard to the
death of these birds during the by-past year, I do not recollect
one* in which any intimation was given as to their living appearance ;
their manner of feeding, the character of their flight, the cries which
they uttered, or the general habits which they showed. We need
not, therefore, wonder that we have by our own exertions added
scarcely anything to the particulars which we shall find recorded of
these birds in the pages of the earliest of our native ornithologists.

By such of your readers as may have thought it worth their while
to peruse what has now been written, I am anxious not to be misun-
derstood. When a bird, which has not been previously seen, makes
its! appearance in our country, or when it is one with the form, or
flight, or cry, of which we are not, when it comes in our way, indivi-
dually acquainted, I should not, on such an occasion, be disposed to
maintain that it ought not to be killed, in order that we might be
enabled to establish its identity, and to examine it thoroughly and at
our leisure. What I would take the liberty to deprecate, is the con-
tinued and the wanton destruction of all such birds, as, although
comparatively speaking rare, are nevertheless familiar in their appear-
ance to every one acquainted, however slightly, with natural history ;
such as have been repeatedly examined and described, both in their
external appearance and in their internal structure; are accurately
depicted in standard works, to which there is easy access ; are in the
possession, in a stuffed form, of no inconsiderable number of private
individuals; and are readily to be seen in almost every public museum
of any note throughout the kingdom.

JAMES SMITH.
Manse of Monquhitter by Turriff, Aberdeenshire,

January 30, 1851.

* There is I find a solitary one from Mr. Norman, in the ‘ Zoologist’ (Zool. 2769),
who, speaking of a flock of them, says “ they were described as making a chattering
noise, very much in the manner of the magpie.” This is so far confirmatory of the
common name.

3054 Birds.

Occurrence of the Roughlegged Buzzard (Buteo lagopus) on Marlboro’ Downs.—
A very fine specimen of the roughlegged buzzard was killed, June 16th, last, on the
Marlboro’ Downs, at a small village called Ofbourne. The bird is now in the posses-
sion of Mr. Withers, of Devizes. — Thomas Kemur; Avebury, Marlboro, Wilts,
February 3, 1851.

The Chiffchaff in January.—I have just received a communication from Mr.
Burt, of the Torquay Museum, informing me that he has been recently preserving a
specimen of the chiffchaff, which was shot January 10th, near that place. The early
appearance of this bird is, I suppose, fully to be accounted for by the unseasonable
weather we are experiencing.— Alfred Newton ; 19, Lowndes Square, January 25, 1851.

Note upon the Blackcap (Sylvia atricapilla).—It seems to be an undecided ques-
tion amongst naturalists, whether this pretty little warbler does or does not remain
with us during the winter months. There is considerable reasonableness appa-
rently to be said on either side, pro and con; at the same time I do think, when
one reflects upon the nature of the bird under discussion, its usual food, &c., that to
any observant and clear-sighted judge, the evidence must appear stronger in favour of
the latter than the former, 7.e., rather against its wintering here, either as a regular,
ascertained fact, or as a very common occurrence. As a motive for my thinking thus,
I would state an experience which caused me to come to this conclusion in respect to
Sylvia atricapilla’s residing in our leafless bowers during the coldest portion of the
year. Living in a retired and beautiful village not far from Dover, some three or
four winters since, a blackcap was brought me by some boys, in the month of Decem-
ber (if my memory serves me), which had been what they termed “run down” (a
cruel and barbarous amusement much practised by lads in this part of England, and
not, I fear, an obsolete custom in other counties). Snow was on the ground; the
weather quite in accordance with the season; and most of the feathered tribe, tamed
by lack of food and coldness of the atmosphere, sought rather the haunts of men, than
the wide, open woodland of nature ; their delight in the joyous days of June. Our
little friend wrested from the grasp of unfeeling creatures, as well as natural priva-
tions, gradually recovered, and seemed to regain its wonted sprightliness. For more
than a month I kept it confined in a cage, feeding it as well as I was able, on the few
insects, &c., which were to be found; but in that respect I can safely say it had suf-
ficient to support its existence. ‘Towards the end of January, the following year, the
coldness of the weather increased, and in consequence I firmly believe my pretty
prisoner met an untimely end, and fell a sacrifice to a season it was never adapted to
contend against; for one frosty morning, on paying my customary visit, I found the
little fellow stretched at the bottom of his cage, lifeless and frozen to death. If such
be the fate of one in a comfortable room, what must be the fate of others in the open
air, exposed to the blasting winds of winter ?— W. H. Cordeaux ; Canterbury, January,
1851.

Occurrence of Richardson's Skua (Lestris Richardsonii) at Brighton.—I killed,
yesterday, about two miles from here, Richardson’s skua, in beautiful plumage: it is
a scarce bird here.—TZ’. Thorneroft ; 33, North Lane, Brighton, January 24, 1851.

Sea Birds at Weymouth.—Amongst the birds lately shot here, and now in the
possession of My. Richard Rolls, naturalist and preserver, are the following :—

Northern Diver, in the plumage of the second year; shot in Weymouth Bay, De-
cember 9, 1850. One was caught alive on the beach, on the 8th; this was in the
plumage of the first year. In the one in Mr. Rolls’ possession, the black ring had

*

Birds. 3055

appeared, and nearly met on the front of the neck: the bird measured thirty-one
inches.

Gray Phalarope ; shot December 16th, at Glanville’s Wootton, near Sherborne:
this bird is often a numerous winter visitor. I mention it merely as being an inland
occurrence.

Blackthroated Diver; shot in Weymouth Bay, December 24th. This bird has the
mature plumage, with the exception of the throat, in which the black ring is just ap-

pearing: this is the first of the species that has passed through Mr. Rolls’ hands, and
he has been in business fifteen years.

The Kittiwake, both old and young, are very numerous here in the winter, and
although they breed in the Isle of Wight, they are never seen here in the summer.
The young birds are called pigeon-gulls, and the old, blue-backs. A specimen of the

laughing gull (Larus atricilla), of Yarrell and Pennant, was shot here last winter and

sold for one shilling: I heard of it by chance. A gunner here was telling me of his
gunning feats, and said, last winter he killed nine gulls at a shot. They were feed-
ing in Lodmoor Marsh, and he approached them under cover of a hedge; when on
showing himself, they flew up, and he killed nine. He stated eight were alike, but

the ninth had a bill and legs the colour of red sealing-wax, and a beautiful pink

breast and belly. A gentlemen met him and gave a shilling for the bird, and would
have given half-a-crown had it been shot clean.

The Redbreasted Merganser (Mergus serrator), male and female: they are very
plentiful in the bay, and are called here mullett-hunters.

«The Puffin (Alca arctica). A solitary individual was caught under the rocks, at
Portland, on the 19th of January ; it was very emaciated and the colours very dull:
it was probably either a wounded bird, or had been driven over by the long-continued
and heavy gales from the south and west. This is worth recording, although it is
pretty clear it was not a willing visitor.

The Green Sandpiper (Totanus ochropus). A specimen was killed and brought to
be stuffed.

Little Auk (Alca Alle). A single specimen was caught alive on the Smallmouth
Sands, January 31st.

We have had two or three small flocks of Gannets ; and I have seen two or three
Skuas: they are called here sea-hens.

The late rough weather has starved the poor Kittiwakes; they can stand cold
weather, but not thick water ; the latter prevents them fishing. The birds fly within
a yard or two, and many are knocked down with stones. They do not appear to feed

- inland, like the blackheaded gulls; depending solely on small fish and other things

swimming under the surface: they suffer much more than the blackheaded. They
feed a great deal on what the tide washes out of the harbour, hovering just over the
eddy. One that I examined had eaten the liver of a skate, which filled its crop and
throat and was hanging out of its beak.— William Thompson ; Weymouth, February 5,
1851.

Variety of the Cole Titmouse (Parus ater) and Notes on some other Birds —I this
morning observed, for a considerable time, in Sutton Park, a beautiful variety of the
cole tit. The white mark on the nape of the neck was continued in a broad and well-
defined line, over the crown of the head to the upper mandible. Owing to the ex-
treme mildness of the season, winter visitants are unusually scarce. On the large
pools in this neighbourhood I have seen nothing but mallard, widgeon and teal, and

3056 Birds.

these in very limited numbers, with the exception of once or twice a solitary bird, ©
which was, however, so shy, that I have been compelled to be satisfied with a most —

distant acquaintance. Warm as the affections of birds may be towards their con-
geners ; when man is concerned, a certain degree of coldness is required to induce

them to break the ice of their ordinarily reserved and timid disposition. I think I |

have noticed that the tits, particularly the great tit, the blue tit, the cole tit and the

longtailed tit are unusually numerous this year. I may say the same of the gold-_
crested regulus. A pair of Royston crows have paid us a visit ; a very unusual cir- |

cumstance here: I wish they might be induced to build, as there are many eligible

sites in the neighbourhood; but I fear they have only taken a lodging for the season.

—F. K. Amherst ; St. Mary’s, Oscott, January 25, 1851.

Note on the Cirl Bunting (Emberiza cirlus).—By this morning’s post I received a
male cirl bunting, shot yesterday at the Leases, near Bedale, Yorkshire, by Mr. T.
Strangwayes. As Mr. Yarrell has only mention of one being shot so far north,
perhaps this will not be thought unworthy a notice in the ‘ Zoologist.’ I am disposed
to think the cirl bunting is not an unfrequent visitor to the North Riding of Yorkshire ;

but, that hke many other of our rarer visitors, it is either not generally known asa |

distinct species, or not noted. In February, 1840, I shot a young male, near St.
Agatha’s Abbey, Richmond, Yorkshire ; and on the 29th of December last, I saw two
males on Askew Moor, near Bedale ; but at the time we were in chase of a very beau-

tiful ermine weasel (Mustela erminea), which we succeeded in killing, but lost sight of —

the buntings: they were in company with a flock of green and yellow buntings and
chaffinches. The bird first mentioned may be one of the same, as it was shot not
more than a mile from the same place.— Richard Strangwayes ; 70, and 71, Chiswell
Street, February 6, 1851.

Occurrence of the Rednecked G'rebe (Podiceps rubicollis) in Gloucestershire-—A
young specimen of the rednecked grebe was shot, near Bibury, in this county, in

January, 1850, and is now in the possession of Mr. W. Bowly.— W. Joshua; Glouces- —

ter Street, Cirencester, February 1, 1851.

Oceurrence of the Little Gull (Larus minutus) at Weston-swper-mare.—Permit
me, through the medium of your interesting periodical, the ‘ Zoologist, to inform the
ornithological world of another locality visited by that rarity, the little gull. A ma-
ture specimen was shot on the 7th of January, in the neighbourhood of Weston-
super-mare, situated on our channel, and about twenty miles from this city. Asa
minute description of its plumage would be superfluous to the ornithologist, and un-
interesting to such as do not make birds their study, I will refrain from saying much on
that head, but briefly state that this pretty little creature resembles the kittiwake in
its second year's plumage, except in size; it being but two-thirds as large as that
gull. There is also a very pretty, rosy tinge on the breast, much resembling that of
the roseate tern. As the season has been by no means severe either in England, or I
believe on the continent of Europe, and the little gull, as far as I can ascertain, is an
inhabitant of more northerly regions, it seems rather perplexing as to what to attri-
bute the exciting cause of its leaving its own snow-clad isles and icy shores.—John
N. Duck ; Kingsdown, Bristol, February ‘'y 14, 1851.

Fishes. 3057

~ Occurrence of the Spiny Shark (Echinorhinus spinosus) at Gamrie.—Perhaps the
following particulars may not be without interest as they have reference to an animal
- which has not been long introduced into the British Fauna, and a specimen of which,
so far as I am aware, has never been met with on any previous occasion, in the seas
connected with Scotland. It is the spinous shark (Echinorhinus spinosus : ‘echinos,
a hedgehog ; ‘rinos,’ askin ; in reference to the spines with which its skin is studded).
In a communication from Mr. Thomas Edward, of Banff, he says: “I was down yes-
terday (January Ist, 1851), at the rocks of Gamrie; and my attention was attracted by
the screaming of a number of sea-fowl, to an object which was floating in the water
at the foot of one of the highest of the cliffs, and around which the birds were eagerly
quarrelling and fighting. On approaching, I fonnd that this object was a large fish,
or rather the remains of one, upon which the various species of sea-fowl had been
feeding : the head had been broken off by being dashed and rubbed against the rocks ;
for, to all appearance, the animal had been dead for a long time, and had been much
tossed about by the waves. The tail, also, had suffered greatly, and the fins were all
more or less broken. The tail was in shape like that of the common dogfish (Acan-
thias vulgaris), which is found here. The skin was of a dark blue colour, it had the
appearance of leather, and it was thickly beset, or at least had been so, for many of
them were injured, with a kind of prickles. These were curved like the talons* of a
bird of prey, but were broadest at the base, that is, at the spot where they were attached
to the skin or hide. The curve of these prickles or spines inclined from the head
backwards in the direction of the tail. From the particular point where the head was
broken off to the end of the tail, the length was about two yards. As I surveyed it, a
thought struck me that it might be the spinous shark.” In order, if possible, to de-
termine whether or not this was the case, I sent Mr. Edward the 39th volume of the
*Naturalist’s Library, which contains an account, by Dr. Hamilton of Edinburgh, of
the Squalide, a family of the sharks, and in which there is a coloured engraving of the
shark of which we are speaking. The figure, although perhaps by no means remark-
able as a work of art, and although somewhat carelessly and to all appearance too
highly tinted, is nevertheless perfectly sufficient for the identification of the species.
Tn reply, Mr. Edward observes: “I have now no doubt whatever that the animal
discovered and examined by me was the spinous shark.” In what manner this rarely-
seen inhabitant of the deep came by its death, or from how great a distance it had
been drifted to the spot where it was discovered, it is, of course, impossible to say. I
may further mention that, in May, 1849, a species of shark was captured about three
mniles off Trouphead (Zool. 2905), by some fishermen belonging to the village of Pen-
nan: it had got entangled upon lines set for cod. When attacked it struggled des-
perately. A rope was at length got fastened around its tail; the sails of the boat were
all set; four men pulled hard at the oar; and in this manner, it was dragged with
difficulty to the land. When on shore, it was found to be thirteen feet nine inches in
length ; and its circumference, where at the thickest, eleven feet. After it had been
embowelled, a boy threw into its mouth a piece of tangle at least two inches thick :
this it instantly crushed to pieces. By one of the fishermen, who had at one time

* “These spines,” says Dr. Hamilton (‘ Naturalist’s Library,’ vol. xxxix. p. 318),
“exactly resemble the prickles on the stems of the rose-bush.”
IX. M

3058 Fishes.

been engaged as a whaler, it was pronounced to be the Greenland shark (Seymnus*
borealis). Its jaws, mouth, and part of the skin, came into the possession of the Rev.
Mr. Harris, of Gamrie, by whom they were presented to the splendid museum of the
University of Edinburgh. The authorities connected with that institution charac-
terized them as magnificent specimens. I had an opportunity of seeing them; and
it seems impossible for the imagination to conceive an apparatus more terrible than

the mouth, and fitted with more tremendous certainty to carry into execution the pur- |

poses which, in its construction, the Creator had in view. The teeth, arranged all
around in rows the one behind the other, have exactly the appearance of a collection
of surgeons’ lancets with their cutting edge uppermost, placed as closely together as
possible, and at that precise angle in which their power, when called into use, will
operate and cut in twain with the most speedy and the most direful effect—J. Smith ;
Manse of Monquhitter, Aberdeenshire, February 8, 1851.

Occurrence of the Porbeagle Shark (Lamna cornubica) near Bournmouth.—On the
sandy beach towards Hengistbury Head, I observed a specimen of the above; it was
about four feet and a half long. This specimen, although not much shorter than the
one recently taken by the Portland fishermen, off the Chesil Bank, and which I re-
ceived from Mr. Thompson, of Weymouth, struck me as being remarkably thin in
girth for its length, and I concluded that it must have been a young one. There
were recent prints of the footmarks of the fishermen who had been hauling the seine,
and I have no doubt that the fish, like the one at Weymouth, was drawn ashore by
them.—W. F. Templer ; Charmouth, Dorset, December 14, 1850.

Occurrence of the Black Bream at Lowestoft.—I have just received a specimen of
the black bream, from Lowestoft, which is a fish I have not previously met with on
this coast. About a fortnight since, a fine specimen of the Ray’s bream was washed
ashore at the same place.—J. H. Gurney ; Easton, Norwich, December 17, 1850.

Occurrence of the Short Sun-fish on the Norfolk Coast.—Two large specimens of
the short sun-fish were taken on this coast during the month of November; the first
off Lynn, and the second off Gorleston, and therefore both of them at the mouths of
rivers.—TId.

Occurrence of the One-spotted Goby (Gobius unipunctatus) at Lowestoft.—I saw,
yesterday, a specimen of the one-spotted goby, taken in a net just outside the south
pier of the harbour at Lowestoft. I am not aware that the occurrence of this species
has been previously observed on the coast of Norfolk or Suffolk.—Id.; February 15,
1851.

Occurrence of the Argentine at Redcar.—Y esterday I found four small specimens
of the argentine on the beach, about a mile from the Tees’ mouth. They all had the
same cucumber-like smell as the smelt—7. S. Rudd; Redcar, February 14, 1851.

Occurrence of Ray's Bream (Brama Raii) near Edinburgh.—Several specimens of
Ray’s bream have been cast ashore in the Firth of Forth lately ; apparently indicating,
in connexion with its occurrence at Redcar (Zool. 2971), something like an immigra-
tion of this fish on our shores. One of these, which was noticed by Mr. Thompson at
the last meeting of the Edinburgh Physical Society, was apparently in a diseased

SEE

* Scymnus, originally a Greek word, was employed by the ancients to denote the

young of various animals, and especially of that to which they gave the name of sea-
calf.

:

|

s

Annelides, &. 3059

state, as it swarmed with Hntozoa throughout every part of it. Another, which was
brought to Duddingston for sale, in the end of November, by one of the Fisherrow
fish-women, was perfectly fresh aud in good condition. It was twenty-two inches and
a half in length: nearly its maximum size.—R. F. Logan ; Duddingston, near Edin-
burgh, February, 1851.

Earthworms found Dead.—Having frequently noticed numerous earthworms lying
dead upon the ground, at other times than after any considerable fall of rain, I was
unable to account for this destruction until I witnessed what seemed to explain the
matter, and which I would record in the ‘ Zvologist, in the hope that other observers
may confirm my statement, and that the attention of entomologists may be attracted
to the subject, so far as it appears deserving of notice. I have beheld worms hope-
lessly fixed in the jaws of grubs of two different kinds. In one instance the worm
was descried in the act of emerging from the soil at its utmost speed with a wireworm
so firmly fastened to the tail by its forceps, that no wriggling through the short grass
could disengage them. In the second example, the persecutor was a much larger
grub, but of a similar confirmation ; namely, with a short body and a long abdomen
(if these terms are correct), the colour being black on the upper, and a dirty (or
blackish) white on the under surface. In this case the prey was proportionally larger
than that of the wireworm. Both these grubs possess short, but apparently very
strong and sharp forceps, with which, when the above observations were made, they
held on most tenaciously, permitting themselves unfesistingly to be dragged along
the ground, and to be rolled over and over in the struggles of the worms, which seemed
most anxious to escape from the gripe of their enemies. These incidents having
been only casually noticed, no pains were taken to ascertain whether the injury is
always fatal, and in what length of time ; as also whether the attack is for the purpose
of obtaining food. The dead worms, which are presumed to be often killed in the
manner now described, do not present any conspicuous evidences of mutilation. An
obvious reflection arising from what has been mentioned is, that the circumstance is
one of the innumerable proofs of the wisdom and goodness of a beneficent Creator in
so ordering and maintaining a balance among his works, that the inconveniences we
may incur from some of his creatures is compensated by advantages derived from
other habits of the very same animals.—A. Hussey ; Rottingdean, January 7, 1851.

Great Beauty of South-American Lepidoptera.—In common { suppose with most
of your readers, I have perused with great pleasure the letters which have appeared in
the ‘ Zoologist, from Mr. H. W. Bates, who is at present employed in making ento-
mological collections in South America. These letters appear to me to be distin-
guished by a devotion to science, and by an enthusiasm which are seldom exhibited,
but which rarely fail to carry the individual on to success in whose bosom they have
their abode. His descriptions depict the primeval forests of South America, where, in
not a few instances, no European foot but his own seems ever to have trod, with a

3060 Insects.

glowing freshness and with a vivacity which brings everything in the clearest manner
before the eye of the mind. Through the medium of a friend I have procured from
Mr. Stevens, the agent of Mr. Bates, in London, a few of the more beautiful of the
diurnal Lepidoptera. They are now before me; and their contemplation brings for- —
cibly to the recollection the well-known lines of Thomson :—

“Who can paint
Like Nature? Can imagination boast,
Amid its gay creation, hues like hers ?”

Certain philosophers are disposed to maintain that beauty of colour is altogether re- —
lative ; that it is in no case positive and absolute; and that it is especially determined .
and regulated by that faculty of the mind which is termed the association of ideas.
They say, for example, that blue or green, however lovely in tint, would be regarded
as a positive blemish, or rather as ugly in the extreme, if seen on the cheek of an
otherwise beautiful female; and they assert that the charm of the first-mentioned
colour arises from its being constantly associated in our thoughts with the glorious
firmament of heaven; and that of the second, from its calling to our mind the hue of
the robe worn by nature in those seasons when she is the most enchanting. With
such reasoners I agree so far; but my belief in this respect does not stop here. I
hold that there are hues and shades of colour which are positively beautiful in them-
selves and independently of all associations whatever ; and to look upon which merely
as patches of colour, affords a gratification of no mean description. And for the truth
of such an opinion, I know not where I should obtain a stronger and a more pleasing
proof, than from the Lepidoptera to which I have alluded. The patch, for instance,
which is on the posterior wings of the Hectera Esmeralda, and which may be charac-
terized as a compound of carmine and of the deepest blue dotted with two spots of
vermillion, will in itself, and irrespectively of association, communicate a pleasure to
every eye which looks upon it. The band of silver blue on the wing of a large
Morpho ; the deep tone, to speak in pictorial phrase, of the black in the Papilio Sesos-
tris, finer even than the finest velvet of Genoa; the rich dark orange on Epicilia
Ancea ; the blue, shining in one unnamed species like polished steel, in another
(Thecla) with a radiant clearness, which ultramarine itself could not surpass; the
satin-like golden green, the pearly lustrous white, and the deep shining emerald rib-
bands in Urania Boisduvalii; the crimson lines and spots, deeper and clearer than
blood, in a species to which no name is attached, of Papilio; the small spangles of
silver with which the under surface of one of the least among them (Cupido) is, as it
were, incrusted; the iridescent and delicate violet with which, on the same surface,
a particular species of Hectera is, so to speak, washed over in a way which calls to
our remembrance the ‘ scumbling’ given by Rembrandt as the finishing touch to his
finest productions: all these and many more, possess a beauty which I contend, in
opposition to the doctrine of Alison and Jeffrey, is absolute in itself; which is alto-
gether irrespective of association ; and which the. most skilful of human pencils
would find it impossible completely and properly to copy.—James Smith ; Manse of
Monquhitter, Aberdeenshire, January 31, 1851.

Note on Cheimatobia boreata.—* N odling new under the sun,” says the Wise
Man; “ there is nothing new.” One of your correspondents, in his note on the above-
named insect in the ‘ Zoologist’ (Zool. 3011), remarks, that previous to the appearance

Ensects. 3061

of my friend Mr. Doubleday’s list, ‘‘the captured specimens were looked upon as va-
rieties of other species”: or, in other words, their specific differences had not been

- detected. I have no means of knowing whether such was actually the case amongst
the entomologists of the north, other than the above: but the council of the Entomo-
logical Society having directed the society’s collection of British Lepidoptera to be
arranged in accordance with my catalogue of those insects, recently published by the
Trustees of the British Museum, a number of Haworthian specimens became eman-
cipated from their hiding-places in ungainly boxes; and amongst them were several
Cheimatobie. My friend, Mr. Bond, in looking over the genus Eupithecia as re-
arranged, caught a glimpse of the insect referred to, both genera being placed in the
same drawer, and directed my attention to one of the specimens of brumata, assuming
it to be a boreata. On reference to ‘Lepidoptera Britannica, p. 305, I find a male
variety of brumaria described by Haworth, agreeing with boreata, with the remark,
“Forté distincta species ;” and the observation, “I received this strong variety from
Captain Lindegren, who has frequently assured me, that he considered it a distinct
species.” I have this day collated the specimen in question with boreata, and find
it to correspond. As Haworth’s description appeared in 1810, the insect has been in
our cabinets, unknown, upwards of forty years el ur: Stephens ; Eltham Cottage,
Foxley Road, Kennington, February 10, 1851.

Note on Hibernia rupicapraria.—This insect is exceeding apariant around here,
attaching itself exclusively to the hawthorn-hedges. I never met with the females be-
fore the end of last month, when I took the sexes in copula ; and on Saturday evening,
the 8th of February, about twenty more. They did not begin to make their appear-
ance until a little before nine o'clock, when by close observation I detected them
crawling along the hawthorn twigs; I noticed also that they went to the very tip,
where they quietly remained until joined by the males. They are very easily dis-
turbed, as on the least movement of the bush they at once fell to the ground. The
males are found either creeping up the grass underneath the hedge, or suspended from
the bush.—John Scott ; London Works, Renfrew, February 10, 1851.

Note on the Habits and Transformations of Aglia Tau.—This moth which belongs
to the tribe of -Endromide, is one worthy of remark, both in larva and imago state.
Among the many insects I have had the pleasure of rearing, some from the egg to
the imago (as in the present instance), and many from larva, during many years so-
journing with my family in Switzerland, this is one which afforded us much interest
and satisfaction: interest, on account of the extraordinary changes from egg to imago ;
and satisfaction, as it is an insect which has seldom been raised from larva, much

less from egg. It is worthy of notice here, that the A. Tau is a rather local insect.
It is found in local situations in the canton of Valais, it is likewise su in the canton of
Vaud; and I will here remark that it is seldom met with (except here and there a stray
specimen) throughout the whole length of the Lake Leman, on the Swiss side of the
Lake, except in one forest near Lausanne. ‘This forest is situated at about half an
hour’s walk from the town of Lausanne, in a northerly direction, and is called the
Forest of Sauvabelin. It is in this forest that I am sure any entomologist will be
amused by the sight of these fine Aglias, and perhaps a few words on the insect may
be useful to any who should feel disposed to visit that place. The A. Tau is so abun-
dant in this forest, that any person visiting it, any day from about the 24th of April
to the 3rd or 4th of May, before twelve o'clock, can hardly fail to see the insect flying
about and dodging to and fro like the Bombyx Querciis, but seldom higher than four

3062 Insects.

feet from the ground. The perfect insect I will not here describe, as doubtless it is
known to most entomologists. The last few days of April, this insect becomes so
abundant, that it is not unfrequent to have them flying in one’s face; they, however,
prefer flying close along the ground. Before I say anything of the larva, I will here
mention that these troublesome creatures dodging about are in general the males.
The female is much larger and of a paler hue, and is found against the trunks of the
common beech, at about three feet from the ground ; and if there should be any wind,
it should be searched for on the sheltered side of the tree. The female, being very
scarce in proportion to the other sex, is much sought after in this forest, and as it is
invariably found against the beech (on which its larva feeds), it must be diligently
searched for in those parts of the forest in which the greatest quantity of Taus are
found flying, by looking carefully around the bases of all the beeches. The eggs are
found on the low branches of the trees, sometimes on the leaves, at about the first
fortnight in May: they are oblong and of a clear brown colour and few in number
(about eight to ten). Towards the end of May, when the young Aglia is ready to
come out of its egg, it begins to gnaw a circular opening in the egg-shell of the size
of its head: this operation takes about a quarter of an hour. When it is completed,
it stops for a few seconds moving its mandibles about, and presently crawls boldly out
of its shell. The spines (with which the larva becomes armed) are then very small,
and are bent one over the other, but they soon straighten and begin gradually to in-
crease in size: they do not, however, attain their full length till about half, or three-
quarters of an hour after it has been hatched. The head is disproportionately large.
Before the first change of skin, the description of the larva is as follows: of a light
greenish yellow, with five long spiny horns, of which two are on the first segment, two
on the third segment, and one on the eleventh segment: behind this last one is a
short spine of a red-brown colour. The spines are all forked at their extremity, ex-
cepting the short posterior ones. The colour of the large spines is pale yellowish, with
the base and tip reddish brown ; that of the posterior one is all reddish brown: these
spines are moveable. There are five rows of very small pale yellow, semi-transparent
spines: a rather dark dorsal line: head pinkish yellow, with two concentric veddish-
brown lines thereon: stigmata greenish yellow: abdomen yellow: legs the same
colour as the body. After the first and second change, then appears a series of oblique,
pale yellow streaks on the sides, and a narrow pale yellow lateral line. After the last
change but one, the spines are no longer forked: the thoracic legs are tipped with
reddish brown; the spines are then of a rusty-red colour, gradually tapering from the
base to the tip: stigmata reddish yellow: the incisions are also much stronger marked
and the middle of each segment is rather elevated, and covered with small asperities.
At the last change the caterpillar became as follows: caterpillar smooth, when full
grown, spineless; rather attenuated both anteriorly and posteriorly: the incisions
are also much stronger marked, and the middle of each segment (which are all ele-
vated and well marked) is rather hollow or depressed. The third and fourth segments
are rather more elevated than the others: ground-colour of larva, of a bright
yellowish green, covered with minute, pale yellowish, tubercular spots, giving it a gra-
nulated appearance, and of a darker hue, on the lower part of the sides and abdomen ;
a narrow, pale, lateral line, separating the green of the abdomen from that of the
sides, and on which is placed, on the fourth segment, a small, oval, crimson pouch,
which the caterpillar opens when irritated; also a lateral series of oblique, pale yel-
low lines, one on each segment on either side. The part of the sides on which the

Insects. 3063

lateral line is placed is much dilated : thoracic legs green, tipped with reddish brown ;
pro-legs rather darker green than body, tipped with brown: stigmata orange, and

- placed above the lateral line: head green ; mandibles reddish brown: abdomen dull
green and very slightly hairy. The posture of repose of this larva is similar to that
of the Sphinx Ligustri: the larva feeds little. At the end of July, when the cater-
pillar is full grown, it forms a loose cocoon by uniting some of the leaves of the beech
with fine, silvery, silky threads, and changes inside this envelope into pupa; passes
the winter in this state, and changes into imago the month of April following. I
believe we are the only entomologists who have at present succeeded, in the canton of
Vaud, in rearing this insect from eggs.—H. L. de la Chaumette ; Church Street, Stoke
Newington, January 20, 1851.

Capture of Ludius ferrugineus and Elater sanguineus near Cambridge.—I have
much pleasure in recording the capture of Ludius ferrugineus. The specimen now in
my possession was taken in August last, from a decayed willow-tree, near the bathing-
place, Newnham. Near the same spot, in October, 1850, a specimen of [later san-
guineus was also taken by me.—J. Brown; 13, King’s Parade, Cambridge, February
14, 1851.

An Entomological Ramble among the Rocks of Chudleigh, Devon.
By H. T. Starnton, Esq.

On the 8th of June, 1850, I visited Chudleigh for the first time ; the road thither,
from Exeter, passes over the high ground of Haldon, whence a most extensive view
(already sufficiently described in all guide-books) is obtained.

Haldon is an extensive tract of moor country, and reminded me strongly of the
North of England and Scotland, yet I cannot speak highly of its entomological pro-
ductiveness, as will be seen in the sequel. After passing Haldon the road gradually
descends to Chudleigh, which is situated ten miles from Exeter and very near the
Teign, a small branch of which flows at the foot of the rocks.

Arrived at Chudleigh, I had some little difficulty in finding my place of destina-
tion, which enjoyed the singular appellation of Palace Cottage ; it was nearly the
last house in the place, and down a lane; but this very circumstauce which made it
so difficult to discover, enhanced its value when found, it was outside the village, from
the garden you walked through an orchard and found yourself immediately on the

rocks: surely it was built for an entomologist.

But I am anticipating; I did not set forth immediately in search of sport, but
turned in doors and had some tea, and I must have remained thus occupied nearly an
hour as I arrived at Chudleigh at five p..t., and my first capture bears date six P.M.

Tea being sufficiently discussed, I proceeded to be formally introduced to the re-
nowned rocks of Chudleigh : it is not my business to describe these rocks geologically,
suffice it to say, they are on one side perpendicular and of great altitude, and on the
other side are approached by a gradual slope; and a large portion of the sloping side
has been worked as a limestone quarry, but has long been deserted, and is now
planted over with apple-trees, and overgrown with all sorts of rank vegetation ; in
short it is not unlike Charlton, but less trodden, and less haunted by children.

I of course expected, on my first appearance in a new country, to signalize my first

3064 Insects.

evening by some capture of importance ; but when I say that I spent a great portion @
of the evening in running after Eupeecilia angustana, I shall surely be thought to be
joking, but so it is: I caught thirteen of this valuable insect the first evening, and
before I left Chudleigh I had collected about fifty. If I am asked why I spent my
time in catching so common an insect which nobody wanted, I must even confess,
that I took it for something else, and thought I was bagging the rare ambiguella. I

had been at Wickham the previous week, where angustana ordinarily swarms and J -

had seen none, and here in a strange place I found something like angustana, but
already wasted. Endorea pyralella was very plentiful in the old quarry, and I found

several Pterophorus trigonodactylus ; they sat chiefly among Tussilago farfara: does —

the larva feed on that plant?

When standing on the top of the rocks my eyes looked longingly on a meadow
which skirted their base, and which was bordered on one side by the little stream,
the banks of which were fringed with a plantation of alders ; here surely was choice
ground for an explorer: accordingly the following afternoon I visited it, but not with
much success. Two scutulana, two Cirsiana, one sequana and two fibulella, being
my best captures, if I except three specimens of a dull ochreous, almost denuded in-
sect; what this insect could be, puzzled me for a long while ; at length I guessed it

might be Roslerstammia granitella, which I consider I ultimately proved by breeding ©

that species from larve found mining the leaves of the Inula dysenterica in that
meadow. I afterwards found that these extremely wasted granitella were no rarity,
which is remarkable, as when a species is so over that it becomes extremely wasted, it
generally becomes very scarce.

My second evening was devoted to further examination of the contents of the old
quarry, and this time I had better success, taking three Elachista gibbiferella, Z. (ba-
sipallidella, Sta. Cat.), two decorella, two Grapholita obtusana, and several of those

puzzling Tortrices, which Haworth in his simplicity called simpliciana. (The num-

ber of these species, and their correct names and synonymy would be a nice subject
for a monograph: will any one try it ?) |

The following morning, the 10th, I visited Great Haldon, but though the day was
very bright, in that elevated situation there was too much wind, and Thecla Rubi and
(Ecophora grandipennis were my sole captures ; in a small wood adjoining the moor,
which ought to have abounded in good things, I obtained two Micropteryx Allionella,
and one Eupecilia maculosana: in the afternoon I revisited the meadow, and by
sweeping on a dry flowery bank, obtained singularly enough in two successive strokes
of my net, a Coleophora Alcyonipennella and a C. spissicornis, and more oddly still,
though I tried hard that afternoon, and other afternoons, I found no more of either.

In a moist corner of the meadow I took a single specimen of Adela rufimetrella, of —

course much wasted, the middle of May being its proper period. (This insect should
frequent the flowers of Cardamine pratensis).

In the evening I again explored the old quarry and captured three more Grapho-
lita obtusana, one Micropteryx rubrifasciella, wasted, two Elachista decorella, one
gibbiferella, and Lithocolletis salicicolella and Spinolella.

June 11th; being desirous of a further supply of M. Allionella, I set off in the
heat of the day for the little wood at the edge of the moor, but found none; a single
E. maculosana, and a worn Lithocolletis emberizepennella being my only captures ;
along the road-side I found several A. fibulella and M. Seppella on the flowers of
Veronica Chamedrys. In the afternoon I obtained by sweeping, in the old quarry,

Insects. 3065

several specimens of M. Seppella, and among them three pairs in copula, the males

are, however, rather wasted.

- In the evening I found in the meadow, amongst rushes, the common rush, Coleo-
phora alticolella, rather plentiful, I also obtained a wasted Eupecilia notulana, and

though last not least, a hippopotamus, not the pachyderm, but the Tortrix.

The Hippopotamus Tortrix resembles its namesake, in being large, brown, mode-

_ rately ugly, and in sleeping its time away in marshy places on the banks of rivers ; its
_ seientific name is Ephippiphora turbidana, and its portrait has already appeared in
the pages of the ‘ Zoologist’ (Zool. 2034).

Up to this time I had had bright, sunny weather, with only moderate breezes ; but
neither sunshine nor calm will last for ever, more especially in Devonshire, so the
following morning I found a cloudy sky, and that abomination of entomologists
{unless they are on the sheltered side of a good fence) a gale of wind: All my
hitherto explored ground was impracticable in this weather, and where was I in a
strange country to find a sheltered nook? I suspect I must have been a little out of

humour, for I did not attempt to go out all the morning ; and in the afternoon I sal-
lied forth with the intention of walking to Newton, but before I had proceeded more
than two miles, a small wood, in which I saw Adela Degeerella flying rather freely,
diverted me from the high road; and afterwards finding in this wood a specimen of
Aichmia subdentella, I spent nearly two hours in looking for a second.

The 13th was dull and showery, and I now conceived the idea of hunting the hip-
popotamus: knowing that the insect was attached to the Tussilago Petasites, I thought
it extremely probable they would sit on these leaves, just as Brunnichiana sits on the
leaves of Farfara: descending through the wood that fringes the rocks, I found two
#Echmia subdentella and an Olindia Ulmana, and searching on the leaves of the
Petasites, I found in the course of an hour, three hippopotami. Three in an hour
was not very encouraging, but as I knew of no place which I could try for better
sport, I resolved to try the river-bank again in the afternoon, and this time I had my
reward ; for between four and five o’clock that afternoon the Turbidane chose to fly,
and I was enabled to bag twenty-eight of them, thus fairly rivalling Mr. Gordon
Cuming. Thinking they might fly again at dusk, I returned, but only found two
dozing on the surface of the leaves; however, I fortunately found a Bucculatrix ci-

' darella (the fifth British specimen), flying near whitethorn and alder.

On the 14th I obtained two more subdentella, from a whitethorn hedge; and one
Olindia Ulmana, three Eupisteria heparata, and five turbidana formed my sole cap-
tures during the afternoon, which I spent on the bank of the river.

The 15th was fine and bright, but it was to be my last day at Chudleigh ; I tried
again for cidarella and Alcyonipennella, but in vain: I sought for turbidana, but
only found five. I swept the grass in the old quarry, but obtained nothing but Dicro-
rampha sequana. My last capture was a single Gicophora ochraceella, which I found
on the banks of the stream, amongst Epilobium.

Thus ended a very pleasant week at Chudleigh, but my number of captures was
not great ; and of many I found only single specimens. It does certainly seem to be
the case, though I have long been unwilling to admit it, that insects, from some un-
known cause, are not so plentiful in Devonshire as in most of the localities near
London.

There is a grammar-school at Chudleigh, and I was told that some of the boys
had been seen with nets in their hands ; I did not, however, meet them myself, and

IX. N

3066 Zoological Society.

consequently know not what proficiency they may have made in entomology. Should
this notice fall into their hands, they may learn from it the precise localities of many —
species which are desiderata to most collections, and by notifying their capture in the
‘ Zoologist,’ will find a short-hand way to making a collection, in the offers of insects
in exchange, they will receive from other collectors. They will tind the hippopotamus —
a safe card, and one on which they are sure to win. — H. T. Stainton; Mountsfield,

Lewisham, January 24, 1851. :

Proceedings of the Zoological Society.

Evening Meeting, January 14.—Proressor Owen, V.P., in the chair.

The following papers were read :

‘Remarks on the highest limit of fave Life in the Alps; by Dr. Schlasinimest

‘Further Remarks on Baleniceps rex ; by Mr. Gould, in which he developed its
generic characters and affinities.

Mr. Gaskoin communicated the descriptions of twenty new species of Columbella,
and one of Cyprea, chiefly from his own collection and that of Mr. Cuming.

Mr. Bowerbank read a paper ‘ On a New Species of Pterodactylus from the Chalk
Formation. The specimen consisted of seven inches and a quarter of the snout, of a
head, which if restored on the scale of that of Pterodactylus longirostris, would indi-
cate a length of twenty-five inches and a half; there are sockets for twelve teeth on
each side; the distance between each tooth is about one inch and a half of the long
diameter of the sockets, which are nearly equidistant from each other. The head is
exceedingly narrow ; at the eleventh pair of teeth from the tip of the snout it is but
three quarters of an inch wide. One of the first pair of teeth remains in its socket ;
the whole of the other large teeth are displaced, but two of them are imbedded in the
chalk near the sockets. The largest of them exceeds an inch and a quarter in length,
they are slightly curved, smooth, and hollow at the base. A very fine radius and
ulna of Pterodactylus, from the collection of Mrs. Smith, of Tunbridge Wells, anda
similar pair of bones from the collection of Mr. Charles, of Maidstone, were also ex- |
hibited. The length of the former bones, the author states, would exceed ten inches,
and the latter would be nearly seventeen inches. A tabular view of the length of
each bone of the wing, aud of the total distance from tip to tip was given, by which
it would appear that the amount of expansion of the following species would be,
P. brevirostris nine inches ; P. longirostris one foot ten inches ; P. crassirostris three
feet two inches; P. Bucklandi four feet seven inches; P. grandis five feet five inches ;
P. giganteus six feet seven inches. Mrs. Smith’s specimen ten feet two inches, and
Mr. Charles’s specimen sixteen feet six inches. The author believes the latter to be
of the same species as the head described, and which he proposes to designate Ptero-
dactylus Cuvieri, in honour of the great naturalist whose labours shed so much light
on the history of these wonderful reptiles.

Evening Meeting, January 28, 1851.—R. H. Sotty, Esq., F.R.S., in the chair.
Professor Owen read a paper ‘ On a New Species of Pterodactyle from the Chalk

Zoological Society. 3067

(Pterodactylus compressirostris, Owen), with some remarks on the Nomenclature of the
previously described Species.’ The author apologized for bringing a species of extinct
animal before the Zoological Society, but as its distinctive characters were best shown
by comparison with those of the species described by Mr. Bowerbank, at the previous
meeting of the Society, he thought it desirable that both descriptions should appear
in the same work. After some general remarks on the pterodactyles, and a reference
to the characters of the gigantic species described by Mr. Bowerbank as the Pterodac-
tylus Cuvieri, Professor Owen proceeded to describe the portions of the fossil skull on
which the new species was founded. They consisted of two portions of the upper
jaw, including a part of the external nostril, the palate, and the alveoli of the teeth.
The entire head restored, according to the proportions of those parts, must have mea-
sured from fourteen to sixteen inches in length. It differed from the still larger P.
Cuvieri in the straight outline of the upper jaw, and its greater degree of lateral com-
pression, from which the specific name was derived ; also by its relatively smaller
teeth, which are placed more widely apart in the jaw. The bony palate is extremely
narrow, and presents a median groove between two longitudinal convex ridges. The
sides of the jaw as they rise from the alveolar border, incline a little outwards before
they converge to meet at the upper border, which gradually widens as the jaw ex-
tends backwards, but in a great part of its extent is a mere ridge. The bony walls
of both portions of jaw present the characteristic compactness and extreme thinness
of the pterodactyle’s skull. So far as the present evidence of three well-marked
species of pterodactyle (P. giganteus, P. Cuvieri, and P. compressirostris) goes, the
organization of these singularly modified Reptilia, whose existence extended from the
lias upwards to the chalk inclusive, had undergone no transmutation, no tendency to
pass into any other or higher winged form of animal. Neither had it in any measure
degenerated, but on the contrary had attained its maximum of development immedi-
ately prior to its final disappearance when, at the close of the secondary epoch in
Geology, the pterodactyles were blotted out of existence.

Mr. Gray read a paper ‘ On a New Genus and Several New Species of Scutellidiz
and Echinolampide.’

The meeting then adjourned to February 11th.

Monthly General Meeting, February 6.—E. J. Rupcr, Esq., F.R.S., in the chair.

E. W. Cox, Esq., Mansfield Parkyns, Esq., and W. Hartree, Esq., were elected
Fellows. Mrs. Remington and E. Robins, Esq., were proposed as candidates for the
Fellowship. ;

The Report of the Council stated that the number of visitors to the Gardens during
the month of January, presented an increase of 5533 over the corresponding month of
1850. The additions to the Menagerie are of unusual interest, including a fine male
specimen of the Malayan tapir, and two pairs of mandarin ducks (Ata galericulata).
These beautiful birds having the full use of their wings, exhibit for the first time the
peculiar arboreal habit of the genus, and may be observed flying to a perch several
feet above the ground in the large aviary in which they are effectively displayed.
Among other additions and improvements now in progress, the Council have made an
arrangement with Mr. Gould, to exhibit his brilliant collection of mounted humming-

3068 Entomological Society.

birds, in a building which will be constructed expressly for its reception in the
Gardens.—D. W. M.

Proceedings of the Entomological Society.

January 27,1851. (Anniversary Meeting).—G. R. Wareruouse, Esq., President,
in the chair. :

The Secretary having read the bye-law relative to the Annual General Meeting,
the Auditors’ Report of the Treasurer's account was read, from which it appeared that
the financial condition of the Society had greatly improved during the past year.

The ballot then took place, when Messrs. E. Shepherd, F. Smith, S. Stevens and
S. J. Wilkinson were elected members of the Council, in the room of Messrs. T. Des-
vignes, F. J. S. Parry, W. Spence and J. F. Stephens; J. O. Westwood, Esq.,
was elected President; W. Yarrell, Esq., Treasurer ; and J. W. Douglas and H. T.
Stainton, Secretaries.

The President delivered an address on the state and prospects of the Society, for
which a vote of thanks was passed, and he was requested to allow it to be printed.
Votes of thanks were also passed to the retiring President, for his services for the last
two years ; also to the Treasurer, Secretaries and retiring members of the Council.

February 3, 1851.—J. O. WEestwoop, Esq., President, in the chair.

M. Motchulsky was present as a visitor.

The President returned thanks for his election and delivered an inaugural address,
in which he impressed upon the members, and more particularly the younger ones,
the claims that Entomology has upon its votaries as a science, under the different
heads of “ Descriptive Entomology,” ‘“ Anatomy of Insects,” “ Investigation of the
Natural History of Insects,” and “ The Natural Relations of Insects with each other.”
He also suggested for consideration, whether the Society might not be made a me-
dium of exchange of British insects, on the plan adupted and successfully carried out
by the Botanical Society of London.

The President appointed as Vice-Presidents, Messrs. Bond, W. W. Saunders and
G. R. Waterhouse.

The following donations were announced, and thanks ordered to be given to the
donors: ‘Memoires de la Société Royale des Sciences de Liege, tome 6, being
‘Revue des Odonates ou Libellules d'Europe; par M. C. de Selys-Longchamps.
‘ Monographia Cassididarum ; auctore Carolo H. Boheman, tome 1 ; both presented
by Mr. Stainton. ‘ Entomologische Zeitung, for December, 1850 ; by the Entomo-
logical Society of Stettin. The ‘Zoologist’ for February ; by the Editor. A speci-
men of Sirex duplex and one of the Tenthredinide ; by Mr. Lubbock. A collection
of Indian insects, contained in twelve cases and in the finest condition; by — Grant,
Esq., Elchies.

The President observed that the addition of this valuable donation of Mr. Grant's,
made the Society possessor of the finest collection of Indian insects in Europe.

|

4

4

Entomological Society. 3069

Major E. Sheppard, F.L.S., Bellefield House, Parsons Green, Augustus Shep-

pard, Esq., Bellefield House, Parsons Green, and J. McIntosh, Esq., Charminster,
-near Dorchester, were balloted for and elected members of the Society.

Mr. S. Stevens exhibited a new butterfly (Thormantis Howqua) Westwood MSS.,
and two specimens of the Papilio Telamon of Donovan, both recently taken by Mr.
Fortune, in the north of China.

The President remarked that the last species was especially interesting, although
the specimens were in bad condition, for no example had been seen since the time of
Donovan, and not one was known to be now in existence; and the examination of
these had shown that the species was not a true Papilio, but formed a new genus be-
tween Thais and Teinopalpus.

Mr. Saunders exhibited some Lepidoptera from Brazil, remarkable for the great

size of their projecting palpi, simulating the appearance presented by the peculiar
legs of the genus Polypogon.
. The President exhibited some galls found on vines, sent to him by Sir O. Mosley,
Bart. No insect had yet been reared from them; indeed in many that he had ex-
amined, no insect was present, but in one he had found a larva which appeared to
belong to a species of Curculionide.

Mr. Douglas and Mr. Stainton exhibited some twigs of yew, from Mickleham
and Worksop, in which the growth had been stopped, and the agglomeration of the
terminal leaves had caused the formation of a knob about the size of a hazel-nut. In
some of these a small lepidopterous larva had been found, which was probably the
cause of the arrested development: and Mr. Douglas adverting to a conversation
about the food of Ditula angustiorana which took place on the 4th of February, 1850,
at this Suciety’s meeting, suggested that these might be the larve of that species of
Tortricide.

Mr. Stainton mentioned that during the past week he had seen in the seed-vessels
of common furze, fully developed specimens of Oxystoma Ulicis, apparently waiting
until their cells should open.

Mr. Lubbock exhibited some small globular nests, apparently of a spider, attached
to stems of grass, but they were untenanted.

Mr. Douglas exhibited a somewhat singular nest, found last week at Mickleham,
on the ground, formed between leaves still attached to the twig of beech on which
they had grown, and the architect, a spider, accompanied it.

Mr. Stainton exhibited a small bunch of evergreen oak, the leaves on which were
mined by the larve of a Lithocolletis, observing as a fact he had noticed, that Lithocol-

letis larve feeding on the leaves of deciduous trees, passed the winter in the pupa

state, but in evergreens, they remained larve until the spring.

Mr. W. W. Saunders read a memoir ‘ Upon the Insects injurious to the Cotton
Plant,’ of which the following is an abstract.

“Having had my attention called to the insects injurious to the cotton-plant, I
have been seeking for information from a variety of sources, but discover with sur-
prise that the insects in question have been but very little studied, although it is evi-
dent from the published accounts of their ravages, the amount of loss to the planter
must at times be very great. The particulars which have hitherto appeared regarding
the cotton-moth, cut-worm or grub, cotton-bug, Apate monochus or bore-worm, will
be found in Porter’s ‘ Tropical Agriculturalist, and Dr. Ure’s ‘ History of the Cotton
Manufacture, but the information is very unsatisfactory and entirely wanting in that

3070 Entomological Society.

correctness of detail so necessary to the entomological enquirer, aud which if fully de-
_ veloped might lead to some satisfactory method of diminishing if not preventing the
injuries caused by these destructive insects.

More positive information is to be obtained on the following insects, and in treating

on these I will place them in two divisions.
The first, containing the species which have already been described ; and the

second, such only as are for the first time brought forward as injurious to the cotton- —

plant.
Iu the first division may be mentioned,

PHaLtena osLinita, Abbot and Smith’s Insects of Georgia, Pl. 94, p. 187.

The caterpillar feeds on the cotton and other plants, and the moth apppears in
April.
Found in Virginia and Georgia.

DEpPRESSARIA GossYPIELLA, Ent. Trans., vol. iii. p. 284.

Very destructive to the American cotton grown at Broach, in the East Indies, but
seldom affecting the native cotton. The larva feeds on the cotton-seed until
the pod is about to burst.

In the second division I have to enumerate,

ArctTiA HorsFIELDII. ©

Expansion of the wings 1 inch 10 lines. Anterior wings purplish ashy gray, with
several abbreviated obsolete, wavy, dark gray strige, parallel to the hinder
margin, and a more defined zigzag, dark gray line near the base, and with an
elongate reniform mark on the disk beyond the middle: posterior wings brown-
ish orange, gradually changing to purplish gray, marked on the disk with a
dark gray spot, and with radiating lines of the same colour.

The larva is yellowish white, covered with long cream-coloured hairs. The joints
of the body, each crossed above with an ash-gray lunulate spot, and a round,
rather large black spot on the upper side of the third joint.

Feeds on the Gossypinm herbaceum, Zin., a native of Java ; appears in the month
of August, according to Dr. Horsfield.

Evpiorrers Inpica.

Expansion of the wings 10—12 lines. Anterior wings hyaline, with a broad,
dark brown band along the costa and hinder margin, the band rather widening
as it approaches the anal angle: posterior wings hyaline, with a band of the
same width and colour as on the anterior wings along its hinder margin,
gradually tapering as it approaches the anal angle.

Larva smooth, pale grass-green, with the head yellowish.

Feeds on the Gossypium herbaceum, and on the Corollodendron, common in Java
from January to April, according to Dr. Horsfield.

This species is nearly allied to Pyralis hyalinata, Lin., but is nevertheless quite
distinct.

——_ —- ©

Microscopical Society. 3071

Three other species of insects attack the cotton plants in the East Indies, and
cause serious injury, viz.,

- The larva of some beetle, probably of the family of the Chrysomelide. An Aphis,
for which I propose the name A. Gossypii; and the immature state of a Homopte-
rous insect, probably related to the family Cercopide.

I trust that this notice, imperfect as it is, may be of some use as a first step to-
wards a history of the insects injurious to the cotton-plant, and may bring the impor-
tant subject to the notice of entomologists, who have opportunities of witnessing the
ravages committed by insects on the cotton-plant, and induce them to record their
observations, with a view of furnishing materials for a more complete investigation of
the subject hereafter.”

The paper is accompanied by a plate.

The President announced that in addition to the donation of lithograph copies of
the portrait of the late Rev. W. Kirby, for the ‘ Transactions, Mr. Spence had placed
fifty copies at the disposal of the Council, who have determined to offer them to mem-
bers and subscribers at one shilling each.

The President also said he had been requested to announce that Mr. Foxcroft in-
tended to visit Wales this year, on an entomological expedition, for which he solicited
subscriptions, to be repaid by his captures.—J. W. D.

Proceedings of the Microscopical Society of London.

January 15, 1851.—Dr. Artuur Farre, President, in the chair.

A paper ‘ On the Femoral Plates or Scales of Zootoca vivipara, a kind of Lizard,
by J. B. Spencer, Esq., was read. .
__ After some introductory remarks, in which the description given by Professor Bell
in his ‘ History of British Lizards’ was noticed, as stating that this lizard was one of
those distinguished by being covered with scales or plates, some of which possess a
very curious structure, and among which the femoral plates are particularly distin-
guished as having pores, the use of which is not known; the author went on to
state that these femoral plates occur in a single row on the under surface of each lower
leg, and are usually ten or twelve in number. He, however, found upon examination,
that they did not agree with Prof. Bell’s description, not being perforated, but on the
contrary their surface was produced into a semitransparent process or horn, of a light
yellow colour, without any discoverable perforation ; these last, where they occur,
being due to the rubbing off of the horny process, which is detached by a very slight
touch. He was, therefore, induced to believe that these scales possibly serve to give
the creature a greater mechanical power of adhesion in certain cases. A drawing il-
lustrating the size and position of the plates was also exhibited.

Mr. Quekett then directed the attention of the Society to an observation of a some-
what similar nature to that of Mr. Spencer, which he had made about ten years since,
in the structure of the skin of a viviparous blenny (Zoarcus viviparus). In the

3072 Microscopical Society.

description of the skin of this fish, Mr. Yarrell states that “ the surface of the body
appears, under a lens, to be studded with circular depressions ;” it was found, how-
ever, that these circular depressions, which are always of a white colour, were due to
the presence of small round scales, about one-twelfth of an inch in diameter, each
having a minute black spot; these are situated deep in the cuticle, like those of the
eel, and, in some situations, occurred at certain tolerably regular distances.

Mr. Quekett afterwards spoke of what appeared to him, a new fact in vegetable
physiology, viz., the unrolling (in a spiral manner) of the membranous wall of an
elongated cell. The specimen from which the hair or hairs were taken, was the fruit
of Cycas revoluta, from China. Upon detaching some of these hairs, which are si-
tuated on two opposite parts of the fruit, and examining them with a power of 250
diameters, two varieties were distinctly visible, viz., perfect hairs, having both extre-
mities more or less pointed, and others, in which the extremity attaching them to the
seed was abruptly broken off: when these last were carefully examined, the broken
ends were, in most cases, found unrolled, in a spiral direction ; the spiral being in the
form of a band, the breadth of which gradually increases from below upwards. In
these hairs there was no trace whatever of a spiral fibre, the membrane forming the
wall being quite transparent and free from structure. Now, in most of the works on
botany, no mention is made of the manner in which vegetable membrane is capable of
being torn. Dr. Lindley, however, in the last edition of his ‘Introduction,’ states
that it generally tears irregularly, but that in Bromelia nudicaulis the torn edges are
curiously toothed; but no instance is given in which the fractured portion is always
ina spiral form. It was on this account the subject was brought before the notice of
the Society.

Mr. Quekett then brought forward a curious instance of malformation in the
spicula, both of the body and of the gemmules, of Spongilla fluviatilis. The speci-
men in which the spicula occurred, was found by Mr. Spencer, in the neighbourhood
of Blackheath, and the drawings were made by Mr. Leonard, from two objects, one
belonging to the Society, the other in the author’s possession, both of which were
prepared by Mr. Spencer, from the sponge in question. Some of the long spicula

from the body, which were of the form termed by Mr. Bowerbank, ‘ biarcuate,’ were :
curiously altered, some having portions of the shaft dilated into round nobs at dif-

ferent distances, whereby a moniliform appearance was produced, others having por-

tions of spicula projecting from their sides, whilst in some few instances, a series of
half spicula were developed from the central portion of the shaft in the form of a

whorl. Amongst the spicula of the gemmules some few were found in their normal,,
viz., birotulate state ; but in the majority of instances, either one or both extremities

were strangely malformed. Sketches of the principal varieties, made by means of the

camera lucida, were sent round for inspection.—J. W.

Birds. 3073

Notes on the Turnstone and Tern.
, By the Rev. JAMES SMITH.

In a country like our own, where the population is so numerous,
where cultivation has made such rapid and extensive progress, and
where everything is, more or less, of a conventional and an artificial
character, there is not the same opportunity nor the same facility for
watching and describing the habits of animals, as there is in those
regions where the landscape exhibits in every probability almost the
identical features which it did when it was finally traced out by the .
hand of the Creator ; where the forest rears itself in primeval magnifi-
cence ; where the vegetation is rank and luxuriant ; where the marsh
with its aquatic herbage extends for miles upon end; where the sandy
desert is not without its peculiar tenants; where the prairie stretches
its wide expanse of sea-like undulations ; where the wave breaks on
rocks and shingles which have been seldom pressed by the human
foot; and where man has either not made his appearance at all, or has
yet to contend with the inferior animals for the sovereignty of the
scenes around him. On this account it would scarcely be reasonable
to expect that a work on natural history should make its appearance
among ourselves of the same racy freshness, and with the same accu-
mulation of interesting facts, as delight us in the writings of such men
as Wilson, Audubon, and we will add Azara, Levaillant and Water-
ton; and as lead us on so willingly, and sometimes so unconsciously,
from page to page and from subject to subject. But, although in this
respect much cannot now be perhaps effected in our own country, it
4s nevertheless conceived that, by those who have the leisure, the in-
clination, and above all the necessary enthusiasm and talent, more
might yet be done even in it than has been hitherto accomplished.
It is a reproach which frequently, and as it should seem not altogether

‘ without reason, has been cast upon British writers on natural history,
that properly speaking, they ought, in a majority of cases, to be
looked upon as compilers much more than as independent and original
observers. When we narrowly examine the publications which have
appeared in Britain during the course of the last hundred years, on
the various branches of natural history, we shall be indeed surprised —
to see that, numerous as they are, there is but little in most of them
that can be accounted as new and additional ; and that to a great ex-
tent, each successive writer has borrowed from those by whom he has
been preceded, merely communicating to facts, or supposed facts,
IX. O

3074 Birds.

which have been brought forward over and over, the peculiar form:
and tinge of his own descriptive faculties.* In natural history, more-

* Among the exceptions to these remarks must be reckoned Mr. Selby’s work on
British Ornithology. He is without doubt an original and painstaking observer; and
has contributed many important particulars in regard to the habits and appearances:
of our native birds which were previously unknown. As a philosophical naturalist,
his merits are of a very high order. To him, in a great measure, would the praise
appear to belong of being one of the most influential in having given to natural his-
tory, especially ornithology, that fresh and more rational impulse which began per-
haps about thirty years ago; and which since that time has been every year advancing
with accelerated speed and with corresponding success. Asan artist, also, his labours
have been brilliant and persevering. He and Sir William Jardine have been the
means in this respect of bringing more numerous and more varied representations of”
new, rare, and interesting birds before the public, than perhaps any other two indivi-—
duals of the present day.

In the preface to his first volume, Mr. Selby, when speaking of style, has the fol- _
lowing remark: “ I have endeavoured, as far as lay in my power, to unite conciseness
and perspicuity, with that plain didactic manner in which I conceive all works on
scientific subjects should be written.” On such a point, I would be understood to —
differ from so eminent an authority with much of diffidence, and with a feeling that I y
am in all probability in the wrong. I cannot help thinking, however, that the cha- —
racter of style which is here recommended, although imperatively called for in works
of severe and demonstrative science, ought not to be rigorously insisted upon, nor to —
be regarded as the only one which is proper, in publications having for their object —
the various branches of natural history. Is it not possible, in productions of this de~ |
scription, to be eloquent, and it may be even poetical, and at the same time correct —
and strictly accurate in the description of character, instincts and habits? May not
the precision of science and the colouring of feeling occupy each their appropriate —
place, without the one interfering with the other, but on the contrary, like the masses —
of light and shade in a painting, mutually contributing to the beauty, the harmony, ;
and the effect of the whole? Is it not in the happy intermixture of these opposite i
qualities that the irresistible charm principally lies which has made the writings of —
Wilson, of Audubon, and of others of a kindred character, to be so greatly sought
after, and to be devoured with so insatiable avidity by their numerous and constantly —
increasing readers ? :

The name of Sir William Jardine has been casually mentioned ; and no one who q
is familiar with his writings will hesitate for a moment in allowing that he is no mere
compiler, but a most diligent, enthusiastic, and successful observer. He is not inat-
tentive to the respective merits of systems; to anatomical details; to the adaptation
in structure of means to ends, and to those interesting links by which groups glide,

_ as it were, imperceptibly into each other. But he is a sportsman as well as a natu-
ralist; and in the former capacity he has opportunities, which he seems never to neg-
lect, of watching and of noting the habits and the movements of the feathered and
also of the finny tribes. He has, moreover, an eye for the beauties of Nature. His —
descriptions are thus, generally speaking, not only accurate and original, but they are
likewise fresh, vivid, and not unfrequently with a tinge of poetry. As examples of
what has been said, may be mentioned the respective accounts in his ‘ History of

Birds. 3075

over, as in every branch both of literature and science, there are
certain names which have obtained a great, and, what is very likely, a
justly merited ascendancy. These are regarded as authorities in the
domain with which they are respectively connected. To the opinions
and the statements which they have put forth, there are attached the
weight and the imagined infallibility of an oracle. Upon the minds
of many who delight in the works of Nature, authorities such as these
would seem to have the power of an appalling and ever present
phantom. They exercise over them an influence, in consequence of
which it might almost appear as if they were deprived of the free and
the unfettered use of their senses. The feeling from which a condi-
tion like this arises, is no doubt to a certain extent commendable ; but
when it is carried to the excess of which we are speaking, it is pro-
ductive of the most serious disadvantages, and is even a formidable
drawback to the progress of literature and especially of science.
There are more individuals than we should be inclined to believe, who
are unwilling to make public either what they think, or what they have
seen and heard, principally, if not entirely, from a fear lest their re-
flections and their statements should be at variance with those which
have been put on record by the authorities to whom we are referring,
and which, in consequence, have come to be regarded as fixed and
undoubted truths that are not for a moment to be called in question.
And it cannot but be acknowledged that for such a fear there are par-
donable grounds. For it would appear to be with many a sort of

British Birds, of the blackcock, the rock dove, the oyster-catcher, the lapwing, the
dunlin, the common sandpiper, the green sandpiper, and the sketch which is given in
the introduction to his last volume, of a flat, sandy, and oozy coast, and which is
perhaps drawn from what is to be witnessed on the Solway Firth. As evidence that
he has the eye of a painter and the feeling of a poet, take his note on the curlew as
the bird is seen and heard ina misty morning of spring. (Edit. of Wilson’s ‘ Ame-
rican Ornithology, vol. iii. p. 44). The greatest objection which may be made to his
writings is perhaps a not unfrequent want of precision and even of accuracy in his
style. @

It would probably be impossible to bring forward a more striking proof of the
amazing changes and improvements which have taken place in this country, than the
difference between those avocations in which Sir William Jardine finds to-day his
delight, and those which formed the pursuit of his steel-clad ancestors, when their
principal excitement was in all likelihood the Border foray, and when the motto of the
family ‘ Cave adsum,— beware, I am at hand, —was no doubt singularly appropriate,
and, as it fell on the ear of the Southron, might well make him bestir himself for the
safety of his possessions.

3076 Birds.

maxim, that when an obscure and unheard-of observer takes it upon
him to call in question statements which have long passed current in
grave and authoritative books, the circumstance is almost evidence m
itself, that such an individual is incompetent to look upon the fair
volume of creation with accuracy and discrimination, or with advan-

tage either to himself or to others. So greatly, indeed, is this the —
case, that writers on natural history who sit in their closet, who con- —

cern themselves principally with the artificial arrangements, with the

‘nomenclature, and with the general technicalities of science, and who

in person seldom investigate the habits of those animals, the skins
and the anatomical structure of which they examine, it cannot be de-
nied, with much learning and with many most important results, are
not unfrequently inclined to look with distrust upon the representa-
tions of those who spend their leisure hours im the fields, on the moor,
by the margin of the Jake, in the recesses of the wood, or on the sands

and the precipices of the coast; who have patiently and narrowly —

watched the animated beings by which these different localities are
enlivened; and who derive an unceasing pleasure from ascertaining,
with all the minuteness and accuracy of which they are capable, the
instincts and the movements of the lower creation. Statements put
forward by such individuals as the fruit of their anxious and oft re-
peated observation, are almost always received with suspicion, and
sometimes even as mere invention, when they happen to be contrary
to what has been advanced by the reigning authorities, or when they
are such as have never been previously noticed or heard of. In such
circumstances, it is considered as at the very least far more probable
that observers, who are of no reputation in science, and whose names

are probably altogether unknown, should have been mistaken, in spite —

of all that they may assert as having been seen with their eyes and
heard with their ears, than that representations which have stood the
test of time; which have been copied from book to book; and which,
for a lengthened series of years, have never once been contradicted,

shouldnevertheless turn out to be inconsistent with truth, and to be |

opposed to actual and existing facts. And yet it may, notwithstand-
ing all this, be safely affirmed that there are few things more certain
than that every one who has eyes to see, ears to hear, and a reason-
able portion of intelligence, and who is resolute in the exercise of his
faculties, not, indeed, in the spirit of self-conceit and of arrogance,
but of respectful independence and becoming firmness, will be en-
abled much sooner than he imagines, and to the surprise perhaps of

Birds. 3077

no one so greatly as of himself, to detect mistakes, to rectify misap-
prehensions, to point out errors, and to communicate new and in-
-teresting particulars in regard to a variety of objects.

I have been led into these remarks, which I willingly admit are of
very common-place character, in consequence of the following com-
munications from Mr. Thomas Edward, Banff. They confirm so far,
in my humble opinion, what I have ventured to say in regard to ad-
ditional facts being yet in store, even in this country, for those who
will observe for themselves, and with conscientious diligence, minute~
ness and patience. The first refers to the turnstone (Strepsilas In-
terpres*), a bird which, in this part of the kingdom at least, is by no
means of frequent occurrence, and of the habits of which, a fuller
and more satisfactory account has been given by Audubon than by
any European ornithologist with whose writings I am acquainted.

“« Passing along the sea-shore to the west of Banff, I observed on
the sands at a considerable distance before me, two birds beside a
large-looking object. Knowing by their appearance that they did
not belong to the species which are usually met with in this quarter,
I left the beach and proceeded along the adjoining links, an eminence
of shingle intervening, until I concluded that I was about opposite to
the spot where the objects of my search were employed. Stooping
down, and with my gun upon my back prepared for action, I
managed to crawl through the bents and across the shingle for a con-
siderable way, when I at length came in sight of the two little
workers, who were busily endeavouring to turn over a dead fish which
was fully six times their size. I immediately recognised them as
turnstones. Not wishing to disturb them, anxious at the same time to
witness their operations, and observing that, a few paces nearer them,
there was a deep hollow among the shingle, I contrived to creep into it

* The generic name ‘ Strepsilas’ is evidently from the Greek word ‘ strepsis,’ ‘the
act of turning ; and it alludes happily enough to the habit which the bird possesses
of turning stones over with his lever-like bill when it is searching for its food. Of
the reason, however, which induced Linneus, by whom it seems to have been first im-
posed, to adopt ‘interpres’ as the specific name of the turnstone, I am unable to find
any explanation. I have read over with some care the article ‘Interpres, in the
Latin Lexicon of Facciolati, and the meanings there given to the word in English
are ‘ mediator, umpire, arbitrator, referee, and as the most general, ‘interpreter.’ In
what manner any of these meanings can have a reference to the turnstone, as to its
systematic arrangement, its structure or its economy, it is beyond my ability to see.
Tn his scientific nomenclature, Linneus would seem at times to be capricious, not to
say whimsical.

3078 Birds.

unobserved. I was now distant from them but about ten yards; and

had a distinct and unobstructed view of all their movements. In
these, there was evinced that extraordinary degree of sagacity and
perseverance, which comes under the notice only of those who watch

ae tee

the habits of the lower creation with patience and assiduity, and —

which when fully and accurately related, is not unfrequently discre-
dited by individuals, who, although fond of natural history, seem in-
clined to believe that everything in regard to animals must necessarily
be false, or at least the result of ignorance, unless it has been recorded
in books which are considered as of authority on the subject. But
to return: having got fairly settled down in my pebbly observatory, I
turned my undivided attention to the birds before me. They were
boldly pushing at the fish with their bills and then with their breasts.*
Their endeavours, however, were in vain: the object remained im-
movable. On this they both went round to the opposite side, and
began to scrape away the sand from close beneath the fish. After re-
moving a considerable quantity, they again came back to the spot
which they had left ; and went once more to work with their bills and

* It is consistent with my knowledge that Mr. Edward has never read the account
given by Audubon of the habits of the turnstone. I mention this as a proof, among
others, of the accuracy and minuteness with which he makes his observations. He
is the only European, so far as I have the means of ascertaining, who has described
the efforts which are put forth by the bird in question in cases of difficulty, not only
with its bill, but with its breast also. This interesting particular in its economy had
been already taken notice of, although unknown to him, by the celebrated woodsman
of America. These are his words: “ In several instances when the clusters of oyster-
shells or clods of mud were too heavy to be removed in the ordinary way, they (the
turnstones) would use not only the bill and head, but also the breast, pushing the ob-
ject with all their strength, and reminding me of the labour which I have undergone
in turning over a large turtle.” (Audubon’s ‘ Ornithological Biography,’ vol. iv. p. 32).
It would not appear that much was known by Wilson in regard to the turnstone; for
contrary to his usual practice, instead of giving a full and graphic account of its cha-
racter and habits, he has presented us with a minute, although no doubt an interest-
ing description of the horse-foot, or great king crab (Monoculus Polyphemus), on the
eggs or spawn of which it seems that the turnstone feeds whenever it can, devouring
them with the greatest avidity. (Wilson’s ‘ American Ornithology, Sir W. Jardine’s
edit. vol. ii. p. 325). Audubon is of opinion that in the system of nature the turn-
stone should be placed very near to the oyster catcher (Ze@matopus Ostralegus), as in
their avocations, especially in the grand object of procuring their food, there is a close
resemblance between them. We observe that in the arrangement of Selby, one of
the most judicious, accurate, and observant of our native ornithologists, the turnstone
occupies the place immediately following that of the oyster catcher. (‘ British Ornitho-
logy,’ vol. ii. p. 202).

Birds. 3079

breasts, but with as little apparent success as formerly. Nothing
daunted, however, they ran round a second time to the other side,
and recommenced their trenching operations with a seeming determi-
nation not to be baffled in their object, which evidently was to under-
mine the dead animal before them, in order that it might be the more
easily overturned. While they were thus employed, and after they
had laboured in this manner at both sides alternately for nearly half
an hour, they were joined by another of their own species, which
came flying with rapidity from the neighbouring rocks. Its timely ar-
rival was hailed with evident signs of joy. I was led to this conclu-
sion from the gestures which they exhibited, and from a low but
pleasant murmuring noise, to which they gave utterance as soon as the
new comer made his appearance. Of their feelings he seemed to be
perfectly aware, and he made his reply to them in a similar strain.
‘Their mutual congratulations being over, they all three fell to work ;
and after labouring vigorously for a few minutes in removing the sand,
they came round to the other side, and putting their breasts simulta-
neously to the fish, they succeeded in raising it some inches from the
sand, but were unable to turn it over. It went down again into its
sandy bed, to the manifest disappointment of the three. Resting,
however, for a space, and without leaving their respective positions,
which were a little apart the one from the other, they resolved, it ap-
pears, to give the matter another trial. Lowering themselves with
their breasts close to the sand, they managed to push their bills under-
neath the fish, which they made to rise to about the same height as
before. Afterwards, withdrawing their bills but without losing the ad-
vantage which they had gained, they applied their breasts to the
object. This they did with such force and to such purpose, that at
length it went over, and rolled several yards down a slight declivity.
It was followed to some distance by the birds themselves, before they
could recover their bearing. They returned eagerly to the spot from
whence they had dislodged the obstacle which had so long opposed
them; and they gave unmistakable proof, by their rapid and continued
movements, that they were enjoying an ample repast as the reward of
their industrious and praiseworthy labour. I was so pleased, and
even delighted, with the sagacity and the perseverance which they
had shown, that I should have considered myself as guilty of a crime
had I endeavoured, on the occasion, to take away. life from these in-
teresting beings, at the very moment when they were exercising, in a
manner so happy for themselves, the wonderful instincts implanted in
them by their great and ever merciful Creator. When they appeared

3080 Birds.

to have done and to be satisfied, I arose from my place of conceal-
ment. On examining the fish, I found it to be a specimen of the
common cod (Morrhua vulgaris): it was nearly three feet and a half
long, and it had been embedded in the sand to about the depth of
- two inches.”

_ The second communication from the same individual is marked, if
I mistake not, by a similar character to the first. It evinces great
closeness, patience and minuteness of observation ; and it brings in-
teresting, and so far as I am aware, unrecorded facts to light in the
character and economy of the bird to which it refers.

*‘ Being on the sands of Boyndie one afternoon in the end of Au-
gust, I observed several parties of pickietars* busily employed in
fishing in the Firth.t As I was in want of a specimen of this bird I
loitered about upon the beach, narrowly watching their motions, and
hoping that some of them would come within the range of my gun.
The scene around was of no common beauty. In the azure heaven not
a cloud was to be seen as far as the eye could reach; and not a breath
of wind was stirring the placid bosom of the Firth. The atmosphere
seemed a sea, as it were, of living things; so numerous were the
insects that humimed and fluttered to and fro in all directions. The
sun, approaching the verge of the horizon, shot long and glimmering
bands of green and gold across the broad mirror of the deep. Here
and there were several vessels lying becalmed, their whitened sails
showing strongly in the vivid light. An additional interest was im-
parted by the herring-boats which were congregating in the bay : their
loose and flagging sails, the noise of the oars, and the efforts of the
rowers, told plainly enough that a hard pull would have to be under-
gone before those particular localities were reached where operations
were to be commenced against the finny tribes. While I stood sur-
veying with delight the extended and gorgeous prospect, and wit-
nessing with admiration the indefatigable evolutions of the terns in
their search for food, I observed one of them break off from a party
of five, and direct his course towards the shore, fishing all the way as
he came. It was an interesting sight to behold him as he approached
in his flight, at one moment rising and at another descending, now

* This is the trivial name given along the coast of the Moray Firth to the most
common species of tern which is there to be seen. I am unable, however, positively
to say whether this is the so-called common tern (Sterna Hirundo), or the Arctic tern
(Sterna Arctica).

+ It is the Moray Firth that is here spoken of.

Birds. 3081

poised in mid-air, his wings expanded but motionless, his dark
piercing eye directed to the waters beneath, and watching with eager
gaze the movements of their scaly inhabitants ; and now, as one of
them would ever and anon come sufficiently near to the surface,
making his attack upon them in the manner so thoroughly taught him
by nature. Quick as thought he closed to his side his outspread
pinions; turned off his equilibrium with a movement almost imper-
ceptible ; and with a seeming carelessness, threw himself headlong
into the deep with so great rapidity that the eye could with difficulty
keep pace with the descent. In the least space of time he would be
seen sitting on the water, and swallowing his prey. -This being ac-
complished, he again mounted up into the air. He halts in his pro-
gress. Something has caught his eye. He lets himself down ; but it
is only for a little way, for his expected prey has vanished from his
sight. Once more he soars aloft on lively wing; and having attained
a certain elevation, and hovering kestrel-like for a little with quick
repeated strokes of his pinions, he rapidly descends. Again, how-
ever, his hoped-for victim has made its escape ; and he bounds away
in an oblique direction, describing a beautiful curve as he arises
without having touched the water. Back he came to the very same
spot, chagrined as it would seem at his disappointment, and instantly
made a plunge. Immediately, however, he emerged again, having
been unsuccessful in his dive.* Soon after he winged his way nearer
and nearer to the beach: onwards he advanced with zigzag flight,
when suddenly, as if struck down by an unseen hand, he dropped
into the water within about thirty yards of the place where I was
standing. As he righted and sat on the bosom of the deep, I was in
this manner enabled distinctly to perceive, that he held in his bill a
little scaly captive which he had snatched from its home, and which
struggled violently to regain its liberty. Its struggles were in vain :
a few squeezes from the mandibles of the bird put an end to its ex-
istence. Being now within my reach, I stood prepared for the
moment when he should again arise. This he did so soon as the fish
was despatched. I fired, and he came down with a broken wing,
screaming as he fell into the water. The report of the gun together
with his cries brought the party which he had left, in order that they

* The tern is by no means uniformly successful when it makes a plunge into the
water. This I have ascertained from having dissected one which I killed early in the
morning, after having seen him make five successive plunges. There was nothing in
his stomach save two sanlins, that is, two young sandeels (Am mene Lancea). These
were entire, being only a little bruised.

IX. P

3082 Birds.

might ascertain the cause of the alarm. After surveying their wounded
brother round and round, as he was drifting unwittingly toward the
shore with the flowing tide, they came flying in a body to the spot
where I stood, and rent the air with their deafening screams. These
they continued to utter, regardless of danger and of their own indivi- —
dual safety, until I began to make preparations for receiving the
approaching bird. I could already see that it was a beautiful adult
specimen ; and I expected in a few moments to have it in my posses-
sion, as it was now not far from the water’s edge. While matters were
in this position, I beheld to my utter astonishment and surprise, two
of the unwounded terns take hold of their disabled comrade, one at
each wing, lift him out of the water, and bear him out to sea: they
were followed by the other two. After being carried about six or
seven yards, he was let gently down again, when he was taken hold
of in a similar manner by the two who had been hitherto inactive. In
this way they continued to carry him alternately, until they had con-
veyed him to a rock at a considerable distance, upon which they
landed him in safety. Having recovered my senses I made toward
the rock, wishing to obtain the prize which had been so unceremoni-
ously snatched almost from my very grasp. I was observed, however,
by the terns; and instead of four I had in a short time a whole swarm
about me. On my near approach to the rock, I once more beheld two
of them take hold of the wounded bird as they had done already, and
bear him out to sea in triumph, and far beyond my reach. This, had
I been so inclined, I could no doubt have prevented. In the circum-
stances, however, my feelings would not permit me; and I willingly
allowed them to perform without molestation an act of mercy, and to
exhibit an instance of affection, which man himself might not be
ashamed to copy. I was, indeed, rejoiced at the disappointment
which they had occasioned, for they had thereby rendered me witness
to a scene which [ could not have previously imagined, and which no
length of time will efface from my recollection.”

JAMES SMITH.

Manse of Monquhitter by Turriff, Aberdeenshire,
March 6, 1851.

Birds. 3083

_ Notes on Observations in Natural History during a Tour in Norway.
By the Rev. ALFRED CHARLES Situ, M.A.

(Continued from page 3044).

_ The Black Guillemot (Uria grylle). I had been wandering about
from point to point of the splendid Sogne Fjord, and after a fortnight’s
excursion amidst its beauties, was returning to Lairdalsoren, where
we had left our carrioles and ponies. I generally sat or rather re-
clined on a heap of boughs, after Norwegian custom, at the head of
the boat, with my double-barrelled gun in my hand, ready for any
strange fowl. As we came over this fjord on leaving Lairdalsoren,
the rough weather prevented my using my gun: at times our six oars
could hardly make any way ; at other times, as we shifted our course,
and our men could make the wind at all available, up went the sail,
and we scudded along at a great pace, not without some danger,
owing to the sudden gusts which would almost lay the boat on her
side, while she was half filled with water: our men shouting and
singing and roaring with delight, when, on coming opposite a fresh
gully, a stronger gust than before would catch our sail and drench us:
to the skin: however, notwithstanding their merriment at the wind,
they always took care to hold the sail in their hands, and never to tie
it down ; in order that they might instantly let it go when the gust
came: as, had we been capsized, we should have had but little chance,
the rocks rising up so perpendicularly from the fjord, as to afford no
ledge for landing, not even an inch of projecting rock to seize hold of.
But the day of our return was very different; not a breath of air to
create a ripple on the water, and our poor boatmen obliged to toil at
their oars for eight hours under a burning sun. It was on rounding a
point which disclosed fresh beauties in this glorious fjord, that we
came within shot of the black guillemot: he gave a great deal of sport,
but a great waste of powder and shot, which are valuable commodi-
ties in Norway, as there are very few places where the former can be
obtained fine enough to suit an English nipple, and all the shot comes
from England. However, to proceed with the guillemot: the first
shot wounded him, but so little, that though he could not fly, he
could dive (which he did the instant he saw the flash of the gun), and
when he came up again, after about two minutes, he was generally out
of shot. FElowever, by watching the ripple as he went under, we
could generally see the direction he had taken, and by hard pulling

308 4 Birds.

in that direction, frequently got a shot at him as he rose to the sur-
face ; when in an instant, his beautiful bright red legs were thrown up
and under he went, and so eluded our pursuit for a long time, till a
more successful shot went through his head, and laid him dead upon
the water.

The Redthroated Diver (Colymbus septentrionalis). This bird is
very common in Norway, and may be seen on most of the lakes and
fjords, with which that country abounds. I saw many of them, both
on the inland fresh-water lakes, and on the salt fjords: in the latter,
however, they seem to get high up towards the extreme ends of the
fjord, far into the interior of the country, and many miles from the
sea: here the fjord becomes much like an inland lake, and as large
streams and torrents pour their waters into it on every side, and espe-
cially at the extreme end of every arm, these waters have so great
power over the sea-water, that the fjords at their heads (though still
branches of the sea), have no taste of salt whatever in their waves:
here, and in the inland lakes the redthroated diver retires to breed.
I brought home several skins; and I saw them sailing about on their
lakes, or flying over the water, with their long necks outstretched, and
with a wailing scream, many times; and I can add my testimony to
that of others, that 1 never saw one throughout the summer without
the dark red throat.

The Blackthroated Diver (Colymbus arcticus). I saw this beauti-
ful diver several times ; generally on the lakes which are to be found
on the mountain plateaux: nothing can exceed the dreariness and
coldness of these high mountain lakes; they never seem at any time
in the summer to be secure from snow, and frost, and ice, and cold
biting winds. The blackthroated diver alone seems to prefer the
solitude and wildness of these lakes to those which are lower down
the mountains: here, too, they are seldom disturbed, or even seen by
man. ‘They are magnificent birds, and swim backwards and forwards
upon the lake, of which they have taken possession, with great stateli-
ness and dignity, becoming their rank as “ monarchs of all they sur-
vey,’ a right which we may conclude no one is likely “ to dispute.”
The Laps are very fond of ornamenting their dresses and tobacco-
pouches with the feathers of this bird and of its congener the red-
throated diver. I bought a small bag or pouch made of rein-deer’s
skin, which these Laps had tanned for themselves, and ornamented
with tufts of feathers from these birds.

Lhe Bohemian Waxwing (Bombycilla garrula). From frequent
inquiries of curators of Museums, and others who made natural his-

Birds. 3085

tory either their business or their pleasure, I ascertained that the
Bohemian waxwing is not considered a regular periodical visitor, as
at some seasons he appears in considerable numbers, at others again
not one is to be seen. Sometimes there is an interval of several years
between the arrivals of these beautiful birds, and then (as in 1849
and again in 1850) they may come in very large flocks. I. selected
some specimens out of thirty skins of these birds, all of which had
been knocked down in the Botanical Gardens of Christiania, by the
son of the director, in 1849; but he told me, that previous to that
year, not one had been seen, so far as he could ascertain, for many
years, although of course in a country like Norway, extending over
so vast a space (being about one thousand English miles in length,
from the most southern point to the North Cape), and being so thinly
peopled (the whole population not exceeding a million and a half, or
only three-fourths of the population of London alone), we can easily
conceive, that a very great number of strange birds may appear in
various parts of the country, unnoticed by any one; and especially
when we consider that, excepting in the three towns of Norway
(Christiania, Bergen and Trondhjem), there are scarcely any persons,
who from education, or leisure, or knowledge of the subject, would be
likely to observe what unwonted birds made their appearance ; still
less, to make known such occurrences, did any strange birds thrust
themselves upon their notice. I think I may safely say, the Norwe-
gians are not likely to possess the advantage of such a publication as
the ‘ Zoologist’’ for many a day to come.

The Magpie (Pica caudata). This bird, usually so shy in this
country, and so difficult to approach within gunshot, seems to have en-
tirely changed its character in Norway: it is there the most domestic
and fearless bird: its nest is invariably placed in a small tree or bush
adjoining some farm or cottage, and not unfrequently in the very
midst of some straggling village. If there happens to be a suitable
tree by the roadside, and near a house, it is a very favourite locality
for a Norwegian magpie’s nest. I have often wondered to see the
confidence and fearlessness displayed by this bird in Norway: he will
only just move out of your horse’s way, as you drive by him on the
road ; and should he be perched on the rail by the roadside, he will
only stare at you as you rattle by, but never think of moving off. It is
very pleasant to see this absence of fear of man in Norwegian birds: it
is shared very generally by the feathered tribes there, if we except the
whole order Raptores: for these there isa premium, varying with the
destructive powers of the bird; viz., for eagles, sixty skillings, or two

Ye

3086 Notices of New Books.

shillings and a penny: for owls and hawks, twenty-four skillings, or
ten pence. Consequently it is as difficult to approach these wary
birds in Norway as in England; but with respect to all other tribes
there is none of that persecution, hunting, throwing of stones by idle
boys, or otherwise molesting them, that we so invariably see in
England. A Norwegian would never think of terrifying a bird for
the sake of sport; whilst I fear to see such a bird as the magpie
sitting quietly on a rail within a few feet, would be a temptation for
assault to an English boy which he could not resist. I must add,
however, with regard to magpies, that there is a superstitious prejudice
for them current throughout Norway; they are considered harbingers
of good luck, and are consequently always invited to preside over the
house ; and when they have taken up their abode in the nearest tree,
are defended from all ill: and he who should maltreat the magpie,
has perhaps driven off the genius loci, and so may expect the most
furious anger from the owner of the neighbouring dwelling, whose
good fortune he has thus violently dispersed.

ALFRED CHARLES SMITH.
Old Park, Devizes,
March 4, 1851.

(To be continued).

Notices oF New Books (CONTINUED).

The Naturalist.*

I should be acting in direct opposition to the principle I have
always professed and always advocated, were I not to hail with a
hearty welcome a natural-history periodical, the object of which is
to supply “the wants of that numerous body of naturalists who are
unable to indulge in the luxury of expensive works,” and which there-
fore is published “at a price which will prevent no one being num-
bered among its supporters.” This first number is well printed on
good paper and is illustrated by seven woodcuts, all of them well

* The Naturalist, a Popular Monthly Magazine illustrative of the Animal, Vege-

table and Mineral Kingdoms, with numerous engravings ; conducted by Beverley R.
Morris, Eisq., A.B., M.D., T.C.D., Mem. Wern. Club. London: Gruombridge.

es

Notices of New Books. 3087

executed, the size is royal octavo, and it contains twenty-four large
and closely printed pages, and, finally, the price is only half that of
the ‘ Zoologist.’ From this statement it will, I think, be manifest, that
the ‘ Naturalist’ fulfils almost every condition at which I have for
eighteen years been constantly aiming,—the rendering of natural his-
tory accessible to all: Dr. Morris has, moreover, in his directions to
correspondents done me the honour to follow my own, and the contri-
butions are arranged typographically almost exactly as in the ‘ Zoo-
logist.. There can be no doubt that such a work is likely to interfere
greatly with the sale of the ‘ Zoologist;’ and thus that I shall be di-
rectly a sufferer by its publication: but how is it possible for me to
urge this as an objection ? How inconsistent with the professions and
practice of my whole life, to say one unkind word, or entertain a
hostile feeling on this account! Still, on the other hand, it would
neither be fair nor truthful in me to conceal the fact, that one of the
indispensable conditions of a good popular journal of natural history
seems to me noi to be fulfilled ; and taking this first number as a fair
sample of what the work is designed to be, { fear that the want of
this indispensable condition will be fatal: however, there is no way
so fair as letting a work speak for itself; and I therefore extract for
my ornithological subscribers a few passages taken at random. I
will not even state my objection, but leave my readers to draw their
own conclusions. The especial attention of Mr. Doubleday, Mr.
Yarrell, Mr. Gurney, Mr. Gould, Mr. Fisher, Mr. Hewitson, Mr. Bury,
the Messrs. Matthews, Mr. Milner, Mr. Tomes, Mr. Heysham, &c., is
requested to the subjoined extracts.

1. Female Cuckoo crying “ cuckoo.”

“In the summer of 1850, in the month of July, a hedge accentor
constructed its nest in a holly-hedge, about two feet from the ground,
and about fourteen from an adjoining garden-wall. Immediately on
its being finished, and before the owner of it had time to deposit her
second egg, a cuckoo, which had for some days past been watching
with anxious eye the operations of the accentor, took the opportunity,
during the temporary absence of the said hedge accentor, and quietly
deposited in the nest her egg, which occupied but a few minutes, and
immediately took her departure, uttering at the same time her well-
known cry of cuckoo, cuckoo, in rapid succession to a neighbouring
elm-tree.”—Page 1].

2. Female Cuckoo feeding her young with Abraxas grossulariata.
“Taking my stand not at a great distance from the nest under the

3088 Notices of New Books.

wall alluded to, in a few minutes the old cuckoo flew over the wall to
the nest; I immediately applied a pocket. telescope to my eye and
very distinctly saw the old bird feed its young. This operation I
watched some time every day, creeping nearer and nearer till I could
see distinctly the actual feeding of the young without the aid of tele-
scope or spectacles. I now became anxious to know whence the bird
procured its food, which I imagined from its frequent visits to the
nest, was at no great distance, and of what description it was. Know-
ing the cuckoo to be particularly fond of caterpillars, I walked into
the garden, where there were some gooseberry-bushes covered with
caterpillars of Abraxas grossulariata ; thither I bent my steps, and saw
the cuckoo engaged in clearing the bushes of the caterpillars. When
she had what she considered sufficient for that meal, off she few ina
direct line over the wall, and as if she had been shot, dropped on the
other side, where the hedge in question was.”—Page 11. ~

3. Dipper singing after it was shot.

“‘ At the close of winter, or rather early in spring, whilst following
the windings of a small stream in East Lothian, with my gun on
my arm, I started a dipper, and sent a random shot after it. The
bird appeared to be hit, but it flew on and at length settled on a stone
about a hundred yards distant from me. Favoured by an intervening
bank, I approached within a short distance of the spot; and never
shall I forget the sweet warblings of that little throat as it murmured
above the sound of the purling brook. My anxiety to procure a
specimen caused me again to put up the bird, and I killed it on the
wing ; but when I came to examine the stone where it had been sitting,
and found thereon several drops of blood, I was stung with remorse
to think I had been the means of taking its life. Poor little dipper !
it had actually been singing after receiving a death wound.”—Page 13.

4, Great Black Woodpecker building in a brick wall.

“It is generally supposed by ornithologists that this beautiful
bird is a straggler in Britain. This, however, is not the case, for I
have known it to breed and rear its young in several instances at
Claremount, in Surrey. On one occasion I was anxious to see the
contents of the nest, which had been built in a hole in a brick
wall. The brick had been destroyed from the effects of frost, and
mouldered away. The bird had so completely replaced one of its
own making of clay, with the exception of a small round hole for its
use, it might have been passed by without being seen. My hand
being much larger than the hole, and the clay having become so hard,

Insects. 3089

I was obliged to use a knife to make the hole large enough. Having
satisfied myself I left the eggs. * * * * These birds, I am
almost certain the same pair, made this hole their nest for three
years.’ —Page 20.

3d. Female Cuckoo singing.

“ Between eight and nine one evening in June last, I saw a female
cuckoo flying towards a plantation at Shenriers Bridge, near Totnes,
Devonshire, where I had frequently heard her fine clear liquid notes,
&c.”—Page 22.

6. Martins killing a Sparrow.

“In the summer of 1849, a pair of martins built their nest in an
archway at the stables of Woburn Abbey, Bedfordshire, and as soon
as they finished building it, and had lined it, a sparrow took pos-
session of it, and although the martins tried several times to eject him,
they were unsuccessful, his hard beak being too formidable an obstacle
for the tender beaks of the martins; but they, nothing daunted, left his
lordship the sparrow in full possession, and then flew to scour the
neighbourhood for help, returning in a short space of time with
about thirty or forty martins, who went, or rather flew, in a body to
the sparrow in the nest, and having dragged the unfortunate culprit
out, took him to the grassplot opposite, called the circle, and there
they all fell, pell mell, on him and killed him.”—Page 23.

The other zoological papers are of a similar character, and should
it hereafter prove that I am mistaken as to their value; should they
really be received as sound additions to our knowledge of Nature’s
works; I shall only be too happy in having been the humble means
of giving them greater publicity than they could obtain in the pages
of a journal, which, whatever its ultimate destiny, cannot at present
expect to rival my own in circulation.

EDWARD NEWMAN.

The Tinearist’s Calender for April.—Referring my readers to the last volume of
the ‘ Zoologist’ (Zool. 2788), I have only to add to the species there enumerated, that
the following should now be Jooked for. The larve of Depressaria assimilella and
atomella, on broom, the latter species also on Genista tinctoria; the larve of D. uli-
cetella will probably be found in the shoots of the furze. The larve of Coleophora
albitarsella on Glechoma hederacea (ground ivy), in narrow brown cases. The larva
of C. spissicornis, Iam informed, feeds on Centaurea nigra, that of the beautiful Con-

IX. Q

3090 Zoological Society.

spicuella feeds on Centaurea Jacea. The larve of Elachista Staintoni will be found
mining the leaves of Helianthemum vulgare, and a larva (probably that of E. modes-
tella), feeds in the buds of Stellaria Holostea. The larva or pupa of Lithocolletis
trifasciella will be found in the lowermost leaves of the honeysuckle shoots, and the
larve of L. Messaniella, full grown towards the middle of the month, will be found in
the leaves of the evergreen oak.—H. T. Stainton ; Mountsfield, Lewisham, March
12, 1851. |

Capture of Aepus Robinii in England.—My attention has been lately directed by
Mons. Javet, to a second species of Aepus, which exists amongst the fulvescens of
our British cabinets, and which has been clearly overlooked by collectors as that in-
sect. Its characters, however, are very distinct, and there can be no doubt, when
examined, of the validity of the species in question. It has, indeed, been but lately
separated on the continent, and was described as Aepus Robinii (so named from
Mons. Robin, who first discovered it.on the sea-shore, at Dieppe), by M. Laboulbéne,
in the Ann. de la Soc. Ent. de France, vol. vii. (2iéme série), p. 23. It is the only
species that I have myself ever captured in England, having taken it under stones at
the edges of the Chesil Bank, in May, 1848, on spots below high-water mark, when
left dry by the sea’s retreat. In similar situations M. Javet has captured it (in com-
pany with fulvescens), in the north of England. Its chief distinguishing characters
consist in the shorter, and rather more consistent elytra, dilated greatly at the apex,
and thus forming a striking contrast to the elongate, parallel form of fulvescens. The
thorax also differs, as will be seen on inspection. There is an interesting account of
its habits, with description of the larva, in the eighth vol. of the Ann. de la Soc. Ent.

de France, p. 529, by M. Coquerel— TZ. Vernon Wollaston ; 25, Thurloe Square,
Brompton.

Proceedings of the Zoological Society.

Evening Meeting, February 11, 1851.—W. Yarre tu, Esq., V. P., in the chair.

My. Gray read a paper ‘ On a New Genus and New Family of Cyclosaurian Li-
zards, which he characterized under the name of Iphisade. The type (Iphisa elegans)
‘was obtained by Messrs Wallace and Bates, during their researches in the country
adjacent to Para.

Dr. Kaup communicated a paper ‘ On some New Birds discovered in the Museum
of the Earl of Derby.’ The species were characterized under the following names:
Nisus chionogaster, Harpagus circumcinctus, Saurophagus Derbyanus, Psaris maxi-
mus, P. Fraserii, P. parinus, Tyrannula mexicana, Todiramphus pectoralis, T.
ruficeps.

A paper communicated by Professor Owen, and entitled ‘Contributions towards a
Natural History of British Guiana, by G. R. Bonyan, M.D., was read in part. It
contained an interesting account of the raptorial birds observed by the writer, amount-
ing to about thirty species.

The Meeting adjourned to February 25.

Zoological Society. 3091

Evening Meeting, February 25, 1851.—
Mr. Gould called the attention of the meeting to three hybrid birds which had

_ been placed in his hands by Mr. Leadbeater, with a letter addressed to him concern-

ing them, from Capt. Spicer, of Cottimore. Two of these hybrids were the produce
of a hen golden pheasant and a male of the common species. The third was the pro-
duce of a hen pheasant of the common species and a black cock.

Professor Owen read a paper ‘On the Anatomy of the female wart hog (Phacoche-
rus Gi'thiopicus), recently living in the Society’s Menagerie.’

Dr. Baird communicated a paper, by Dr. Nicholson, of Calcutta, ‘On a New
Species of Crustacean, discovered by him in the wells of that City, in 1846.

Mr. Cuming communicated a paper by W. Metcalf, Esq., ‘On New Species of
Shells received by W. J. Hamilton, Esq., from Borneo.’ They were characterized
under the following names: Helix nasuta, nobis, H. glutinosa, nobis, H. conicoides,
nobis, Cyclostoma Borneensis, nobis, C. undatum, nobis, C. tenuilabiatum, nobis, C.
biciliatum, Auricula subnodosa, nobis, Auricula polita, nobis, Melania circumstridata,
nobis, M. subsuturalis, nobis, Paludina Hamiltoni, nobis, Cerithium unicavinatum,
nobis, Novaculina olivacea, nobis, Cyrena triangularis, nobis.

The meeting adjourned to March 11.

Monthly General Meeting, March 6.—Ricut Hon. Sir Georcre Cuierk, Bart.,
M.P., V.P., in the chair.

Mrs. Remington and E. Robins, Esq., were elected Fellows. W. W. Rawlins,
Esq., and G. M. Fast, Esq., were proposed as candidates for the Fellowship.

The Report of the Council stated that the number of visitors to the Gardens since
the first of January, presented an increase of 7422 over the corresponding period of
last year. The additions to the menagerie during the month of February, included a
Burchell’s zebra, Guanacos, Rusa deer, a sloth, a Stanley crane, and three specimens
of the Jerooftee (Perdix pondicerianus). The latter birds were presented by Mr.
Keith Abbot, Corr. Mem. Z.S., who brought them with him from Persia, expressly
for the Society. Several extensive buildings are in progress at the Gardens, and will
be completed in the early part of April.

March 11, 1851.—J. E. Gray, Esq., F.R.S., in the chair.

Mr. Gould exhibited a drawing of a new species of Phytophaga, made from a
living specimen which had been for nearly twelve years in the possession of Lacy
Rosse, at St. Helena, to which island it had been brought from the west coast of
Africa. The name proposed for this bird, by Mr. Gould, was P. Rossiz.

The Secretary resumed and concluded the reading of Dr. Bonyan’s paper ‘On the
Raptorial Birds of British Guiana.’

- Mr. Newman communicated a paper, entitled ‘Some Remarks on the Synonymy
of Distichocera, a Genus of Australian Longicorn Coleoptera, together with cha-
racters of two species supposed to be previously undescribed.’ The author, after
pointing out the great obligations entomologists are under to the late Mr. Kirby, for
his admirable descriptions of exotic Coleoptera, proceeds to recite the characters as
given by that lamented naturalist to the genus Distichocera, and the species maculi-
collis, and also of those given subsequeutly by Mr. MacLeay, Boisduval, and himself,
to the very different looking insect commonly known as Distichocera fulvipennis. He
then describes both these insects at great length, and gives his reasons for supposing

3092 Zoological Society.

them to constitute but a single species, the chief of which are, that both are taken in
equal abundance in the same localities and at the same season; that the individuals
of maculicollis are invariably male, and those of fulvipennis invariably female (col-
lectors, moreover, have asserted them to be sexes of one species), and that the struc-
ture of the wings and legs is absolutely identical; he considers the extraordinary
antenne of maculicollis to be sexual only, since a similar discrepancy exists in other
longicorn genera, and also in several other orders of Coleoptera: the discrepancy in
colour he considers of little moment, although extremely interesting when carried to
such an excess: he proposes to retain the name of Distichocera maculicollis, although
the genus and species are named from characters possessed by one sex only. The
author next proceeds to describe two unique individuals of opposite sexes, which he
thus associates under the name of

DisticHocera Krrsit.

Mas.—Caput nigrum, longitudinalitér sulcatum ; antenne dimidio corporis lon-
giores, 1l-articulate, articulis 3—10 biramosis, 1lo sesquialtero: prothorax
niger, vittis 2 latis fulvis, dorso inequalis, lateribus medio 1-dentatus: scutel-
lum nigrum: elytra fulva, 5-carinata, apice dehiscentia, singulo truncato,
truncatura bisinuata: pedes nigri, metatibiis bicalcaratis. (Corp. long. 1°15
unc. Elytrorum lat. max. °3 unc.)

Fem.—Caput nigrum longitudinalitér suleatum; antenne dimidio corporis vix
longiores, 1l-articulate articulis 4—8 apice emarginatis: prothorax niger,
vittis 2 latis fulvis, lateribus medio 1-dentatus: scutellum nigrum lateribus
fulvum: elytra fulva, 5-carinata, apice dehiscentia, singulo truncato, trunca-
tura bisinuata: pedes nigri, metatibiis bicalcaratis. (Corp. long. 1°25 une.
Elytrorum lat. max. ‘375 unc.)

Both the specimens are described at greater length in English, and the points in
which they agree are pointed out; while the only important discrepancy in structure,
that of the antenna, is regarded, as in the previous species, that of sex only. A third
species is founded on a unique and mutilated female specimen, which is referred to
the present genus from the general structure, the antenne being entirely wanting,
and the colour much deadened by long immersion in spirits, it is named

DisticHocera MacLeavt.

Fem.—Caput nigrum, fronte ferruginea longitudinalitér sulcata, antenne desunt :
prothorax ferrugineo-lanuginosus, lateribus tuberculatus, haud dentatus: scu-
tellum ferrugineo-lanuginosum, marginibus nigrum, glabrum : elytra ferruginea,
5-carinata, apice vix truncata vix dehiscentia: pedes nigri, metatibiis bicalca-
ratis. (Corp. long. 1°4 unc. Elytrorum lat. max. 5 unc.)

The new species are dedicated to Messrs. Kirby and MacLeay, whose talents and

researches had supplied us with all our previous knowledge of the genus.

Mr. Adams communicated descriptions of several new species of Emarginula from
specimens in the collection of Mr. Cuming.—D. W. M.

Entomological Society. 3093

Proceedings of the Entomological Society.

March 3, 1851.—J. O. Westwoop, Esq., President, in the chair.

The following donations were announced, and thanks ordered to be given to the
donors thereof: ‘ Linnea Entomologica, v. Band; ‘ Entomologische Zeitung, Janu-
ary and February; by the Entomological Society of Stettin. ‘The Zoologist’ for
March ; by the Editor. ‘ Proceedings of the Berwickshire Naturalists’ Club, vol. iii.
No. 1; by the Club. ‘Transactions of the Zoological Society,’ vol. iv. Part 1; by
the Zoological Society. ‘Mémoires de Academie Royale des Sciences, des Lettres
et des Beaux-arts de Belgique, tomes xxiv. and xxv. 1850 ; ‘ Mémoires Couronnées
et Mémoires des Savants étrangers, tome xxiii. 1848—50 ; ‘ Bulletin de Académie
Royale, tome xvi. 2me partie, 1849, tome xvii. lre partie, 1850 ; ‘ Annuaire de l’Aca-
démie Royale, 1850; *Catalogue des Livres de la Bibliotheque de YAcademie
Royale ; ‘ Histoire Naturelle des Polypes composés, deau douce;’ ‘Mémoire de
Chimie et la Physiologie Végétale, 1849; ‘ Exposé Générale de Agriculture Lux-
embourgeoise, both by Henry le Docte; ‘ Mémoire sur la Paupérisme dans les Flan-
dres, par E. Ducpetiaux, 1850 ; all presented by the Academie Royale de Belgique.
Five species of Foreign Coleoptera, found alive in a warehouse in Glasgow; by J.
Scott, Esq. Two boxes of insects, collected near Baltimore, United States, by R.
H. Spence, Esq., and presented by him. A small hornet’s nest, with a queen hornet,
and four young ones reared from her eggs; by H. W. Newman, Esq., Stroud.

It was announced that copies of the President's Address at the Anniversary
Meeting were on the table for distribution among the members; also that Part 4,
vol. i. n.s. of the Society’s ‘ Transactions’ was ready.

The President informed the Meeting that larve of one of the CEstride had been
found on the rein-deer in the Zoological Society's Garden ; probably of Gidemagena
Tarandi, or Cephenemyia trompe ; and it was hoped they would be reared.

The following account of a hornet’s nest, at New House, Stroud, Glo’stershire, by
H. W. Newman, Esq., was read.

“At the end of the month of May, 1850, I placed an empty bee-hive on a board,
on a bench in the garden, in expectation of a swarm of bees; the bees did not swarm
as expected. On the 3rd of June, I took up the hive to examine it, and found some
curious matter adhering to the top, inside, like part of a cork-screw, this I unfortu-
nately (being in a hurry) broke off, and threw down the piece, about an inch long,
without examining it. Next day, while I was watching my bees, a large queen hornet
came to the empty hive and entered it; at first I thought of killing her, but finding
that she remained about ten minutes in the hive, I let her alone; she went out,
making her observations all round. I then recollected the piece of curious substance
which [ had thrown away; searched for it and found it: it was the foundation of
three cells, and on examining it, found there was an egg in each of the cells at the
bottom; the cells had not any sides at the time, being quite open. The queen hornet*
seemed determined still to occupy the hive; she began the same day, and rebuilt all
that I had unfortunately thrown down; I watched her day by day, and in about six
weeks she had completed nearly twenty cells, and then formed a sort of covering like

oe a ae ee ee ee ees

* It is rather surprising that she did not forsake the hive when all her eggs were
destroyed, for she had to begin de novo.

3094 Entomological Society.

thin brown paper, nearly egg-shaped, about three inches long, open at the bottom.
. The comb was suspended by the integument on which the thread is tied. In about
thirty-five days from the time the second batch of eggs was laid, two young hornets
were hatched, and there were then about a dozen grubs of various sizes in the other
cells ; nearly all the cells had an egg or a grub (two or three remain now in different
stages of development): only two or three more young ones were hatched, but the
queen mother, at different intervals, carried out at least a dozen live grubs* and
dropped them generally near the hive. The weather was showery and variable during
the whole summer here, a hill country, and the esprit de corps of the queen seemed to
be guided by the heat and cold; in a hot sunny day (of which there were but few),
she seemed much more alive, and seldom remained absent more than from twenty to
twenty-five minutes, working until the clock struck nine at night; there was some-
times just light enough for her to find the hive.t I had not the least fear of her, and
used to sit within two yards of the hive she occupied ; my wife frequently was with me,
and was not the least afraid.

“ On some of the stormy days, the hornet frequently remained out for two and three
hours, and at one time I fancied she had been destroyed, for I visited the hive two
days in July, nearly every hour, and remained waiting for a long time and never saw
her, but on one of these evenings she came in at nine o’clock quite exhausted, so
much so, that she fell short among some potatoes, and I was obliged to assist her to
the hive. ‘The queen worked from the entrance made for the bees ; the young hornets
worked very little, went out very seldom, and after four were hatched two died. The
queen, in the beginning of September, became so weak that she used to fall two or
three times when she first went out; so fearing she would be lost, I determined to
kill her and the only two young ones left alive; these are the ones sent in the box.
I regret that the outer part, or round covering, was broken in endeavouring to cut
the nest from the crown of the hive with a pen-knife. The queen has shrunk in
size nearly one third, and about half an inch in length since her death ; her sting is
partly out. Hornets do not act offensively until they become numerous ; I frequently
turned up the hive when they were all in, and they generally attempted to escape, but
never to attack me; plainly verifying the old saying, “‘ certain persons are not so black
as they are painted.” I assure you that my pet hornets caused a good deal of surprise
to some of my neighbours who saw them.

‘“‘ Hornets appear to be originally natives of a warmer climate than England ; in
Scotland none were ever seen alive, and I believe in the northern counties none are to
be seen; they are not nearly so hardy as the wasps, nor are they of so predatory a
disposition. In 1848, when I lived at Thornbury Park, I had a strong hornet’s nest
in the top of one of my hay-stacks, within seventy-five yards of my bees, the hornets
never attacked the bees nor even my wall-fruit, which was plentiful; my cows and
sheep used to be within five yards of the nest nearly every day, and they never were
stung.

* T can only account for this by supposing that the want of sun prevented the
mother-hornet from finding sufficient food for the grubs.

+ Several times after nine o’clock she arrived, and it was so dark that T only knew
it by hearing her superb “ boom” as she flew to the entrance: the hum of the hornet
is very magnificent, it is quite peculiar and different from the large Apis terrestris
(queen), which is next to it in grandeur.

Entomological Society. 3095

“ | found the hornets very fund of an exudation from the bark of a very old, decayed,
but growing elm ; every day, for a month, they were to be found about six feet from
the ground, settling and biting at the moist parts; it may have been the substance
from which they made their combs.

“ In general hornets build in the hollow parts of old trees; I have seen them in
apple-trees, elm-pollards, and now and then in the roofs of old, uninhabited houses
and barns, or in a hay-stack.”

The President, referring to the observation that hornets did not attack bees, said
that he knew a garden at Hammersmith, in which once were two bee-hives, two wasps’
nests, and two hornets’ nests, and the different inhabitants did not molest each other.

Mr. 8. Stevens exhibited a moth, Orthostixis catenaria, Hubn., a North American
species, and a letter from Mr. Hemming, of Brighton, was read, stating that it
came from the collection of Mr. Thorncroft, who believed he took it at Eastbourne.

Mr. Stevens also exhibited two specimens of the New Holland Longicorn beetle,
Phacodes Mossmanni, Newman; and a Curculio from Brazil, with some spine-like
fungi attached.

The President said that on examining some seed-pods of furze, he found in one,
besides specimens of Oxystoma Ulicis, a cocoon, in which was a grub belonging he
thought to some Hymenopterous parasite upon Oxystoma. In aseed-pod of Lathyrus
pratensis he had lately found a larva and a pupa, which had not yet been perfected,
but which he imagined were those of an Apion.

Mr. Douglas exhibited a stem of common dock, containing larve of a Pemphredon
or Cemonus, placed one above the other at the bottom of a burrow about four inches
long, at the top of which was a hole by which they would make their escape when
perfect, and which was now closed by whitish papery film.

The President read the following descriptions of two new butterflies, and the cha-
racters of the new genus he proposed for Papilio Telamon, Donovan.

Sericinus, Westwood.

Genus novum e familia Papilionidarum, Teinopalpo et Thaidi affine.

Caput mediocre anticeé hirsutum ; palpi labiales capite fere duplo longiores sub-
horizontaliter porrecti; hirti nec setis longis ut in Thaide instructi; antenne
vix clavate, articulis circiter 30 sensim incrassatis, articulis 10 ultimis paullo
brevioribus. Ale antice triangulariter ovate apice rotundate, vena post-costali
4-ramosa ramis simplicibus, lmo et 2do ante apicem aree discoidalis emissis,
3tio ad ejus apicem emissa, 4to in medio spatio inter apicem aree discoi-
dalis et apicem ale ; vena disco-cellularis supera brevissima; media multo
longiori in medio augulata angulo versus basin alarum spectanti; vena disco-
cellularis infera breviori, cum apice vene mediane fere continua, et spatio
inter hujus ramos 2dum et 3tium longitudine fere equali. Ale postice subo-
vales, margine externo vix repando ramo tertio vene mediane in caudam lon-
gissimam at valde angustam producto; vena precostali apice furcata, vene
costalis basi cum basi vene post-costalis connexa, cellulam parvam predis-
coidalem efficiente. Abdomen femine absque lobis membranaceis Doritidum.

Typus Papilio Telamon, Donovan.

Has.—Shanghai, China, D. Fortune.

In Mus. Britann. et Westw.

3096 Entomological Society.

THaumantis Howeva, Westwood.

T. alis supra fulvis omnium serie subapicali lunularum nigrarum valde curvatarum,
maculis hastiformis nigris in alis posticis majoribus, anticé adjectis ; alis infra
luteo fulvis strigis duabus obliquis irregulariter sinuatis 1ma ante et 2da pone
medium alarum anticarum, et ante et per medium posticarum, extensis externa —
e costa fere ad angulum analem ducta ubi recurrat; nubila recta obliqua fusca
submedia ad angulum analem extensa, macula grisea terminata ; alis anticis
ocellis tribus, posticis quinque rufis, pupilla alba iride tenui nigra, strigisque
duabus parallelis vix angulatis prope marginem apicalem. Mas.

Has.—Shanghai, China, D. Fortune.

In Mus. Britann.

Drvsitta Mytacua, Westwood.

D. alis niveis, omnium utrinque costa nigricantis posticis subtus ocellis duobus
magnis equalibus nigris pupilla minima alba circulo latiori fulvo, alteroque
tenui nigro circumcinctis, capite thoraceque subtus nigris; palpis fulvis; ab-
domine lutescenti. Mas et foom.

Has. in Insulis Louissiadis maris Indici, D. Mae Gillivray.

In Mus. Britann.

The President also read ‘ Descriptions of Three New Genera of Exotic Coleoptera
remarkable for possessing an external resemblance to ‘groups to which they do not
belong.’ The first species, Paromia Dorcoides, from Columbia, unique in the cabinet
of M. Reich, in Paris, has in fact been mistaken for a small species of Lucanide, to
which family, however, it only bears a relation of analogy, iis affinity being to the
genus Ips. The second species, Cossyphodes Wollastoni, of which only a single spe-
cimen was found by Mr. Wollaston, under a stone, at Madeira, has a very close prima
facie resemblance to the heteromerous genus Cossyphus ; while it is among the genera
originally placed by Latreille among the Xylophaga, but separated therefrom by Mac-
Leay and introduced among the Necrophaga, that we must look for its true relations.
The third species, Eucheta Scaritides, in his own collection, from New Zealand, re-
markable for the long sete on its sides, appears by its slender filiform antenne and
general form to belong to the Scaritide; but it is really most nearly related to
Trogosita.

Mr. Stainton exhibited a species of Tineide, forming the type of a new genus very
near to Pterolonche of Zeller ; he proposed to call the insect Limnecia Phragmitella.
It was captured by Mr. S. Stevens, in the marshes at Hammersmith, and a specimen
is in the collection of Mr. Shepherd.

Mr. Stainton exhibited, on the part of Mr. Logan, a drawing of a new species
of Lithocolletis; and read a description of the insect under the name of L. nigrescen-
tella, Logan.

M. Stainton also exhibited a new Tinea, taken flying in the streets of Liverpool,
by Mr. C. 8. Gregson. Mr. Stainton proposed for it the name of pallescentella—
aa os

Microscopical Society. 3097

Proceedings of the Microscopical Society of London.

Anniversary Meeting, February 12, 1851.—Dr. Arruur Farre, in the chair.

The Assistant Secretary read the following Report of the Council :—

“ According to annual custom, the Council have to make the following Report on
the state and progress of the Society during the past year. The number of Members
at the last Anniversary was, Ordinary Members, 141; Associates and Honorary, 5 ;
giving a total of 146. Since that time there have been elected 20, making a total of
166. This number must, however, be reduced by 3,—2 deceased and 1 resigned,
making a final total of 163; being an increase of 17 upon the number at the last
Anniversary. The rooms have been opened on Wednesdays during the session, under
the usual regulations. The Cabinet of Objects and the Library have been increased
by various donations. There are also in the possession of the Society various Draw-
ings and Diagrams, relating chiefly to papers read at the meetings of the Society ;
together with copies of the several parts of the ‘Transactions. The Council have
also to state, that the arrangements made for facilitating the mutual exchange of Ob-
jects among the Members, have been found extremely beneficial, not only to those
making such exchanges, but also to the Society itself. They have also to express
their regret, that the privilege enjoyed by the Members of making use of the Society’s
Instruments, &c., on the Wednesiay, has not been so fully appreciated by them during
the past year as the Council could have desired.”

The Assistant Secretary read the following Report of the Auditors :—

“ We have examined the Treasurer's Account for the past year with the vouchers,
and find the balance in hand to be £85 6s. 10d., the whole of which is at the
bankers’.”

The President then addressed the meeting, giving a retrospect of the past year,
which included those abstracts of papers which have already appeared in the ‘ Zoo-
logist,’ and congratulating the Society on its present state and future prospects.

The ballot was then taken for the election of Officers for the ensuing year, when
Dr. Arthur Farre was elected President ; N.B. Ward, Esq., Treasurer ; John Quekett,
Esq., Secretary ; Mr. John Williams, Assistant Secretary ; and Messrs. Gosse, Hand-
ford, Lankester and Woodward, new members of Council.

March 19, 1851.—Dr. Antuur Farre, President, in the chair.

A paper by George Shadbolt, Esq., entitled ‘ Observations upon Oblique Ilumi-
nation, with a description of the author’s Sphero-annular Condenser,’ was read.

After some preliminary remarks, Mr. Shadbolt stated that the subject of oblique
illumination might be considered as comprehended under two distinct heads, viz., il-
lumination by oblique light on one side only, and illumination by opposing rays, so
as to obviate any shadow. The former mode has been long employed by micro-
scopists, but the latter has been suggested and carried out only recently, by Mr.
Wenham, in his parabolic condenser. The author considered that by far the most
advantageous mode of applying the first of these methods, was by means of the
cleverly constructed prism of M. Nachet, the effects of which are far superior to the
old method of turning the mirror on one side, and the instrument also possesses some

IX. R

3098 Insects.

other obvious advantages. In this method of observing objects the minute ridges are
rendered clearly visible by means of their shadows. But in order to view certain ob-
jects in the most advantageous manner, it is desirable to get rid of the shadow
entirely, and this, as well as a far more brilliant illumination, is effected by the para-
bolic condenser constructed by Mr. Wenham, which is fully described in a late part
of the Society's ‘ Transactions.’ There are, however, certain practical difficulties in
constructing a paraboloid correctly, which render it by no means an easy task, and
the author was in consequence induced to devise his annular condenser, also described
in a recent part of the ‘Transactions.’ Still, however, the action was not perfectly
satisfactory, and Mr. Shadbolt, after many trials, has succeeded in producing an ar-
vangement of spherical curves, one centre only being excentric, which fully answers
his expectations and is easy of manufacture, this he names the sphero-annular con-
denser. It consists of a portion cut off from a sphere of glass, the lower part being
flat and parallel to the object, and the upper surface concave. Its action is as
follows :—The light is reflected from the surface of the plane mirror in parallel rays,
which falling perpendicularly on the base of the condenser, suffer no refraction, but
pass on to the convex surface of the sides, where, as the angle of incidence is in no
case less than 45°, they are totally reflected, and thus brought to a focus in the best
place for producing this kind of illumination. Diagrams explaining the principles of
the construction of this instrument and the mode of its action were also exhibited
and described.

A paper by H. Deane, Esq., ‘On a New Medium for Mounting Fresh or Moist
Animal and Vegetable Structures, was also read.

After enumerating various disadvantages found in mounting objects, both in the
fluids hitherto employed and in Canada balsam, the author went on to describe a
substance which, in his opinion, would entirely obviate the greater part, if not the
whole of these, and which also appears to possess all the qualities required in a me-
dium for mounting objects in the modes referred to. It is composed of the following
ingredients :—Gelatine, 1 oz. ; water, 4 oz. ; honey, 4 oz. ; rectified spirits of wine, 4 oz. ;
kreosote, 6 drops. The gelatine is to be soaked in water until soft; the honey is to be
raised to the boiling heat in another vessel and added to the moist gelatine; the whole
is then to be made boiling hot; when it has somewhat cooled, but is still perfectly
fluid, the kreosote and spirits of wine, previously mixed together, are to be added; the
whole is to be filtered through fine flannel. When cold the composition is in the
form ef a very stiff jelly, which on being slightly warmed becomes perfectly fluid. He
concluded with some practical directions for its use, and also by an enumeration of
some of its advantages over former media for mounting objects.—J. W.

Observations on the Generic Names of Lepidoptera adopted in the Museum Cata-
logue.-—Having received numerous letters respecting the discrepancies between the
genera in my list of Lepidoptera and those adopted by my friend J. F. Stephens, in
his recently published Museum Catalogue, I feel compelled to say a few words on the
subject, as the difference principally arises from Mr. Stephens having adopted the
names employed by Hubner, in his ‘ Verzeichniss bekanter Schmetterlinge.’ I cannot
do better than give an extract from a letter, received about two years since, from my
kind and valued friend M. A. Guenée :—* I wish to make a few observations respect-

4

Insects. 3099

ing the Verzeichniss of Hubner, a work out of date, and which no other entomologist
has mentioned to me hitherto. M. Boisduval and others have done justice to this
strange production, where the species most nearly allied are separated by an immense
space, and where the most unlike are brought together notwithstanding the immense
host of genera which he has created. I may prove this by recalling to your mind
that the Catocale nupta, sponsa, electa, convera and neonympha, form, with this
author, five different genera; that Bryophila lupula and ravula, the caterpillars of
which scarcely differ from those of Alge and Glandifera, are united in the same genus
with Erastria fuscula and atratula, the larve of which are almost geometers ; and
that Latona and fluctuosa of Cramer, two species as closely allied as Dictea and
Dictzoides, are each at the end of a different genus, where one is united with Ma-
crops, and the other with Crepuscularis !—but all this is nothing after the Diurna and
other families. Still I do not say that this detestable work contains nothing good ;
but I say that it deserves to be forgotten and remain unnoticed, as it has been till
lately, when some attempts have been made to bring it forward. The barbarous
names which he has given to his tribes ought not to have any weight; and if I bor-
row a name from the Verzeichniss it is only to save myself the trouble of creating
another, and I do not consider myself at all obliged to keep to the other denomina-
tions, which all his compairiot authors have rejected, with just reasons till the present
time. I regret to be obliged to extend to Mr. Stephens the critique which I have
made on the genera of Hiibner; take for example his genus Margaritia in the ‘ Illus-
trations, in that are huddled together species as different as these, diversalis, cinc-
talis, ferrugalis, punctalis and prunalis; while two such closely-allied species as
Nymphealis and Stratiotalis, form two genera (Hydrocampa and Paraponyx), sepa-
rated by a third (Cataclysta Lemnalis), which has no more right to form a distinct
genus. Why use such barbarous names as Paracolax, Colobochyla, Hypsopygia, Bo-
molocha, &c., when these tribes have already names universally adopted and much
more euphonious ; and why, if he does use them, does he not adopt the whole of the
names in the Verzeichniss? Take care then, my dear friend, how you adopt in your
catalogue the names from this work, and be assured that such an adoption will not be
approved by your successors in Entomology.” In January last, I sent a copy of Mr.
Stephens’ Catalogue to Guenée, and received a letter soon after with the following
remarks: “I am much obliged to you for the British Museum Catalogue, it will be
useful to me for the English synonyms. You have good reason to disapprove of the
deluge of names of genera which the author has extracted from Hubner’s Verzeich-
niss, a work defunct as soon as it came to light: with such a system we should soon
have as many genera as species, or even more; for Hubner sometimes places the
male in one genus and the female in another. I cannot understand the love which the
English and German entomologists have suddenly taken for this senseless work.”
As many readers of the ‘ Zoologist’ have probably never seen Hubner’s work, I may
just give his divisions of the Lepidoptera :—

Ordo.

PHALANGES.

Tribus.

STIRPES.

Famiiz.

Coirus, synonymous with our genera.

GENERA, synonymous with our species.

3100 Insects.

But the characters of his divisions called “ Coitus” are in many instances drawn
solely from colour and markings, and consequently species differing entirely in struc-
ture are brought together. The characters given of Rhyparia are “ Wings covered
with drop-shaped spots,’ and Hiibner includes in this Corrus, Grossularia and Mela-
naria only, two species as dissimilar as possible, the former with simple, the latter
with strongly pectinated antenna, in fact a true Fidonia; while Ulmaria is placed in
Corrus Calospilos, and Corrus Panthera interposed between. Bombyx Coryli (Linn.)
is placed in Coitus Colocasia along with Noctua Scoriacea of Esper, a species closely
allied to Viminalis, and the green smooth larva of which resides in curled sallow-
leaves, and this Corrus is interposed between Acronycta, containing one species, Le-
porina, and Pharetra, containing two species, Auricoma and Menyanthidis. In
many cases where Mr. Stephens has adopted Hibner’s names for genera, the species
included give no idea of the original group. I will confine myself to the Pyrales ;
take the genus Mesographe, in the Museum Catalogue, it contains but one species,
forficalis ; but Hubner includes seven species in that Corrus, of which forficalis is the
fifth : and why this is picked out to bear the name alone I do not know; it might
with as much justice be applied to Asinalis, the last of these seven discordant species.
The same remarks apply to Epicorsia and several other genera.—Henry Doubleday ;
Epping, March 18, 1851.

Descriptions of Larve of Sphingides, with occasional Notes on some of the rarer
European Species.—Having had the opportunity of rearing many of the European
Sphingides, and remarking the varieties in the larvee of some species, I will insert a
few lines concerning them in this publication, thinking they may be interesting to
some of our entomologists. Dr. Boisduval divides them into six genera, Macroglossa,
Pterogon, Deilephila, Sphinx, Acherontia and Smerinthus. The first of these, the
genus Macroglossa, contains four species, according to him, the first of which is the
M. Fuciformis. The larva of this insect is found during the latter end of June and
beginning of July, on honeysuckles, such as Lonicera Caprifolium and L. Periclyme-
num, &ec. I will just here mention, that all the remarks I shall make will hold good
for Switzerland, for it is in that country that I reared those I am about to describe.
The larva is elongated and covered with small tuberculous spots, which give it a
rough or granulated appearance: when full grown, about two inches in length, of a
bright green colour, speckled with pale yellow tuberculous spots, getting lighter on the
back ; a darker green dorsal line, and a pale yellow longitudinal line on either side,
which terminates at the horn: horn brownish purple and minutely granulated: head
round, green, and minutely speckled with whitish green; mandibles light brown :
abdomen chocolate-colour, or brownish purple or violet: stigmata scarlet: thoracic
legs pink, tinged with plum-colour; prolegs brownish violet, tipped with grayish fawn-
colour. There is a narrow yellow line just behind the head. The edges of the anus are
bordered by a yellow line. When the caterpillar is about to undergo its change into
the pupa state, it turns to a deep brownish purple colour. The imago flies about
during the day. M. stellatarum: the larva of this insect is found in July, on the
Galium Mollugo. It is elongated to about two inches. Head round: anal horn
straight: ground colour bright green, speckled with small white spots: a straw-co-
loured lateral line, bordered by dark green: a pale yellowish white longitudinal line,
bordered above by darker green on either side of the back, terminating at the base of
the horn: a dark green dorsal line, slightly bordered by yellowish green: head green :
horn dark purple, tipped with yellow-ochre, and covered with small, black, tubercu-

Insects. 3101

lous spots: sides of anus bordered by a yellow line: thoracic legs pinkish orange :
prolegs green, tipped with pale violet, and a shining patch, half black and half
_ greenish yellow on each: stigmata black: abdomen green, with a dusky ventral line.
When young, they are altogether much paler: the pale spots and lines sometimes
hardly distinguishable. When about to undergo their transformation into pupe, they
turn to a brownish lilac colour, tinged with green; the dorsal and lateral lines gene-
rally disappear, and the longitudinal line, which joins the base of the horn, turns to a
bright pink colour: the small spots remain white. Two specimens were brought to
me from Mornez (Lausanne), on the 13th of June, 1847, corresponding in every re-
‘spect to the above description, excepting the stigmata, which were of the same colour
as the thoracic legs, and bordered by black. I have always found the larva of this
insect on the Galium Mollugo, which is found growing on old walls exposed to the
sun, and it is against such walls that I have chiefly found the imago flying. Flies by
day. These are the only Macroglosse that I have reared from larve. The next genus,
Pterogon, contains two species, one of which I have frequently reared, viz., the P.
(Enothere. The curious larva of this uncommon insect is found during the months
of June, July, August and September, on the Epilobium hirsutum. The following is
the description of it: larva elongated, from two to two and a quarter inches in length:
_ head round: a round, shining spot, or ring, on the penultimate segment, in the place
of the horn of other Sphingides: very variable in colour. The back is generally thickly
spotted with black, or dark gray. The sides have generally a series of oblique, black
stripes, partly composed of black spots, one on each segment, and on which the stig-
mata are placed: stigmata orange-red and bordered by black, partly surrounded above
by light blue: the anal spot is of a shining yellow-ochre, bordered by deep brown and
with a shining dark brown pupil: the body is transversely wrinkled with dark gray:
head olive, gray, or green: escutcheon the same as head: thoracic legs pale grayish
white, tipped with brown ; prolegs vary according to the colour of the body, but
always tipped with brown or with dark gray: abdomen pale, and varying according
to the ground colour, and sometimes with a series of dusky spots down the middle:
the lower part of sides is generally more or less streaked with brown. When young,
they are generally green, covered with minute yellowish spots, with a pale yellowish
longitudinal line on either side of back: anal spot green: stigmata small, and light
orange: head green: thoracic legs pale yellowish green: prolegs green, tipped with
dark brown: abdomen green: the anal circular spot is rather elevated above the sur-
face of the body. This larva is difficult to rear, and appears like a little short ser-
pent. It sometimes eats the flowers of the Epilobium hirsutum. I have never found
it on any other plant, nor on any other species of Epilobium than the E. hirsutum.
Boisduval enumerates nineteen species as belonging to the genus Deilephila, some of
which I shall describe in the larva state, beginning with the D. Elpenor. The larva of
this species is found in July and August, feeding on the Epilobium hirsutum ; and
sometimes on the vine (Vitis vinifera). The caterpillar is elongated, and attenuated
anteriorly. The three anterior segments are extended or contracted, according as the
caterpillar is feeding, walking, or ina state of repose. When contracted they are drawn
into the fourth segment. When full grown the larva is about three inches long. The
head is small and globular: anal horn small: the ground colour varies from a fine
apple-green to dark brown, variously variegated with small dusky lines. The dark
individuals have much resemblance to the colour of the Spanish radish. The sides
of the fourth and fifth segments are each ornamented with a large eye-like spot of a

3102 Quadrupeds.

shining black colour (ocellus), on the upper half of which is a large reniform spot of a
light grayish olive colour, lighter towards the sides. Also two dark oblong patches
on either side of the third segment, from which proceed two dusky longitudinal lines
towards the head. There are also faint traces of a dusky dorsal line. There is ge-
nerally an interrupted longitudinal line on either side, ina line with the ocelli. Some-
times there are traces of a dusky interrupted lateral line: and often (especially in the
darker individuals) there is a series of pale oblique stripes. In the dark individuals, !
the anterior segments are of a much lighter colour than the others. Horn dark
brown, or black tipped with white, with two short, dark, oblique stripes joining the
base of it: head, abdomen and prolegs, varying according to the colour of the body :
thoracic legs pale flesh-colour: stigmata brownish yellow, bordered by black, but va-
riable. These larve are generally found on the Epilobium hirsutum, which grows
along the borders of ponds and ditches, rather than on the Vitis vinifera, or common
vine.—H. L. de la Chaumette ; Church Street, Stoke Newington, March 15, 1851.

Larva of Pterophorus trigonodactylus.—I observe in the ‘ Zoologist’ (Zool. 3064),
Mr. Stainton inquires, do the larve of Pterophorus trigonodactylus feed on the leaves
of Tussilago Farfara? Of this I am perfectly satisfied. Some nine or ten years
since, then residing on Clapham Common, I had a piece of rather neglected ground
which produced a most luxuriant crop of the above plant; amongst the leaves of
which I took a number of specimens of P. trigonodactylus. Some time afterwards,
the larve of the moth were in great abundance, feeding on the under side of the
leaves. Requiring the ground for a better purpose, I had the Tussilago entirely era-
dicated, subsequent to which I have not seen the insect alive-—C. Wood; Wands-
worth Common, March 17, 1851.

Capture of a new Curculio—In the New Forest, near Wallis’s enclosure, in the
last week in May, 1850, I took a Curculio, on the bole of a felled oak, stripped of the
bark, which Mr. Walton has been so good as to examine, and pronounces to be Tra-
choides hispidus, a genus placed by Schonherr near Orchestes, and quite new to this
country. I believe Mr. Walton will deseribe it—J. Walker; Chesterfield, March
14, 1851.

New Localities for Tetratoma Desmaretsit.—February 25th, 1850, I captured under
the bark of a decayed arm of an old oak, in Hardwick Park, Derbyshire, one specimen
of Tetratoma Desmaretsii; and September 10th and 30th, obtained one more each
day. October 15th, I took another specimen in Chatsworth Park; no doubt it would
be found in many situations if well looked for. April 23rd, 1850, bred from bits of
oak-bark and wood brought from Hardwick during the spring, a pair of Hallomenus
flexuosus of Curtis.—Id.

Stoat in White Coat.—The stoat (Mustela erminea), has been repeatedly seen at
Selborne, in its pure winter dress, and in various states intermediate between the —
summer and winter dress. This, with the exception of Cornwall, as recorded by Mr.
Couch, is, I believe, the most southern point at which this change has been observed.
T. Bell ; Selborne.

Quadrupeds. 3103

Notes on Observations in Natural History during a Tour in Norway.
By the Rev. ALFRED CHARLES SMITH, M.A.

(Continued from page 3086).

THE Reindeer, (Cervus Tarandus). 1 had started to see the two
falls of the Feigum Foss, and had climbed above the lower fall (where
the torrent, being a considerable body of water, makes a clear jump
over the rock of about 250 feet, and is the most elegant waterfall I
have seen), and was proceeding some miles up the mountain, to the
upper fall (which, though not nearly so high, is very beautiful), when
my companion, a Norwegian officer, learned from the peasant who
acted as our guide, that within about twenty miles of us there was a
herd of tame reindeer and their masters, a family of Laps or Fins.
This being a sight I was particularly anxious to see, and having at
that time never seen a reindeer, tame or wild, I made arrangements
with my friend the captain to go in search of them. And so, having
with a stone beaten a bullet into the form of a pencil, and with that
rude implement written to our friends below, to send us up more am-
munition and provisions for several days, we sent back our guide, and
proceeded to shoot ptarmigan on the fjeld. That night we slept, or
rather attempted to sleep, at a mountain log-hut, called “ sceter,” but
so abominably filthy was the hut, that tired though we were witha
day’s mountaineering, we preferred sitting over the fire to lying down.
At two o’clock, A. M., our guide returned with the provisions, &c., and
as the sun was high in the heavens, we soon started off again. We
had not walked many miles before we came upon a small detachment
of the herd of reindeer, viz., three fine old bucks, which were brows-
ing on the mountain side. They were tolerably tame, and allowed us
_to approach within fifty or sixty yards. They were glorious animals,
with splendid branching antlers, and had a great air of dignity as well
as elegance; they never rested quietly in one spot for a moment, but
walked on at a fast pace, and as they went, picked up the scanty moss
which seems to be their only food, and which was only to be found in
very little pieces, scattered here and there. ‘Truly they must march
over a great extent of ground to procure a meal. We were obliged to
walk after them as fast as we could, to watch their motions, though they
evidently did not quicken their usual pace through any alarm at us.
They are very peculiar in appearance: the most striking parts are the
nose and feet; the upper lip is enormously thick, and projects beyond

3104 Quadrupeds,

the lower one ; this, at a short distance, makes the face appear very
long, and the large round black nose looks like a deformity or an ac-
cidental swelling, I can only compare it to a cannon-ball half embed-
ded in the upper lip; no doubt this projection enables them the more
easily to turn up the snow and seize the moss upon which they feed.
The feet, being very large and splayed, look strangely disproportion-
ate to the legs, which are elegant ; they much resemble cows’ hoofs,
and must be admirably adapted for crossing soft snow, the large wide
foot presenting a piéce de résistance, where the smaller feet of other
deer must necessarily sink in: their track across the snow more re-
sembles that of a large ox than of adeer. But though the feet are so
formed that they spread out when placed on the snow, and cover a
large surface, yet when lifted up again, they contract with a curious
crackling noise, and are easily withdrawn from the snow, however
deeply they may have sunk in it. When the reindeer is running, this
snapping noise, caused by sharply drawing in the hoofs together, is
very great. It is with these large scoop-like fore-hoofs that the rein-
deer dig out the moss, when they have, with most marvellous instinct,
discovered it buried deep beneath the snow. The horns are very long
and branching, and lie almost parallel with the back: the females, as
well as the males, have horns (which I believe is not the case with
any other species of deer), but they are smaller and shorter than those
of the bucks, and are pure white, like bone, while the horns of the
bucks are of a dark brown. The hair or rather fur of the reindeer is
by no means the least curious part of these strange animals; on the
body it is dark brown, on the neck and under parts light hair-brown
and white, very soft and warm, and reminds one of the fibres of an
ostrich feather in appearance, and still more in touch. It is of ex-
ceeding closeness, and I should think it quite impervious to wet and
cold; and indeed, as the reindeer cannot exist, even during the sum-
mer months, without snow, but constantly lies upon it, and almost
always lives upon it, no doubt his coat is suited to resist its effects.
The Laps and Norwegians are well aware of this, and in the depth of
winter, when they travel so much, and such long distances, in their
sledges, with these valuable animals, the universal dress is a cap, a
cloak, and an apron of reindeer’s skin, armed with which they can
defy even Norwegian cold, but without which no one would think of
making a journey. These sledging expeditions are reported to be
most wild and exciting, even to Norwegians: the whole turn-out is
so exceedingly quaint and primitive, and so independent ; the coun-
try to be traversed, boundless tracts of untrodden snow; the harness,

:
:

Quadrupeds. 3105

too, by which the reindeer is fastened to the sledge, is very strange ;
it consists of a collar and a single trace, which trace is brought under
the belly between the legs, and so is fastened to the front of the
sledge. The reins are attached to the horns; and the traveller, well
muffled in reindeer-skins, with an apron of wolf or bear-skin, and
reclining in his little light sledge, starts at full gallop, cheers on his
steed with wild halloos, and performs enormous distances without
checking his pace.

The reindeer moss (Cenomyce rangiferina), without which these
animals cannot thrive, and which seems to form almost their only food,
is of a pale greenish yellow, and resembles a dry lichen rather than a
moss. At first sight it appears a most miserable, uninviting, and
wretched fare ; but on plucking it up, you discover that it is of a suc-
culent spongy nature, and the under part, which is not exposed to
the sun and wind, retains a great deal of moisture, and is highly nu-
tritious. I never saw a plant more deceptive. Often and often, when
halting for the mid-day meal, or the stesta, which my Norwegian com-
panion would never omit, have I been tempted by its dry, soft exte-
rior, to throw myself on a bed of this moss, and as regularly have I
arisen from it wet to the skin, as if I had been lying in a marsh: nei-
ther did the experience bought by such discomfiture avail to warn me
from making the attempt again and again, so inviting does this moss
look, and so much does its dry appearance belie the reality of its
nature.

I have said that the three deer which we came upon in the morn-
ing were fine old bucks; it was about six o’clock, A. M., when we met
with them ; from that time we had walked all day, looking about us
in every direction, never being aware of the exact spot, within thirty
or forty miles, where the Laps had encamped (as they move their
position every week or ten days, according as the locality has an
abundant or scanty supply of reindeer moss), and I was begiuning to
despair of falling in with any more of the deer, when towards evening,
as we descended a mountain, the guide called my attention to some
black spots in a large patch of snow at about two English miles dis-
tance. I could hardly believe him when he told me they were the
herd of tame reindeer of which we were in search. We went towards
them, and sure enough, as we came nearer, it was clear he was right.
It was not the main body, but fifty head of does and calves: they
were very much tamer than the bucks we had seen in the morning,
and allowed us to come very near them, within three or four yards.

IX S

3106 Quadrupeds.

They kept up a continual loud and hoarse bleating, somewhat resem-
bling the noise of sheep. Our guide, who understood them tho-
roughly, had brought some salt for them; and it was curious to see
him advancing towards them in a sidelong manner, with his hand full
of salt extended, and chaunting, now in a low, monotonous, plaintive
voice, now in a high, excited key, “Sal; sal; sal; salton; salton ;
salton ;” with a peculiar drawling emphasis on the penultimate of the
latter words. | However, neither his coaxing entreaties, nor his vehe-
ment reproaches, seemed of any avail; none of the deer ventured to
taste the salt from his hand, though they all greedily devoured it when
placed upon the ground. We did not fall in with the rest of the herd
or the Laps; they had moved their position since they had last been
seen on this fjeld.

It is strange that these reindeer, being necessarily unattended, and
wandering so far from their owners as they do, should invariably re-
turn ; for the small herd of bucks, and the larger one of does, which
we saw, must have been at least twenty miles apart.

The does produce very little milk, hardly a pint a-day ; wail it is
astonishing the number of deer requisite to support a family ; 200
or 300 head being the usual number. Sometimes 500, or even
1,000 constitute one herd; but then we must remember that this is
the sole wealth and the only means of subsistence of these primitive
and contented people. The skins and sinews and horns of the deer
constitute their clothing, their camp-furniture, and domestic utensils ;
while the flesh and milk supply the Laps with food. The meat of
the reindeer is coarse and hard, very dark-coloured and very tough.
This may partly be owing to the infamous mode of cooking adopted
in Norway, and partly to the want of change of diet; for as we had
reindeer venison day after day, for breakfast and dinner, and seldom
anything like bread or potatoes, or other vegetable, to vary it, I may
say we ate it wsgue ad nauseam, although at first we considered it a
great treat, and were charmed with such good fare.

ALFRED CHARLES SMITH.

Old Park, Devizes,
April 14, 1851.

(To be continued).

Birds. 3107

Occurrence of the Northern Rorqual (Balena Boops) near King’s Lynn.—A whale
answering to Mr. Bell’s descriptiou of the supposed young of this species, was found
to have stranded itself near Lynn Regis, on Sunday, February 2nd. Notwithstanding
its swwall size, it was killed with difficulty ; but the want of any weapon of a more for-
midable character than a common poker heated red hot, was doubtless in a great mea-
sure the reason. Having been made an exhibition of at Lynn, it was carried to Ely,
and thence was brought here, where it continued to be shown for about ten days, no
putrefaction having begun to take place, and no method of preservation being adopted
until within the last few days, when it was disembowelled and filled with salt. In every
respect, so far as I could ascertain, it corresponded accurately with the second figure in
Bell’s account of this species (Brit. Quad. 521), which is a copy of a drawing by Dr.
Hunter of one caught on the Dogger Bank, but which that celebrated anatomist makes
a distinct species of, and calls B. rostrata (Phil. Trans. 1787, p. 373, pl. 20). The
way in which these two examples principally differ from the unquestionable B. Boops,
as figured by Mr. Bell, appears to be in the white band across the pectoral fins (which
in the Lynn specimen was of a fine ivory colour, with marbled edges, contrasting
strongly with the India-rubber look of the rest of the upper surface), and in the lips,
which are almost straight; but from the position in which the B. Boops is lying in
Bell's figure, it is difficult to perceive whether the waved line of the under lip may not
be only a consequence of the drawing’s being in perspective, and the subject of it lying
partly on its side. In the doubtful state of our knowledge respecting these creatures,
it is to be regretted that some naturalist did not see and minutely examine this speci-
men ; his account would have been good, and perhaps convincing evidence, either for
or against the distinctiveness of the ‘* piked whale ” and the “ fin fish.” This animal
was a female, and measured twenty-two feet in length; its weight was computed to be
about forty tons ; the baleen was about four inches long at the muzzle, and a foot at
the gape. It left this place for Huntingdon, en route for Birmingham, where perhaps
some of your correspondents may have had the good luck to see it dissected. — Alfred
Newton ; Magdalene College, Cambridge, March 1, 1851.

Description of the Orpheus Warbler, (Sylvia Or wead
By Epwarpd NEwMaN.

I am indebted to my esteemed correspondent, Mr. Milner, for the
means of presenting to the readers of the ‘ Zoologist’ faithful repre-
sentations of both sexes of this very rare bird. The female is drawn
from Mr. Milner’s specimen, the only one ever killed in this country,
and now unique in that geutleman’s almost unrivalled collection of
British birds. . In both figures the backs of the birds are inclined to-
wards the reader, in order to exhibit more clearly the white feathers
of their tails. The first notice of the occurrence of this bird in Bri-
tain, appeared on the wrapper of the ‘Zoologist’ for September, 1851;
and a full and explicit account, which I have taken the liberty to

3108 Birds.

transcribe below, was kindly furnished by Mr. Milner to the October
number of this periodical.

“ My bird is evidently a female, and was observed in company with
its mate for a considerable time before it was shot. The other bird
had a black head, and the description I received, left no doubt on my
mind that it was a male bird of Sylvia Orphea. The bird, of which I
send you a description, was shot in a small plantation near the town
of Wetherby, on the 6th of July, 1848, and was, unfortunately, very
ill set up by the man who obtained it: it had the appearance of hav-
ing been engaged in incubation, from the state of its plumage. Mr.
Graham, my bird-stuffer, at York, hearing that a very uncommon bird
had been shot, went over to Wetherby, and, fortunately, obtained the
specimen for my collection. It has the beak black and very strong,
eight lines in length, the upper mandible very much grooved. The
whole upper part of the plumage dark ash-coloured brown. The outer
feather of the tail white ; the second on each side edged with dirty
white, the rest of a brownish black. Chin dirty white; throat and
belly brownish white; under surface of the wings and vent light brown.
Legs very strong; toes and claws black. ‘Total length, 6 inches 3
lines. Since procuring this specimen, I have received a male bird
from France, with four eggs, and send you a description, in case any
other specimen may fall into the hands of your readers. The head
and cheeks to behind the eyes black, on the top of the head the black
blends itself into ash-coloured gray, and so continues over the upper
parts of the plumage. Wings almost black, edged with ash-coloured
brown ; the external feathers on each side of the tail white, the inside
edges light brown; the second tipped with white, the rest blackish
brown. Throat and belly of a pure white; breast and flanks white,
with a very delicate rose tint ; vent and under coverts of the tail of a
light brownish red. The lower mandible of a yellowish brown at its
base, the upper one black, much grooved, and thick. The legs, claws
and toes black and strong. Length the same as the female. This
bird is very common in Italy and the southern parts of France and
Piedmont, and is sometimes found in Switzerland. It builds its
nest sometimes in low bushes, and not uncommonly in holes of rocks
and walls, also on the roofs of deserted houses, and lays four to five
eggs, white, irregularly marked with yellowish brown spots, chiefly at
the larger end, about the size of the garden warbler, but more pointed
at the small end. This description, which agrees most accurately with
my birds and eggs, I have taken from the ‘ Manuel d’Ornithologie’ of
M. 'Temminck, tome i. p. 200.”—Zool. vii. 2588.

Birds. 3109

It seems not a little extraordinary, and is one of those facts in
nature which we can only record without attempting to reason on it,
that a bird, confined on the continent to Italy, the south of France,
and to a small portion of Switzerland, should, after passing over Ger-
many, central and northern France, and the South of Britain, reappear

A

(NK,
aie

Up it

Orpheus Warbler. a. Male, b. Female.

in Yorkshire. Anomalies of this kind do, however, frequently turn up,
as though to puzzle us. Such was the occurrence of the hawk owl,
recorded in a recent number, on the most unquestionable authority ;
and such have been dozens of records which would never have been

3110 Birds.

preserved, had not the ‘ Zoologist’ offered for them so appropriate a
depository.

This bird is admirably figured and briefly described in Gould’s
inimitable ‘ Birds of Europe.’ And although this adds little to its
history, I will quote it entire, even at the expense of some little repe-
tition, in order to render my account of the species as complete as
possible.

ORPHEAN WARBLER.
Curruca Orphea. Bec-fin Orphée.

“ Although the present species differs in a trifling degree from the
more typical examples of the genus Curruca, especially in having a
stouter form of beak, which is more deep than wide, we do not feel
ourselves at liberty to separate it on such slender grounds, as its ge-
neral habits and form overbalance the minutiz alluded to.

“The Orpheus warbler is an inhabitant of the southern provinces of
Kurope, and we have more than once received it in collections from
India. According to M. Temminck, it is very abundant in Italy, par-
ticularly in Piedmont and Lombardy, and the southern departments of —
France. It is accidentally met with in Switzerland and the adjacent
districts, but never occurs in more northern latitudes. On referring to
the valuable little work of Professor Savi, on the Ornithology of Tus-
cany, we learn that it is there a migratory bird, and much resembles
in habits and manners the common whitethroat (Curruca cinerea,
Bechst.). Its food consists of insects and berries, and it builds in
bushes, often in company with others of the same species. M. Tem-
minck states that in addition to bushes, it also selects holes in ruins,
old walls, or under the eaves of isolated buildings, as a site for incu-
bation. The eggs are four or five in number, nearly white, irregularly
marked with yellowish blotches and small brown dots.

“The male has the top of the head and ear-coverts brownish black ;
the whole of the upper surface is of a cinereous brown, with a tinge
of olive, the quills and tail being rather darker; the outer feathers on
each side of the latter are white, tinged with reddish brown, which
prevails more decidedly on the flanks and under tail-coverts.

“The female resembles the male, except that the head is of the
same colour as the rest of the plumage.”

I should add, that Mr. G. R. Gray, in his ‘Synonymic List of
British Birds,’ published by the Trustees of the British Museum, ex-
presses a doubt as to this species; but whether as to its occurrence

Birds. 3111
in Britain, or as to its identity with M. Temminck’s bird, [ am unable
to say. The following is the passage to which I refer.

“6. ? SYLVIA ORPHEA.

“ Sylvia orphea, Temm. Man. d’Orn.i. p. 198? Milner, Zoologist,
1849, p. 2588.
“? Sylvia grisea. Veeill.
Pl. enl. 579, f. 1°”
This paper, brief and imperfect though it be, will, I trust, induce
ornithologists to make diligent search for other examples of the spe-
cies; the female is particularly liable to escape a cursory observer.

EDWARD NEWMAN.

Note on the Songs of some of the British Birds, as remarked in the year 1850.—

Song Song Song

Opens. Ends. Resumed.
Common wren (Troglodytes vulgaris), .....ss1eseseseceeseeees Jan. 25 July 24 —
Soni ( Mrythaca rubecula); tic..liscc cc. ise. csscncscasadssesece) 5, | 25 » 1 Sept. 28
amie Dirash( Turdus mustcus),) 2.0325 .0.cassssevssecsnress 5, 28° 4 20 Oct. 10
NE! CIN MORM GS: OF TEREEE) Cod. | SSF dcck i sss bun dec abet ewseises! gg Oy, 114 Sept..20
Missel Thrush (Turdus viscivorus), .......seesccssseecseseeseeFeb. 1 May 20 Oct. 10
Hedge Accentor (Accentor modularis),........cs.ecsscsreseee 55 15 4 28 4 GC
Chaffinch (Fringilla ceelehs),........ccccceesccecessecesevecsseee 59 17 June 27 Sept. 8
Smmmenrre ( Purves merula), iso. 2... .cccccis se ccacesccesdecesnse | 55 19 July 20 Oct. i6
Wryneck (Yunzx torquilla), April 10 June 4
Willow-wren (Sylvia trochilus), jet wnnblite see Aokes Gl RBar
email (Sylvia Rippolais), sds) sisii..0... eddies vbalastes yi WB \ 5, 8
Nightingale (Philomeda luscinia), sa doe eSB neal ttt gy oy OEE
Black-cap (Curruca atricapilla), ......cccscccsscscesesescesees 99 13 July 15
‘Cuckoo (Cuculus canorus), » 23 June 20
Tree Pipit (Anthus arboreus), . Bisist eel eee ad gf CB Saly) 15
Garden Warbler (Curruca hortensis), ...... 0000000 jas May 0 i205 *s,, 10

—F. A. Chennel ; Esher, Surrey, March 21, 1851.

Note on a singular distenbdigi of Birds.—There is something very extraordinary
in the way in which animals find out those places where the greatest amount of food is
to be obtained, and in the manner in which occasionally they congregate together in
search of it. The summer of 1850, was remarkably dry, so much so, indeed, that

_ most of our wells were exhausted, and I have no doubt the feathered tribes were
much pinched for food. About the 20th of November, however, and several following
days, rain came and saturated our meadows, causing the slugs and earth-worms to
come out. I was down by the Trent about this period, and witnessed a curious spec-
tacle. I heard above my head a tremendous cawing. I looked up. An immense
flock of rovks, crows, jackdaws, starlings and lapwings was coming towards me. On
they came, flock after flock, in continuous succession. It seemed as if a hundred

3112 Birds.

rookeries had sent forth their inmates; and a hundred parks had poured out their |
jackdaws and starlings. And such a row did they make !—the jackdaws chiding ; the |
rooks cawing; and the lapwings wailing; that I can only compare it to the noise
emanating from innumerable sea-fowl, which has been so charmingly described in the —
‘Letters of Rusticus.’ When the whole multitude had noised as long as they thought —
proper, and wheeled about for a considerable time, they descended in the meadows to
feed, and scarcely a note was heard. Such a numerous, quaint, sable-coated throng
I never saw assembled together. I could not estimate them at less than 30,000.—
J. J. Briggs ; Melbourn, March, 1851.

Occurrence of Peregrine Falcons near Oxford. — Two male specimens of the pere-
grine falcon (Falco peregrinus) were shot in this neighbourhood, and brought to Mr.
Osman, the bird-preserver, on Saturday, the 8th of this month. They were killed on
the same day, but not in company. — G. J. Webb ; Brasenose College, Oxford, April,
1851.

Food of the Kestrel, (Falco tinnunculus). — On the Ist of this month, whilst Mr.
Gornal of this town was skinning a kestrel, he accidentally cut into the stomach of the —
bird, and was so much surprised at its contents, that he brought me the bird. In the
stomach I found no less than seventy-nine caterpillars, all (except two) of one kind,
about a quarter of an inch in length; the species I could not determine. There were
also twenty-four beetles, a full-grown field mouse, and a leech, two and a half inches
long. Now we would fain hope, if the beauty of the bird, its graceful flight, and the
interest its presence gives to a rural scene, be insufficient to protect it from the too-
often thoughtless keeper’s and the ruthless watcher’s gun, that such facts as the above
ought to save it ; for it is self-evident, that every kestrel destroyed is a public loss, and |
every one who employs a keeper or watcher ought to give strict orders for their preser- |
vation, as much as, and perhaps more so than, any species of game on their estate.
We also learn from the above, although its powers of flight are great, and much of its —
life is spent in the air, that the kestrel is a ground feeder. We think it not very im-
probable that in the latter part of February (the bird having been shot a few days), |
the caterpillars would be taken in a state of hybernation: the larve were those of —
moths.—Joseph Duff; Bishop Auckland, March 14, 1851.

[See a paper by Rusticus, intituled “The Feathered Mouseyrs,” which appeared in
a late number of Chambers’ admirable ‘ Edinburgh Journal, —F. N.]

Occurrence of the Hen Harrier (Circus cyaneus) at Alciston, Sussea.— An adult
female specimen of the hen harrier was captured alive on the downs near Alciston in a |
singular manner, in the last month, and is now in my possession. A boy was walking
over the downs, when a terrier he had with him saw the bird at a distance and ran af-
ter it. After running in circles round the bird, the latter fell to the ground upon its
back, and was immediately seized by the boy.—J. B. Ellman ; Lewes, Feb. 26, 1851. —

Occurrence of the Marsh Harrier (Circus eruginosus) at Haughton, Sussex.—An |
immature specimen of the marsh harrier was shot at the above place last month, and !
is now in my possession.—Id. d

Occurrence of the Black Redstart (Pheenicura tithys) at Lewes, On the 20th ult. |
I obtained a specimen of the black redstart near this town. This is the fourth speci- |
men shot near the town within twelve months.—Jd.; April 4, 1851.

Occurrence of the Black Redstart (Pheenicura tithys) near Teignmouth. — In the
winter of 1844, which was one of unusual mildness, two specimens of the black red-
start were shot at the Parson and Clerk rocks, near Teignmouth, by my brother and

Birds. 3113

myself. The almost total absence of anything which could be called winter, during
the present season, induced us again to search for these birds in their old haunts, and
we were not disappointed, as my brother killed a fine male on the 30th of January,
and a female bird on the 2Ist of February. We have some reason to believe that these
birds are regular winter visitants with us, as one of the excavators at work upon the
South Devon railroad, who appeared to be well acquainted with them, said that he
had seen them in the locality for two or three winters. He could scarcely be mista-
ken in this, as he was evidently an observant and intelligent man, and told us it was

-an unusual thing for redstarts to remain with us during the winter months. — Robt.
C. R. Jordan ; Teignmouth, Devon, April 2, 1851.

Note on the Habits of the Dartford Warbler (Sylvia undata) on the Downs in the
neighbourhood of Lewes.—On the 12th of October last, I shot a female Dartford war-
bler, and on the 7th of November a male, in the same place, as already recorded in
the ‘ Zoologist, (Zool. 2953). I have in consequence ever since paid particular
attention to this bird; but until the 12th instant I had not seen another specimen.
On that day, Mr. Swaysland, of Brighton, shot a female while rabbit-shooting. On
the 15th instant,—a beautiful day,—I saw a pair, male and female, among some fur-
zes on the downs, and after ineffectually endeavouring for some time to get a shot at
them, they separated, and the male flew into a solitary furze-bush, about six feet long
and ten broad. I sent my dog into the bush and stationed myself at one end, while
my man beat the other, but no bird appeared. Here was a mystery! We certainly
saw the bird enter, and had a clear view all round the bush, so that it could not have
escaped without our seeing it. So we stood still for a few minutes, and the dog came
out of the furze: when all was quiet, the little bird darted out close to me, and flew
into an adjoining furze-bush, where we again repeated the same process, but in vain.
At last, he darted out as before, and we lost him in some thick furzes. On the 2Ist
instant,—a beautiful day,—I again went to the same place, beat the bushes, and sent
in my dog, but no bird appeared; so I altered my tactics and sat down on the ground.
I had not waited long before I heard the call of the male, and by creeping quietly
among the bushes, and keeping out of sight, I soon got a shot at him, and shortly af-
terwards at his mate. I had an opportunity of seeing the male dance in the air, and
his position at that time was so ridiculous, that I must describe it. Head and neck
turned alternately to the right and left: legs hanging down as if broken: tail jerked
about in all directions, and the bird angrily complaining all the time. From this ac-
count it will be seen that, as far as my experience goes, the habits of this bird differ in
‘one very material particular from those mentioned by Rusticus, namely,—“ It is Nor
active and noisy when disturbed by dogs.” The bird also appears to me to confine
itself to particular spots, and to associate in pairs. A. E. Knox, Esq., only records two
instances of its occurrence in Sussex. All my four specimens were shot in whitethorns,
and it appears to be more partial to them than to furze. If any of your correspon-
dents can reconcile the apparent differences in habit between the birds in this neigh-
bourhood and those of Godalming, or give any further information respecting such a
local bird, I doubt not that it will greatly oblige many of your readers.—J. B. Eill-
man; Lewes, Feb. 27, 1851.

Song of the Chaffinch—The song of the chaffinch, if not in itself melodious, is
-nevertheless hailed with welcome, as the sure harbinger of approaching spring, when
first we hear it on a fine morning in February, or it may be in January. At the com-
mencement of the season, the notes are but very indistinctly muttered in a low under-

Ix T

3114 Birds.

tone, the song being abruptly ended and left incomplete, as if the musician were out
of practice (as in truth he is), or were but tuning his instrument. At a later period of
the season, however, when in full voice, the chaffinch adds a very pleasing and joyous
chorus to the general orchestra of the grove; invariably ending his somewhat brief
performance (unless accidentally interrupted) with notes which, “as the fool thinketh,”

seem to express the words ‘‘ Jemmy Twitcher.” And hence in our family circle here, —

the bird passes familiarly among us under that distinctive appellation. But I am
falling into a gossiping digression, whereas my object is merely tu record a simple

fact. Although my ears were kept open for the sound, and on the alert, I did not-

hear the chaffinch attempt to sing this season till the 15th of February. I have
sometimes heard the song at the latter end of January; once so early as the 12th of

that month (in 1845); and once on the 31st of December (in 1817) ; but this last in- —_

stance occurred under the influence of the mild and genial climate of Cornwall. The
early part of February may be regarded, in a general way, as the usual time for the
commencement of the song. The 15th, therefore, is later than we might have ex-
pected, considering the mildness of the winter, and the unusual openness of the
weather during the months of January and February of the present year. It should
almost seem that these little feathered songsters have an almanac of their own, by
which to regulate their sayings and doings, and of which we rational bipeds know
little or nothing.—W. T. Bree ; Allesley Rectory, March 24, 1851.

Instinct and Sagacity of Rooks and other Birds.—In White's ‘ Natural History of
Selborne’ are some curious anecdotes of rooks, which are very interesting to the orni-
thologist : the following circumstance happened near my own house. A small party
of rooks took possession of some trees about twenty years ago, and have continued ever
since to build there annually. But in 1840, a pair of rooks built a nest about a hun-
dred yards from the main body. Early in the month of April, I ordered some short
pollard elm trees to be cut down near this single nest; the next morning, the men
came within a few yards of the tree in which this nest was built, and I was watching
their operations, when I observed that half the nest in the tall tree near had disap-
peared. Soon afterwards two rvoks came to the place, and each carried off a mouthful
of sticks, and so they continued to do every two or three minutes, until the whole nest
was carried away. The rooks built a fresh nest near the main body; and I am tho-
roughly convinced that they were in expectation of my being about to have their tree
felled! The rooks know a gun very well; but such is their discrimination, that
when I used to walk under the trees with my gun two or three times a week during
the hatching-season, they became so used to me, that they would scarcely ever get off
their nests, having learned that I never shot at them during that period. It is quite
proverbial how magpies and jays know Sunday from a week-day. They will let any
one approach much nearer to them on a Sunday than on any other day. Where I
reside, the jays visit my shrubberies; and when I go out there on a week-day, they
immediately give out their note of alarm—‘Skay!” “Skay!” But strange to say, on
several Sundays I have approached them within a quarter of the distance, and they
would fly out withvut uttering their usual note of alarm. Jays are mischievous birds.
I preserved game for many years, and have known them destroy a nest of pheasant’s
eggs ina few minutes. I had alarge stock of wood-pigeons in my woods where the jays
could not be destroyed, and they invariably attacked the wood-pigeons’ nests, break-
ing their eggs wherever they found them. I have frequently caught them at the nests
of the thrushes and blackbirds as well. The magpie is a great enemy to young black-

Birds. 3115

birds: it also destroys eggs of all sorts, and is one of the greatest enemies the farmer
has to contend with. The common crow is equally destructive—Henry W. Newman ;
New House, Stroud, April 14, 1851.

Note on the Greater Spotted Woodpecker.— This bird appears to me to evince a
decided partiality to frequenting fallen timber. In 1849, a considerable number of
trees were cut down here in an open part of the neighbourhood, which were eventually
drawn together, and piled into lots. These lay for some time, and were visited almost
daily by individuals of the greater spotted woodpecker, a bird extremely rare in ex-
posed situations. Five specimens were soon killed, but many escaped. Their habits
and manners were very amusing, especially whilst searching for food. They alighted
on the timber, placed the body in a particular position (generally with the head down-
wards and tail upwards), and commenced pecking away at the bark. Piece by piece
it fell under their bill, as chips from the axe of a woodman. Upon examining the
bark, I found that the pieces were chipped away in order that the bird might arrive
at a small white grub which lay snugly embedded in the bark; and the adroitness of
the bird in finding out those portions of it which contained the greatest number of
grubs, was certainly very extraordinary. Where the birds were most at work, ona
particular tree, I shelled off the bark, and found nearly thirty grubs in nine square
inches ; but on shelling off another portion from the same tree, which remained un-
touched, no grub was visible. Yet how the bird could ascertain precisely where his
food lay was singular, as in both cases the surface of the bark appeared the same, and
bore no traces of having been perforated by insects. During the day, one bird chip-
ped off a piece thirty inches long and twenty wide,—a considerable day’s work for so
small a workman !—J. J. Briggs ; Melbourne, March, 1851.

Late Sojourn of Swifts in 1850.—I have hitherto omitted to record what may not,
perhaps, be unworthy of notice in the ‘ Zoologist, the late sojourn of the swifts with
us last summer, (1850). I speak, however, only of what I had the opportunity of ob-
serving at this place, without knowing whether the same may have been the case else-
where. We had swifts here about the village on the 15th of August ; four or five on
the 16th and 17th; again a pair, if not more, were seen on the 26th; three on the
30th, which were heard to squeal; and on the 1st of September, two pair were sport-
ing and squealing about the village, as if it had been the month of June. Indeed, it
was their joyous note that first attracted my attention to them on that day. Hasa
similar unusually late sojourn of these birds been remarked last year by others in dif-
ferent parts of the country? I have occasionally seen a stray swift or two as late or
- later than September Ist, (once a pair on the 10th of September at Dover); but I
never saw so many as four, or heard them squeal, at that late period. — W. T. Bree ;
Allesley Rectory, February 21, 1851.

Cuckoo's Egg on the 5th of April._—A lad living in the hamlet of Lakenham, ob-
tained from the nest of a hedge accentor the egg of a cuckoo, on Saturday, April 5th,
1851.—J. O. Harper ; Norwich, April 12, 1851.

Landrail in February.—On the 18th of February, some boys with a dog caught a
fine landrail (Crew pratensis). It was alive when brought to me, and appeared in good
plumage and excellent condition. As I believe it is an unusual occurrence at that
time of the year, you may perhaps consider it worthy of record in the ‘ Zoologist. —
Warner Varnham ; Bembridge, Isle of Wight, March 10, 1851.

Woodcocks breeding in Sussex. —In the January number (Zool. 2990), Mr. Hus-
sey says he has received authentic intelligence, that during the summer of 1850, a

3116 Birds.

brood of young woodcocks was seen at Brede, in East Sussex. I have known the
woodcock to breed in that neighbourhood for some years, and believe that great num-
bers do so all through this part of Sussex. A fortnight ago I saw three eggs, and in
1849 eight others, which had also been taken near here; and I know the bridge-keep-
ers find four or five nests every year. I will conclude by stating that there are at this
moment fourteen woodcocks hanging up in our market, all from this neighbourhood.
— Walter W. Reeves; Parade, Tonbridge Wells, April 8, 1851.

White Specimen of the Knot.—A specimen of this bird, quite white, was shot near
Maldon, in Essex, on the 13th of February, and is now in the possession of Mr. J.
Green, Naturalist, No. 1, East-road, City-road.—Hdward Newman.

Occurrence of the Little White Heron (Ardea russata) in South Devon. — I have
obtained a very fine specimen of the little white heron (Ardea russata), which was shot
in the south of Devon last April.—A. Clevland: Tapley Park, Barnstaple, Devon.

Note on the Changes of Plumage which occur periodically in the Male Birds of
several different Species of Ducks——Amongst the many interesting periodical changes
of plumage among birds, there are probably few more curious than that by which the
- male birds of many species of ducks almost entirely lose their distinctive dress during
a shorter or longer interval (in different species) between the finishing of one breeding
season and the commencement of the following. The periods at which these changes
take place are, of course, best observed (where possible) in birds in a wild state; but
as the migratory habits of the tribe render such observations difficult, it would proba-
bly assist our knowledge of the subject, if those who have the opportunity of observing
the changes of plumage which occur in ducks that are kept in captivity, would record
the results which may come under their notice in this particular. With the view of
contributing my quota to such researches, I beg to forward a list of observations which
have been made by my gardener during the past twelve months, on nine different spe-
cies which I keep pinioned on a suitable piece of water, where they appear to be pre-
served in good general health. The list has been drawn up with the view of showing
the date of the commencement and completion of each moult in each species ; the
species being arranged in the order of the commencement of the first change.

Time of beginning Time of having Time of beginning Time of having
to lose the full completed the toreassume the completed the
male plumage. process of losing full male plu- reassumption of

full male plumage. mage. full male plumage
fact veedeeviniall" | May 16 July 2 August 8 October 22
GRIWE Pilesitescvecteccsscseces JUTE 2 z. , s 4 “a 5
Mallard «........ essen tercecese 33 6 August 4 Not observed ihe
Cie li Marr ee TEE EEE »* ae ‘5 4 Decemb. 28 February 18
Widgeon —......0 Pesan. eS » 20 Septemb.19 Novemb. 10
Carolina Wood hon? opary yO ae Saly 23 August 8 October 1
Pintafl, 1.12540 vac des att wavienteys a » 18 Novemb. 8 January 9
Shoveiler.. i130 site ais esas seeae » 30 August 10 » 10 February 18
Teal.. diWeccevaod . July 2 July 27 October 1 Novemb. 3

—J. H. cuney peer ‘Febrdiaty 25, 1851.

Longevity of the Nyroca Duck.—A specimen of the Nyroca duck, which was taken
in a decoy at Hempstead, in this county, has lately died, having lived in captivity just
fifteen years. It was a male bird, and always appeared to be in good health during
the above period. As it is only by the collection of facts that light can be thrown on

:

Birds. 3117

the obscure subject of the age to which birds arrive, I have thought that this cireum-

, stance was worth recording.—ZId.

Description of a Guillemot shot on the Coast of Sligo, Ireland.—I send a description
of a bird that was shot on the 20th of July, 1850, by my friend Mr. R. Irwin, and which
I should have considered to be the female of the black guillemot (Uria Grylle), were
it not for the peculiar colour of the legs, and that of the interior of the mouth. I am
uot aware that in this respect the female differs from the male. Beak black; inside
of mouth yellow : top of head, back and tail dusky black ; nape of neck dusky black
spotted with white; cheeks and under side of neck dirty white, the feathers edged with
black, which on the lower part of the neck forms conspicuous rings ; throat, breast and
belly white, feathers edged with dingy black; sides irregularly barred with black and
white, with a spot of pure white immediately under the shoulder-joint ; primaries, se-

-condaries, tertiaries and larger wing-coverts black ; smaller wing-coverts pure white,

broadly edged with black; under coverts of wings and tail white, with few black spots ;
legs when shot, dark greenish black. Dimensions : — length from carpal joint to tip
of wing, 63% iuches ; whole length of bird, 14 inches. The beak is finer and smaller
than that of the male black guillemot. The bird was alone when shot, and weighed
considerably less than a male black guillemot killed on the same day. I send you
this communication in order to obtain some correct information as to the species: the
characteristics are nearly those of the young birds, and the winter plumage of both
young and old ; but this is an old specimen, and was shot in the middle of summer.
—Francis K. Amherst ; Oscott, Birmingham, April, 1851.

Occurrence of the Eared Grebe (Podiceps auritus) at Yarmouth. —I have a fine

_ specimen of the eared grebe, in full plumage. It came to Leadenhall market in the

same basket with four specimens of the great crested grebe. They were all shot near
Yarmouth on the 14th. The eyes are not red, as generally described, but, unlike those
of the rest of the grebe tribe, they are of a rich deep orange, the eyelids edged with the
same colour. The bird came into my possession the day after it was shot.— Richard
Strangwayes.

Occurrence of the Kittiwake Gull (Larus tridactylus) on Wandsworth Common.—
About five weeks since, my son informed me that a strange bird had settled on the
pond among ducks, I procured my gun and was fortunate enough to shoot it, when it
proved to be a fine male specimen of the kittiwake gull (Larus tridactylus), which I
preserved, anditis now in my collection. Surely this must have been an escape from
some collection in the neighbourhood of London. — C. Wood ; Wandsworth Common,

_ March 17, 1851.

Occurrence of Bonaparte’s Gull (Larus Bonaparti) in Scotland.—I take the liberty
of sending the portrait of a gull, to ask if you can determine the species. The picture
is too large, in breadth especially, giving the idea of a much larger bird ; but as far as
the colouring is concerned, it is correct. The principal points in which it differs from
the common black-headed gull (Larus ridibundus) are these: — the head in the for-
mer is a slaty black, in the common bird brown; the bill is black, instead of reddish
brown ; the legs are a bright red, like a tern’s, in the common bird they are the same
as the bill; and the ends of the quills are marked in quite a different way: the whole
bird is smaller, and the legs shorter. I shot it about the end of April, 1850, on the
shore of Lochlomond, in Dumbartonshire. The common black-headed gull is a fami-
liar bird, and this one strikes me as quite different.—George H. Leith ; 2, The Mall,
Clifton, March 18, 1851.

3118 Fishes.

[The drawing represents Bonaparte’s gull (Zarus Bonaparti), described in Rich-
ardson and Swainson’s ‘ Fauna Boreali-Americana, part ‘ Birds, p. 425. A notice of
its occurrence at Belfast, together with a minute description, will be found in an early
number of the ‘ Zoologist, (Zool. 2069). Mr. Yarrell, who has seen the drawing sent
by Sir G. Leith, and has kindly investigated the matter, pronounces it to be L. Bona-
parti. I have seen a third British example, and have introduced this species without
a doubt into the last edition of the ‘ Zoologist List of British Birds. —. N.]

The Little Gull (Larus minutus) in Derbyshire. — A most beautiful specimen of
this pretty little gull was killed in this parish on the 22nd of January, 1851, by my
neighbour, H. Orton, Esq. Having examined it by Mr. Yarrell’s descriptions of the
British gulls, I found it was a young bird of the year. When first seen, it was swim-
ming leisurely on the Trent, nearly opposite to Weston Cliff, but on being disturbed
it rose from the river; soon, however, it settled down again on the water, and was so
tame that it allowed a person to approach within thirty yards without betraying the
least fear. Indeed, when my friend got up to it with his gun, he was so close that he
dared not fire, lest the bird should be shattered to pieces, and he was obliged to make
it take wing, and then shot.—J. J. Briggs ; King’s Newton, Melbourne, Derbyshire.

Occurrence of the Shag or Green Cormorant (Phalocrocorax graculus) at Oxford.
—A fine specimen of this bird was shot lately in the immediate neighbourhood of Ox-
ford by a poor man, from whom it was purchased by Charles Coar, Esq., and presented -
by him to the Ashmolean Museum. As I see by Yarrell that this bird, “it is said,
never quits the salt water to follow the course of a river,” perhaps a notice of its occur-
rence at some sixty miles from the sea, may not be uninteresting to your ornithologi-
cal readers.—A. W. Norman; Christ Church, Oxford.

Occurrence of the Fork-tailed Petrel (Thalassidroma Leachii) at Blenheim Park,
Oxfordshire. — A specimen of the fork-tailed petrel, an occasional though unwilling
visitant, was found dead this last winter in Blenheim Park, and is now in the Ashmo-
lean Museum.—Jd.

Occurrence of the Gemmeous Dragonet near Gamrie.—“ The gemmeous dragonet
(Callionymus lyra, Linn.),” says Mr. Yarrell, “is not a common fish on our coasts ;
and according to my own observation is much more rare than the sordid dragonet.”
Within the last fifteen months not fewer than eight specimens of the former, called
here the bridegroom, have been caught off the fishing stations in this parish; and dur-
ing double that space of time I have been able to ascertain the capture of only two ex-
amples of the latter. With one exception, a sordid dragonet, they were all taken with
lines. As bearing on a question of species, I may add, that a gemmeous dragonet in
my possession contains a roe, which remains én situ in the specimen. ‘The Prince
of Musignano, in his ‘ Fauna Italica,’ has figured the female of thesame colour as the
male, but without the elongation of the fin-rays.” In the present example the elon-
gation is complete.—Geo. Harris; Manse of Gamrie, Banffshire, April, 1851.

The Bib, or Whiting Pout (Morrbua lusea, /’lem.)—Of this fish several specimens
have been brought to me within the last three months, varying in length, from six to
fourteen inches.—Id.

The Spotted Gunnel or Butter-fish, (Murenoides guttata, Zacép.) — This common
species is the only one I have yet met with, in which I have had any difficulty in the

Fishes. 3119

use of Mr. Yarrell’s valuable work on ‘ British Fishes.’ Though doubtless the same
fish as that described and figured by him under this title, the examples I have met
_ with differ considerably from both his figure and description. First, the dorsal fin
commences in a line with the base of the pectorals. Secondly, the tail, when collapsed,
is of a bluntly triangular form ; when spread out, of a circular fan-shape, and altoge-
gether has a far less filamentous appearance than shown in Mr. Yarrell’s cut. And,
lastly, the head from the eyes to the snout seems more gradually tapered. In all these
respects the specimens I have examined correspond better with the descriptions of
those examined by Dr. Parnell. I believe it is well known that the skin of this fish
shows great variety of colour. I have frequently met with examples in which it was
dappled, with others, where it was broadly striped with alternate dark and light bands,
and with others again, in which it was of a dingy olive with a tinge of yellow. I be-
lieve it is also well known that the dark spots on the dorsal fin of this fish become less
distinct with age ; but I have not seen any notice taken of another peculiarity which
seems also dependant on that infirmity: I allude to the appearance of minute granu-
lar points or dots, irregularly but thickly scattered over the skin, and even the mem-
brane covering the eyes. These dots vary in size, but are never larger than the head
of a common pin ; and they attain this size, so far as I have had opportunity of judg-
ing, on the pectoral and caudal fins only. Other specimens enable me to add that it
appears to be on these parts that they begin. When taken between the fingers, the
dots feel hard and gritty ; their colour ranges from dark to reddish brown. Quere—
Can the tail of a fish be reproduced after having been once lost? I consider myself
warranted in saying that a specimen of the above fish in my possession enables me to
answer this question in the affirmative. Judging from the proportions and general
"appearance of the specimen, it must have suffered an abridgment of not less than half
an inch in its natural length. The figure of the body, the size of the terminating ver-
tebra, and a well marked scar at the base of the caudal appendage, seem to put the
matter beyond doubt; yet there is a distinct and regularly formed caudal fin, which
however is perhaps scarcely one half the magnitude of its predecessors.—Jd.
Occurrence of the Snake Pipe-fish (Syngnathus Ophidion) at Gamrie.—I procured
the present specimen of this rare fish about a fortnight ago. Its length is nearly fif-
teen inches. It occurs to me that in addition to the position of the dorsal fin, the
whole of which is somewhat in advance of the middle of the body (Yarrell’s ‘ British
Fishes, p. 338), another good mark for distinguishing it from the still more rare spe-
cies, S. equoreus, must be the absence, or almost entire absence of a dorsal ridge. On
_ the occipital plates there is nothing of the kind, and on the dorsal it is merely a faint
trace. Under a lens these plates show very beautifully. ‘Those covering the superior
portion of the head are irregularly indented or punctulated, very much after a style
observable in certain of the ichthyolites of the old red sandstone; while the plates on
the back and sides exhibit this form of ornament on their corners or angles only, their
central and larger portion being grooved transversely. The animal seems rather tena-
cious of life, and having kept it alive for some time in salt water, I was enabled at
intervals to mark its respirations, which were uniformly about thirty in the course of a
minute.—Id.
~ Occurrence of the Common Sturgeon in White Cliff Bay, Isle of Wight.—On the
20th of March, a large example of the common sturgeon was found near Black Rock,
in White Cliff Bay. It seems to have got entangled among the shallows left by the
receding tide. The fish bore evidence of having been in a sickly state, its weight

3120 Annelides, &c.

scarcely exceeding 80 Ibs., with a total length of seven feet. It presented a fruitful
source of speculation to our people, scarcely one of whom had seen such a thing be-
fore ; indeed, the only instance of a previous capture in our neighbourhood, so far as
I can learn, being eleven or twelve years ago, when a small one, about two and a half
feet long, was taken in a net. — Warner Varnham ; Bembridge, Isle of Wight, April
7, 1851.

Anecdote of a Pike.—In a former number (Zool. 2991) there is a note of a novel
encounter between a pike and a goose, which reminds me of a similar one of which I
was an eyewitness. On the 16th of August, 1850, a person and myself were down in
some fields by the Trent, when we heard a loud noise as of a wild bird in distress.
Hastening to the river-side, we soon perceived from what it emanated, and beheld a
moor-hen struggling violently on the surface of the water, at perhaps forty yards dis-
tance. The cries of the poor bird were pitiful in the extreme ; for it was evident that
some animal in the water had got hold of its feet, and was trying to drag it under. A
desperate struggle now ensued. The bird flapped its wings and tried to escape ; the
enemy as firmly kept its hold. Gradually the bird kept sinking lower in the water;
the breast disappeared from view, and then the wings; its cries grew weaker and
weaker ; the head went down, and then all was still. What animal it was, whether
quadruped or fish, that accomplished this curious feat, I could not tell. An otter, I
think, it could not have been, as they are very rare here, and no individual has been
seen that I am aware of. I can only attribute the theft to a pike; for one of large
dimensions was known to frequent the place. If such was the case, it was a curious
example of the voracity of this fish—John Joseph Briggs ; King’s Newton, Melbourne,
Derbyshire.

Occurrence of the Crested Blenny (Blennius palmicornis, Yarrell) at Portland.—
On the 27th of February last, I obtained at Portland a specimen of Blennius palmi-
cornis of Yarrell. I got it from a lobster-pot ; it was two and a half inches in length.
On the 7th of April, 1850, I obtained a specimen, measuring five inches, thrown up
on the Chesil Beach. It was unfortunately so much damaged that I could not pre-
serve it.— William Thompson ; Weymouth..

Earth-worms and Grubs.—In Mr. Hussey’s note on the destruction of earth-worms
by grubs (Zool. 3059), that gentleman expresses a hope that other observers may con-
firm his statement, which I am happy in being able to do in one instance. In the
summer of 1849, I was descending a mountain near Lake Windermere, in the middle
of the day, under a very hot sun, when I saw an earth-worm, of the largest size, vio-
lently but vainly struggling to escape from a powerful grub, about an inch long, which
had fastened its jaws into the worm. My inspection of the combat being rather a close
one, appeared to cause the grub to relinquish the attack, which I have no doubt would
have otherwise proved fatal to the worm.—J. H. Gurney ; Easton, March 4, 1851.

Land and Fresh-water Mollusca found in the Neighbourhood of Fulham.—Think-
ing that a list of the various species of land and fresh-water shells found by me in the
neighbourhood of Fulham might not be unacceptable to some of your readers, I have

Zoological Society. 3121

sent the following. Many of them are common, but perhaps not the less interesting
to those who are fond of the study of Nature, and whose attention may not have been
hitherto called to this much neglected branch of Natural History, and which especially
deserves the notice of entomologists, who, when in quest of insects, may also make
shells a subject of their pursuit. Thus, a collector, while examining the oak (Quercus
Robur) for insects, may take the beautiful little Helix aculeata, usually found on the

trunks ; this species may also be found under deeayed wood. The hedges, lichens,

mosses, fences, trunks and roots of trees, will not unfrequently furnish a variety of spe-
cies. The young conchologist will be amply repaid by a visit to the British Museum,
where he will find an extensive and admirably arranged collection in this department
of science. Mr. Gray’s edition of Dr. Turton’s excellent ‘ Manual of Land and Fresh-
water Shells’ contains much valuable information on this subject ; indeed, no student
in this branch of Natural History should be without it. I might also name the admi-
rable observations of Mr. Bridgman, of Norwich (Zool. 2741), which are well worth
reading, besides localities where a great many species may be met with. Without

trespassing further on your valuahle journal, I proceed to give the list.

Bithinia tentaculata. Ditches, common.
Valvata piscinalis. Streams and ponds, uncommon.
Helix aspersa. In gardens, very common.
hortensis. Hedges, common.
nemoralis. In similar situations, common.
scantiana. Hedges, common.
arbustorum. Marshy places, common.
rufescens. Under stones and on old walls, common.
Succinea putris. Marshy places and in streams on aquatic plants, uncommon.
amphibia. Marshy places, common.

Zua lubrica. Under moss and stones, uncommon.

Azeca indens. One specimen under moss, rare.

Baleza perversa. Old walls, rare.

Lymneus palustris. Streams, rare.

Physa fontinalis. Streams, on aquatic plants.

Planorbis cornea. Ponds and streams, common.

carinatus. In similar situations, uncommon.
vortex. In similar situations, not common.

Cyclas cornea. Streams, common.

I have no doubt many more might be added to the above list, if the river were
examined. Fulham is not a good locality, in consequence of the absence of woods.—
Augustus F'. Sheppard ; Bellefield House, Parson’s Green, Fulham.

aa

Proceedings of the Zoological Society.

Evening Meeting, March 25, 1851.—W. Yarrett, Esq., V. P., in the chair.

Mr. Gray called the attention of the meeting to two species of the genus Herpes-
tes, new to the Fauna of Ceylon, which had been collected there by Mr. Grace, and
transmitted by him ina living state to the menagerie., Mr. Lewis Llewellyn Dillwyn
read a paper on the habits of an undescribed species of Megapodius, as observed by

IX U

3122 Entomological Society.

his friend Mr. Motley, at Labuan. This species appearing to be identical with the
specimens brought from the Philippines by Mr. Cuming, was characterized under the
name of Megapodius Cumingii. Mr. Gould exhibited a mature specimen of Trochi-
lus Jardinii, and described some new species. Mr. Adams communicated a Catalogue
of the species of Nassa in the collection of Mr. Cuming. Mr. H. N. Turner commu-
nicated some observations on the suborbital gland in the Nylghiao. Mr. Yarrell
communicated an interesting letter by Mr. Dujuid, of Kirkwall, on the occurrence of
the deal fish in Orkney. The meeting then adjourned to April 8.

Monthly General Meeting, April 3.—E. S. Rupes, Esq., F.R.S., in the chair.

W. W. Rawlins, Esq. and G. M. Fast, Esq. were elected Fellows.

F. Thompson, Esq. and G. R. Waterhouse, Esq. were proposed as candidates for
the Fellowship.

The Report of the Council stated that the new buildings now in course of erec-
tion will be completed before the Anniversary, which takes place on the 29th of April.
The accessions to the Menagerie include a fine example of Grus carunculata, the lar-
gest species of crane, secretary bird, and several other objects of unusual interest from
South Africa and India.

*,* Since I transmitted to the Zoological Society the paper on Distichocera which
is reported in the April number of the ‘ Zoologist’ (Zool. 3091), I have, through the
kindness of a correspondent, met with both sexes of a fourth and very distinct species,
a description whereof will be incorporated with the paper in question, and a specific
character whereof is appended below.

DIsTICHOCERA PAR.

Sexuum amborum color par: testaceo-fusca, maris capite prothoracisque disco sa-
turatioribus ; omnino pilis cinereis obsita. (Maris long. corp. *525 une. elytro-

rum lat max.‘2 unc. Femine long. corp.*7 unc. elytrorum lat. max. ‘2 unc.)
—Edward Newman.

Proceedings of the Entomological Society.

April 7th, 1851.—J.O. Westwoop, Esq., President, in the chair.

The following donations were aunounced, and thanks ordered to be given to the
donors thereof.—‘The Zoologist’ for April, by E. Newman, Esq. ‘Hints on the His-
tory and Management of the Honey-bee. By Edward Bevan, M.D. Presented by
the author. A Portrait of the Rev. W. Kirby, on large paper; by W. Spence, Esq.
Two copies of ‘A Supplementary Catalogue of British Tineide. By H. T. Stainton.’
Presented by the author. ‘The Atheneum,’ from July, 1850 to March 1851; by the
Editor. ‘The Literary Gazette, January and February ; by the publishers. Bred
specimens of Catocala sponsa, C. promissa, Triphena fimbria, and other British Lepi-
doptera; by Mrs. Vines. About 200 species of British Lepidoptera; by Mr. Douglas.

Entomological Society. 3123

The following gentlemen were balloted for and elected : —Johan Wilhelm Zetter-
stedt, Lund: Honorary Foreign Member. H. J. Steuart, Esq., 76, Jermyn-street,
and the Rey. J. M. Simkiss, St. Mary’s, Oscott, Birmingham; Ordinary Members.
Robert Patterson, Esq., Belfast, and J. C. Hyndman, Esq., Belfast ; Subscribers.

Mx. S. Stevens exhibited a most beautiful specimen of the Lepidopterous Cocytia
D’Urvillii, Boisd. ; the only previous example being one in bad condition in the col-
lection of Dr. Boisduval. He likewise exhibited, from a collection just received from
Mr. Wallace, on the Amazon, Papilio Columbus, recently described and figured in the
Society’s ‘Transactions’ by Mr. Hewitson, and three new species of the genus Papilio.
Also a specimen of Gymnancyla canella, which he believed to have been taken on the
coast near Southend, being the second known British specimen; and Dryophilus Ano-
bioides, bred from the same stump of broom from which he reared the insect last year.

The President exhibited living larve of Cistride, from reindeer in the Zoological
Society’s Garden. He observed that Linneus stated from six to eight were the usual
number on one deer, but in the present case there were from fifty to one hundred, and
they were very conspicuous. Mr. Bracy Clark, in his “ Memoir on Céstride ” in the
‘ Linnean Transactions, had given his opinion that Cistrus Trompe and Cs. Tarandi
were only sexes of one species; but from the examination of specimens sent to him
by Professor Zetterstedt, he could not concur in this opinion ; moreover, G4. Trompe
was not found in the backs of reindeer, but in the frontal sinus. He also exhibited
drawings of the head of the larve of Gi. Tarandi and CK. Bovis, showing the mouth
destitute of mandibles, and the larve could obtain nourishment by suction only ; in
this respect differing from C&. Equi, in which mandibles were present.

The President also exhibited drawings made from the mutilated specimen of the
parasite upon Fulgora candelaria, received from Mr. Bowring, and exhibited at the
meeting last October. The venation of the wings was decidedly of a Lepidopterous
type, and the legs were of a Lepidopterous character; the pupa also, as far as could
be ascertained without divesting it of its cottony covering, appeared to be that of a
Lepidopterous insect ; but such an one was so anomalous, that more and entire speci-
mens were greatly to be desired.

A note was read from R. Maysmor, Esq., Devizes, accompanying some cocoons of

Trichiosoma Lucorum, stating that he believed the imago made its exit from the co-
coon backwards; at least, he always found the exuvie remaining in the passage out,
with the head in the interior of the cocoon, and there does not appear to be room for
the insect to turn round in the skin it is about to leave behind.
_ Mr. F. Smith-called the attention of the meeting to a very interesting paper inti-
tuled ‘A New Phase of Bee-life,” recently published in Dickens’s ‘ Household Words,’
from which he read the following extracts, premising that the scene of the discovery
was about 170 miles from the mouth of the Essequibo river.

“Seating myself on the smooth gray trunk of a tree, which lay prostrate across the
sluggish water, whose broken limbs shone bright in the gay drapery of a scarlet-blos-
somed epiphyte, I lighted my pipe, and taking a book from my pocket, began lazily
turning over the pages and lightly gleaning the pleasant thought of a witty and social
poet. My attention now and again drawn away by the ceaseless tappings of a yellow-
headed woodpecker on a decaying tree close at hand, to the glittering flashes of a
Karabimitas, a Topaz-throated humming-bird —a frequenter of dark and solitary
creeks, capturing flies among the gay petals, for his nest-keeping partner, who, a few
paces up the stream was gently swinging with the evening breeze, in her tiny home.

3124 Entomological Society.

I had been in this position for some time, little regarding the whizzing hum of in-
sects constantly passing and repassing—when, my gaze chancing to falla yard or more
from my resting place, I detected a small bright-gray bee, about the third of an inch
in length, disappearing in what seemed a solid part of the trunk.

“ There was no hole or crevice perceptible to the eye, nor did that portion of the
bark feel less smooth than that immediately adjoining. I might be mistaken—nay !
I must be. I had just arrived at this last conclusion, when a tiny piece of the bark
was suddenly raised, and out flew the little gentleman I had seen disappear, or one
too like him not to belong to the same family. The mystery was solved. Some in-
genious bee-architect had devised an entrance-gate, fitting so admirably as to defy
discovery when shut; while I was certain that I could lay my finger almost on the
precise spot, the closest inspection failed to reveal any trace of its outline. The bark,
though polished and even, was covered with faint interlaced streaks, from which even
the smoothest bark is never free ; and the skilful carpenter had adapted the irregular
tracings of nature to his object of concealment. Wishing to inspect the workmanship
without injuring its delicacy, I had to wait patiently until it should again fly open ;
nor was I kept long in expectation, for it presently popped up to permit the egress of
another of the fraternity, and a ready twig prevented its descending. I found it de-
signedly crooked and jagged at the edges, with an average width of about a quarter of
an inch, and twice that in length: its substance was little more than the outer skin of
the bark, and, being still connected at one end, opened and closed as with a spring.
The cunning workman had no doubt been aware that had he made it much shorter—
which the size of the passengers would have permitted—it would have required to be
thrown farther back, when the greater tension would soon have destroyed the elas-
ticity of the hinge, and, with that, its power of fitting close to the tree. Immediately
within the doorway was a small ante-chamber, forming a sort of porter’s lodge to the
little surly gray-liveried gentleman inside, who, without quitting his retreat, showed
his displeasure at my intrusion in a manner too pointed to be mistaken, and certainly
manifesting neither trepidation nor alarm at the sight of one of the ‘lords of the
creation,’ though probably the first offered to his inspection. From the entrance-hall,
two circular tunnels conducted into the interior of the establishment, from whence
came the confused murmurs of a numerous and busy community. I had just allowed
the door to close, and was admiring the exceeding neatness of the workmanship, when
another of the family returned home, signifying his arrival, and obtained admittance
in a manner at once novel and singular.

“ After darting against the entrance, and touching it with his feet, he rose again
into the air, and taking a wide swoop round the trunk, came up on the other side, this
time, flying straight towards the ‘trap,’ which was quickly raised, when he was a few
inches distant, and, on his entering, as quickly closed. The office of the pugnacious
individual inside was explained; he was actually the door-keeper, and his returning
comrades, having, like any other modern gentlemen, politely rapped, circled out of the
observation of prying eyes, till he was prepared to admit them. Numbers were con-
stantly arriving, and all went through the process I have described, each flying away,
after knocking, in a different direction, but all allowing the same time to elapse
before returning for admission :—thus, the door was never opened save at the proper
moment.

“After watching their proceedings for some time, I discovered the reason of their
not waiting quietly at the entrance. Sneaking among the stray leaves and rubbish in

Entomological Society. 3195

the trunk and in the holes and cavities of the bark, were numbers of small insects, of
the same colour as the bees, but with the addition of one or two minute bands of black
across the abdomen ; their slender, graceful forms and partially exposed ovipositors re-

_ yealed, however, the cause of their slinking about, and stamped them the parasitic

-_”

ichneumons of the hive. I thought that, after the habits of their tribe, they were en-
deavouring to obtain an entrance, when they pouncingly hovered over the bees as they
were disappearing in the door-way ; but, as none ever succeeded, I conjectured that
they had devised and were pursuing some other plan of introducing their blood-thirsty
progeny. Further observation showed this to be correct. The rascals were endea-
vouring to attach their eggs to the small pellets of pollen with which each bee was
laden, and they often succeeded, in spite of the admirably devised tactics to prevent
them.

** We were up and away down the sparkling river at daybreak the next morning ;
and I had no other opportunity of observing the economy of the bees and their ene-
mies; vor in my rambles, did I ever chance to meet with another family of the same
species, or with kindred habits.”

_ Mr. Smith also read the following extracts from letters received by him from the
author of the paper, hoping that some day the bee would be captured and examined
by an entomologist.

* T think nothing more will be necessary than simply to attest the truth of “ A new
Phase in Bee-life” to which you allude, and to add, that in recounting the facts there-
in contained, I used neither invention nor distortion, and but little embellishment.
Indeed, that portion which describes the bee’s workmanship and movements is nearly,
and but little more than, a verbatim copy of rough notes of a day’s gleanings, scrawled
by the light of the hissing night-fire, as I sat in my hammock that same evening,
scarcely a stone’s throw from the scene of such rare instinct and sagacity. Johnston
used ofttimes to quote the Spanish proverb,—‘ He that would bring home the wealth
of the Indies, must take the wealth of the Indies with him ;’ and truly this aphorism
could not find a better application than in my case. It has been, and ever will be, a
matter of extreme regret, that when I took up my residence in British Guiana, I was
possessed of so mean a knowledge of Entomology, and that, too, in a country so rich
and so unexplored, and that seemed to promise such inestimable treasures to the in-
vestigator, and without a smattering of the science or technicology of the subject, by
which alone the most careful observations can possibly be rendered intelligible, or any
thing but useless to naturalists at home.

“In reply to your first question, as to the manner of conveying the pollen to the
hive, I may state that the posterior thighs (tibiz) were considerably expanded, and hol-
lowed out into spoon-like cavities, in which the balls of kneaded pollen were steadied,
or rather, secured by numerous stout bristles. The bee itself could but little have ex-
ceeded a quarter of an inch in length, and in form approximated more to the rounded
humble- than to the oblong hive-bee; its colour was a light gray, and its body and
legs were in some places profusely covered with hair of a light hue; though in the lat-
ter, as in the head, face, and breast, the black predominated. Such is the impression
which my mind retains of its appearance, for I did not make any notes at the time,
entering into the minutie of size, form or colour, and write entirely from memory. I
did not observe the eggs of the parasite on the pollen ; their minuteness, similarity of
colour and rapidity of deposition, baffling the unaided sight; but I judged of their in-
tention, as you conjecture, from their movements. The eggs were certainly left either

3126 Entomological Society.

on the pollen or hinder parts of the body or legs of the bee. I assumed the former as
the more probable. I regret that I did not procure specimens of this ingenious insect,
but my attention was almost exclusively devoted to the acquisition of the more bril-
liant species of Lepidoptera.”

Mr. Smith then read a note on a nest of Polistes Lanio, Fabr., lately sent by John

a rere

MacGillivray, Esq. to the British Museum, from St. Salvador, where the wasp is abun- —

dant, the nests being formed under the eaves of the houses. In one of the cells he
fuund a specimen of Trigonalys bipustulatus, Smith, not enveloped in any pellicle, and
the wings crumpled up ; nor had the cell been closed in any way, proving that it had
never quitted the cell, and that Trigonalys is the parasite of Polistes,—a discovery of
much interest, as showing the relationship of the insect to be among the Pupivora.

Mr. Smith also read a note on another nest, recently presented to the British Mu-
seum, of a social wasp, unfortunately without any tenants, the chief interest attached
to it arising from its being constructed entirely of sandy loam, and the exterior being
so hard that a saw used in opening one of its sides was blunted.

The following note by J. M‘Intosh Esq., of Charminster, was read : —

“In the ‘ Proceedings of the Entomological Society, October 7, 1850, p. 36, it is
recorded that ‘“‘ Mr. Westwood, on the part of Mr. Gould, exhibited two insects he had
found in Scotland, impaled on the spines of furze.”. And Mr. Westwood says “the
subject of insects impaled on thorns required elucidation.” Perhaps the following me-
moranda made by myself on this subject, may prove interesting to the Entomological
Society.

“ T have frequently taken from off the thorns of Crategus and Ulex, the following
insects: — 1. Pieris Crategi. This insect was alive, «nd had been driven against the
thorn by the force of a gust of wind. ‘The caterpillar also of this insect I have found
in the same position. On one occasion I watched a caterpillar of this species crawl
over a thorn, in doing which its weight, and a slight breeze of wind at the same time
giving a motion to the branch, caused the sharp thorn to pierce the caterpillar, which,
struggling about to relieve itself, worked the thorn through its body, by which means
it became completely fixed. This was not a case of determined suicide, but an acci-
dental death. That insects meet with their death by being driven by wind or rapid
flight against the thorns or spines of trees, numerous examples have come under my

own observation. On heaths and in plantations, caterpillars, by crawling over the ~

sharp thorns or spines of plants, become in many cases pierced, and in their endea-
vours to escape only fix themselves the more securely, and become the easy food of
some feathered enemy. 2. and 3. Vanessa Urtice and Cynthia Cardui. The perfect
insects I have taken from off the thorns of Crataegus Oxyacantha, on several occasions
dead, but not in any way injured to lead me to suppose that they had been placed there
by any enemy. If so, they would have been mutilated in some degree.. 4. Ourapte-
ryx sambucaria. An example of this moth I have taken from off the spines of Ulex,
not injured. 5. Coccinella 7-punctata. I have met with frequent examples of this
insect impaled on the spines of Ulex, and what is more curious, on the sharp leaves of
Araucaria imbricata and Abies Canadensis, as well as on Crategus Oxyacantha. I
have taken specimens dead and very much mutilated, and others alive. 6. Sarrothri-
pus ilicanus. Specimens of this moth I have taken on the sharp prickles of the leaves
of the holly, Ilex Aquifolium.”

Mr. Spence read the following extract from a newspaper, called ‘ The Scientific

Entomological Society. 3127

American, dated March 22, 1851, “On the American Locust (Cicada septemdecim),”
communicated by Dr. Gideon B. Smith.

“ I have made this remarkable insect a special object of study for seventeen years,
beginning in April, 1834. During the spring and summer of that year, I made a
careful examination of its anatomy and habits, from the perfect larva state to the de-
scent of its progeny in July and August into the earth. I have frequently found the
larve since 1834, in the ground, where they went down in that year, from one and a
half to two feet from the surface, in oblong cells, varying from an inch to two or three
inches in diameter, and generally horizontal. These cells, however, appear to be
moveable, that is, the insect digs the earth from one end and packs it in the other.
The object of these movements seems to be to obtain fresh vegetable matter on which
to feed. The insect obtains its food from the small vegetable radicles that everywhere
pervade the earth. It takes its food from the surface of these roots, the moist exuda-
tion (like animal perspiration), for which purpose its rostrum or snout is provided with
three delicate capillaries or hairs, which it projects from the tube of the snout, and
sweeps them over the surface, gathering up the minute drops of moisture. This is its
only food: the mode of taking it can be seen by a good glass.

“Tt does not puncture the bark, because it has no instrument for such a purpose,
and therefore that they puncture the roots of pear-trees and thus kill the trees is erro-
neous. It is alsoan error to say, should a tree on which these larve have been feed-
ing be cut down, the insects perish for want of food. Ifa place be found where trees
grew in 1834, which were cut down, the land cleared, and even houses built upon it
sixteen years ago, the locusts will be there now, and will be seen to emerge from the
ground about the 25th of next May.

“The tract of country that will be occupied this year by the locusts extends from
the Patapsco river in Maryland, to Buck’s county in Pennsylvania, and from the Dela-
ware river to the middle of the range of the Alleghany mountains, including Bedford
county, Pennsylvania.

*‘ There is another locust-district this year in Georgia and South Carolina, a small
tract embracing a portion of these States, and another small one in Mississippi. I
have the location of thirty from different districts, occupying fourteen of the seventeen
years. The other three years are no doubt occupied in the western wilds of N. Ame-
“rica, between latitudes 433° N. and 29° S., beyond which parallels I have not been
able to hear of them. The locusts will appear about New York in 1860; this district
extends to the Connecticut river East, and as far North as Washington Co., N. Y.,
West to Amsterdam in Montgomery Co., and a large portion of New Jersey.

“In the whole range of Natural History there is nothing more strange than the
fact, — which has been established with as much certainty as any fact in Astronomy
ever was, — that a little insect, not so large as the smallest ant, should pass into the
ground, and remain there seventeen years, and then emerge a comparatively large in-
sect ; or that a certain tribe of insects should appear here in immense numbers, ex-
actly once in seventeen years, always in the same month, almost on the same day, and
same hour. It is indeed wonderful, but it is nevertheless true.

“ The music or song produced by the myriads of these insects, in a warm day,
from about the 25th of May to the middle of June, is wonderful. It is not deafening,
as many describe it; even at its height it does not interrupt ordinary conversation.
It seems like an atmosphere of wild monotonous sound, in which all other sounds float
With perfect distinctness. After a day or two, this music becomes tiresome and dole-

3128 ' Insects.

ful, and to many very disagreeable. ‘To me it was otherwise, and when I’ heard the
last note on the 25th of June, the melancholy reflection occurred—shall I live to hear
it again ?

“ Probably the first indication many persons will have of the approach of the lo-
custs, will be the industry with which they will find the hogs rooting up the ground

in the woods and fields. It is a great festival for them: and as soon as the insects —

appear above ground, chickens, turkeys, and all poultry will also have their feast. So
fond are all fowls of these insects, that they will scarcely touch other food during the
locust-season. This has a remarkable effect upon all hens’ eggs laid after the locusts
appear —their yolks are nearly white. The chicken become very fat, and of fine fla-
vour. Even the little wren will be seen flying off with a locust in its mouth, and all
insectivorous birds have a great festival.

“From the Ist to the 20th of June, all shrubbery of value should be protected, ei- —

ther by covering it with cheap gauze, or in case of pot-plants, by keeping them in the
house. About the 15th of June, the insects commence depositing their eggs ; and
about the 25th of June, the old locusts will have disappeared altogether.”

“Tn conclusion, people ought not to be alarmed. The insect has neither means
of offence nor defence, and all the stories told of children being killed by their sting or
bite are fabulous.”—J, W. D.

Entomological Localities. By J. W. Dovuetas, Esq.

“Go with me; if you like, upon report,
The soil, the profit, and this kind of life,
I will your very faithful feeder be.”
As You Like It.

CHARLTON PIT.

If 1 were a geologist, 1 should begin a notice of this locality by

speculating upon the various forces that have operated to place greats:
depths of gravel upon still deeper strata of sand; it must suffice to —
say, that the soil was composed of sand and gravel; the removal of ©

these during a long course of years has resulted in an excavation of

three or four acres area, covered with vegetation of various kinds, and —
besides hosts of insects, is thickly strewed with the latest formation— _
boys. “Jolly as a sand-boy ” is a phrase of which I never knew'the |
meaning until I went to Charlton, and saw the frolics of rolling, tum- _
bling, jumping and roaring of the young humans congregated there, —

whose maternal parents certainly must have been glad to think they
were out, even if they did not know where they were. Let.it not be
thought 1 wander from my subject by introducing these boys to no-
tice ; they cannot be separated from the entomology of the place, as
any one who goes there must test, very much to his annoyance or

Insects. 3129

amusement, as he may be inclined; and his disposition towards these
squatters will materially influence the tone of their criticisms on his
employment. This pit was the very Italy of a collecting-ground some
years since, when kept private, but since it has been overrun by these
Goths and Vandals, the number of insects has sensibly declined, and
some species are likely to become extinct.

I will briefly enumerate some of the more interesting captures in
Lepidoptera I have made here.

Trochilium Ichneumoniforme, much rarer than formerly. Taken by
sweeping Centaurea nigra. The early states of this insect are, I be-
lieve, still a mystery, and afford a problem for some of our brethren to
solve. It is always attached to the knapweed, and probably the larva
feeds in the stem or roots.

Dicrorampha Artemisize, Bentley, is found upon Artemisia vulgaris,
in July, and probably feeds upon that plant. Herrich-Scheffer and
Freyer have figured as caliginosana, 77., a Tortrix which seems iden-
tical with this species; the caliginosa of Guenée is probably identical
with the acuminatana of Zeller.

Dicrorampha Jacquinii, Haw., found upon tansy (Zanacetum vul-
gare) in July. Mr. Doubleday gives this as synonymous with poli-
tana, W. V.; but I beg, with all deference to his research, to differ.
Politana is taken all over the pit, and in many other places where no
tansy grows; whereas Jacquiniana is found only in one part of the
pit, where a few plants of tansy are, and the insect, per se, seems to
my eyes to be distinct from politana.

Grapholita nigromaculana. Attached to the ragwort (Senecio Jaco-
bea), and found in July.

Ephippiphora Fenella, Z. The larva feeds in the stems of Artemi-
sia vulgaris, and the imago appears in July. The time occupied in
the pupa state is very short.

Catoptria A new species, probably either decolorana or
modestana of Herrich-Scheffer. I found it here last August.

Eupecilia , the E. dubitana of English collections, but not
of Hiibner, which has a white head, whereas our species has a black
one. It does not appear to be known on the continent. Found in
July and August.

Cochylis dipoltella, Hiibner. Found in August.

Pempelia carnella used to be taken here, but is now almost, if not
quite, extinct, thanks to the boys aforesaid.

Homeosoma sinuella. Rarer than formerly. Taken by sweeping,
in July.

IX. X

3130 Quadrupeds.

Qicophora lambdella. Rare. July.
Gelechia rufescens. July.
“ Hermannella and neviferella. On Atriplex erecta in July.
zs Cirsiella, Dougl., (Sta. Cat. Supp. p. 4, No. 67). Bred
from larve, miners in thistle-leaves, last August.

Fa Atripiciella, taken by sweeping, in July.
99 Gerronella, one among broom at the top of the pit, in
August.

Gracilaria omissella. Larva feeds in leaves of Artemisia vulgaris.
I found the species here two or three years since, flying at dusk
among thistles and Artemisia.

Depressaria nanatella. I took two specimens here August 12, 1846,
and have never been able to find another, though I have often looked.

Depressaria atomella, I found on the broom in the wood at the top
of the pit, by searching it with a light at night last August; and have
no doubt the larva feeds on that plant.

In Coleoptera, several rarities have been found here by Mr. 8. Ste-
vens and others, (see Zool. 749).
| J. W. Doue.as.
2, Eton Grove, Lee, Kent,
April 19, 1851.

Notes on Observations in Natural History during a Tour in Norway.
By the Rev. ALFRED CHARLES SMITH, M.A.

(Continued from page 3106).

THE Reindeer, (Cervus Tarandus). Having given some account of
the tame reindeer in a former paper (Zool. 3103), I now purpose to
say something of this noble animal in its wild state, when it wanders
over the mountains and fjelds without control, and being to-day close
at hand, perhaps tomorrow will be a hundred miles away.

I was in the glorious valley of waterfalls, the Romsdal, when one
evening an old mountain hunter came to me, and proposed a two days’
expedition to hunt reindeer in the fjeld above, where he had heard
they were unusually numerous, and where he had himself killed one
a few days before. I soon arranged to meet him the following morn-
ing, and having persuaded a friend to accompany me, and taking ano-

Quadrupeds. 3131

ther guide to carry our provision-box and blankets, off we started up
the mountain side. There had been a drizzling rain all the morning,
and the mountain was very steep and rocky, and difficult to climb, so
that after about five hours’ hard walking and clambering in the rain,
and much doubting whether there really were any reindeer in these
fjelds, we began to grumble at the expedition. However, the day
cleared up at noon, and soon after, as we rounded a rock, our guides,
who were always keeping a sharp look-out with their telescopes, bec-
koned to us to crouch down, and pointed to three black spots in the:
snow on the mountain-side, some two miles off, exclaiming in a whis-
per the single word, “ reins! ”—which piece of information, thus laco-
nically expressed, had the magical effect of making us hurry towards
them in a crouching posture.

Who but a Norwegian huntsman would have so instantly disco-
vered three such small specks to be reindeer? Yet on looking through
our telescopes we could distinctly see them, as they were lying in the
snow ; an old buck above, as guard and watchman, a doe and fawn
(or calf, as they call it there) a little lower down: we could even see
the large branching antlers of the old buck. Now we retreated behind
a large rock, and prepared for a stalk, and then set off in a contrary
direction to the deer, intending to wind round the mountain and come
upon them from another point: but we had a large flat valley to cross
in their full view, and though so far distant from them that they still
appeared as spots to us, we must be very quiet and cautious, and
walk in a line, one behind the other, with our heads stooping down,
our guns at our sides, lest the sun should shine on the barrels and be-
tray us; our hats in our hands, and not venturing to speak above the
gentlest whisper. We had almost gained the mountain, and were
wading through an intervening torrent, and over the rocks upon its

banks, when the old buck apparently caught sight of us, and sprang
up from the snow, and then walked leisurely off to the hill-side, fol-
lowed by the doe and her fawn, and went over the next rock out of
our sight.

I was greatly disappointed, and should have given them up for lost,
but the old huntsman knew better: he told us that now was the time
to make haste ; so on we go, as fast as the rocky nature of the moun-
tain-side will allow us, and scramble over huge loose fragments of rock,
without making any noise, and scaréely daring to breathe, (for we are
now within half a mile of the deer)... Now we have passed the snow
on which we first saw them lying, and have another exposed gully to
cross: here we advance very cautiously and snake-like indeed, with

3132 Quadrupeds.

our bodies crouched down to the rock, our heads bent forward, our
hats and guns held close to the ground. First went the huntsman,
who had put on a large gray cap, and a Jersey speckled black and
white, the exact colour of the rocks; his keen eyes scanning every

stone in advance, and his light active limbs springing from rock to’

rock, now running along the huge masses of broken rock which lay in
_ our route, now dropping noiselessly down from some larger fragment.
I followed, and found some difficulty in keeping up with him over
such difficult ground, where the least noise would have been fatal to
our sport. Next came my companion; while the guide brought up
the rear. Safe across the gully, without being seen, away we go,
swiftly but noiselessly, towards the rock over which we last saw the
reindeer move. Now we gain the very spot where they had but just
passed, and now, very slowly and cautiously, and looking intently in
advance at every step, we near the top. There is a large projecting
piece of rock in front of us; we creep towards this, and thence peer-
ing out with the greatest caution, the huntsman spies the three deer,
not a hundred and fifty yards off, browsing the moss on the rock.
Slowly he retreats; and one by one we take his place to gaze, with
uncovered heads, and our eyes only peeping over a great stone.
There is a large patch of snow between us and the deer, so that to
advance nearer to them is impossible, but they are too far off for a
shot with a smooth bore; so the huntsman descends the mountain a
few steps, and lying at full length, crawls along the ground, or rather
wriggles himself along, like a serpent, or perhaps a Red Indian, and
tries to get round the deer, whence he can drive them towards us.
Meanwhile we take up our several positions behind certain projecting
rocks which conceal us, and lying at full length behind these, occa-
sionally peep over the tops at the deer, which have now left the rock
and descended on the snow, approaching nearer to us at every step.
This is most exciting! Fora quarter of an hour we lie behind our
friendly rocks, scarcely daring to breathe, lest the deer should hear us
— scarcely daring to peep, lest they should see us; fortunately, the
wind is directly from them, so they cannot smell us. During all this
time the huntsman, under cover of the hill, is urging himself along,
seeking to get round them; while our other guide is lower down the
mountain, holding an old deer-hound we had brought with us. At
length, crack goes the buntsman’s rifle; up we jump, gun in hand,
and see the old buck trotting majestically towards us over the snow,
his head thrown up into the air, not at all in a hurry, and followed by
the doe and calf. TI fire both barrels at the buck ; still on he goes as

Se ee ee.

Quadrupeds. 3133

if untouched, but quickening his pace a little; soon however he stops
and turns round to stare at us leisurely ; then onward he quietly trots
again, followed by the other two, and, soon rounding the hill, is lost
to our view. We are much disappointed, thinking he is not touched,
but, loading again, prepare to follow him, although with little hope of
seeing him again. We have not advanced far in pursuit, when to our
great delight, and not a little to our amazement, for he showed no sign
of being hit, we see drops of blood on a stone in his track, then more,
then still more, then a little pool of blood where he had stood to gaze
at us: we see that one of us at least has hit him hard, and our spirits
rise. It is easy now to track him by the blood, which is on every
stone over which he has passed ; we put the dog on the track, but the
beast is useless, and will not take it up: but no matter ! — there is so
much blood we can track him ourselves: so we follow for about half
an English mile, when beyond a rock in front we can see the top of
his back. Now we advance again very cautiously, and crouching
down to the ground; but, as we get nearer, we find caution unneces-
sary — the deer is dead: and brandishing our guns over our heads,
and with loud shouts such as the wild fjeld seldom hears, we are soon
by the side of our prey: he is quite dead, the fatal bullet struck him
in the middle of the belly. We look around for the doe and fawn,
but they are nowhere to be seen; they have left their lord to die
alone, and are probably many miles away.

After admiring the goodly size and the splendid antlers of our prey,
we soon set to work at him after Norwegian custom. And first, to
take off his skin: each armed with a hunting-knife, or small dagger
with a hilt, the invariable and most useful weapon in the belt of a
Norsk huntsman, and each taking one leg, and beginning at the foot,
we proceed to strip him of his skin. After half an hour’s hard work
the skin is removed; this being done, the huntsman and guide pro-
ceed to open him: we leave that to them, as well as the task of bury-
ing the skin under one heap of stones, and the body under another,
this being the regular custom in Norway, lest the bears and wolves
should devour them during the night, or before a horse can be brought
to convey them home; for we are now many miles from the nearest
house. And now, giving strict charge to our men to bring the heart
and one leg to the place appointed for our night’s quarters, we replace
the bullets in our guns with shot, and proceed to shoot ptarmigan for
the rest of the afternoon. In the evening, we make a great feast off
reindeer leg and heart, cut off in slices, and toasted by each for him-
self on the point of his hunting-knife in a blazing fire. We find the

3134 Quadrupeds, &c.

heart by far the most tender and good, the leg being extremely tough,
and no wonder, seeing how recently the animal had been killed.
Next morning we are off again very early in search of game. Dur-
ing the day we discover two more herds of deer, one consisting of five
the other of seven head; neither was visible without the aid of the
telescope. ‘The huntsman computed them to be a Norsk mile (or se-
ven English miles) distant from us. As both herds were on a snowy
mountain, and near the top of it, where there was no rock or other co-
ver to give us a chance of approaching them, we did not attempt to
get near them, but contented ourselves with watching them for some
time through our glasses, as they were moving about, or lying in the
snow ; and then finished our expedition by lighting upon a capital
ptarmigan ground, and by bagging seven brace of these glorious birds.

ALFRED CHARLES SMITH.
Old Park, Devizes,
May 5, 1851.

(To be continued).

Capture of a Whale off Lynn Regis.
By the Rev. ALFRED CHarLes Situ, M.A.

THE interesting account of the recent capture of a whale near Lynn,
given by Mr. Newton (Zool. 3107), reminds me of a similar event
which I was fortunate enough to witness in the summer of 1842, at
the same place; indeed, Lynn seems to be particularly favoured by
the visits of these monsters of the deep, for that one whose capture I
witnessed was by no means the first that had been killed there within
the memory of man. The story of his capture was curious. Two
fishermen had started in their boat before daybreak, and were pulling
down the river. Now, it is the custom of the Lynn fishermen, in con-
sequence of the perpetually shifting sands, when they go out before
daylight, to have a man at the boat’s head, with a light pole in his
hand, sounding the sands; and this was the case with our fishermen,
when they suddenly struck their pole against something hard, which
they knew could not be a bank, though they had little conception at
first what it really was. However, they soon perceived it to be ani-
mated, and then were not long in discoveiing it to be a whale that had
stranded himself in the channel, having come in with the tide, and
being left at low water, unable to find his way back. No sooner had

is ee ee

Quadrupeds, &c. 3135

they ascertained this, than they immediately resolved at all hazards
to secure so rich a prize; and knowing that no time was to be lost,
and that if the whale was to be despatched it must be done before the
tide again arose, and so enable him to get out to sea, they set to work
at once. Now the only arms they possessed were their knives and
anchor-cable, so that their chance of killing the whale seemed small
indeed. However, nothing daunted, they resolved to await the arri-
val of other boats, in the hope that one of them might bring some
better weapon, wherewith to despatch the monster of the deep; mean-
while, by way of doing something, and in order that their treasure
might not give them the slip, and sneak off to sea in the dark, they
just made fast one end of their cable to the boat, and lashed the other
round one of the fins of the whale. He seems to have been a good-
natured, placid, easy-tempered fellow, for he did not resent this as an
impertinence, and indeed up to this point seems quite to have entered
into the sport; for when firmly attached to the boat by his fin, and
as the tide was now rising and gave him more room, and be began to
grow impatient at the non-arrival of more boats, by way of diversion, °
and to change the scene, away he started down the channel in which
he had been stranded, and took the boat, and the now somewhat ter-
rified boatmen, away with him at a fearful rate. Fortunately for the
fishermen, he did not go straight down the channel, or he would soon
have been in deep water, and out to sea again, without a chance of
being captured, even if he did not upset the boat and drown the men,
which was by no means improbable: however, he took the wrong
turning, and soon stranded himself again in water shallower than
before.

This little dévertissement had been just enough to show the boat-
men that he was a monster of considerable power, and that although
lashed to their boat, he was not yet their prey ; so, being now joined
by several other boats, though none brought them any other weapons
than knives, they resolved to attempt his death with these insignificant
tools. So one of our hardy boatmen (setting the example which was
so well followed by Mr. Gordon Cumming, in slicing out of the living
hippopotamus a handle to hold on by, whilst being towed about in the
water), coolly begins to cut a hole in the whale’s side, through which
when large enough he hoped to thrust his hand, until the knife should
reach some vital part. How long the whale entered into and ap-
proved of this sport, I cannot say; this was rather a sore trial to his
good nature, and indeed he seems to have lost his temper at this point,
and to have lashed his tail, and spouted out water, and made-such a

3136 Quadrupeds, &c.

commotion and noise, that the boats were nearly upset, and the fish-
ermen found that such attempts to take his life were not likely to be
successful. They were in this situation, when a coal-brig, coming in
with the tide, passed within sight of the unusual and unequal encoun-
ter, and the captain ransacked his vessel for the most deadly weapons
he could send them; however, all he could do was to fix a bayonet
on a mop-handle, and with this the intrepid fishermen renewed the
attack, and persecuted the unfortunate whale. But though they could
do him no mortal injury, they succeeded in causing him to play such
antics, and to create so great a commotion in the peaceful waters of
the Wash, as attracted the attention of the men at the look-out in the
harbour of Lynn, some eight or nine miles off. What further attempts
after the same manner these hardy fishermen would have resorted to
in order to secure their prize, which they were firmly resolved to ob-
tain, I cannot say, for now a long spit was sent to them from Lynn,
and with this the monster was despatched.

Meanwhile many hours had elapsed since the first discovery of the
whale by the boatmen, and news of the stranger having reached Lynn,
many boats started for the scene of action. It so chanced that I was
going out in a friend’s yacht at the moment the news arrived, and of
course we lost no time in hurrying to the scene of action. Just as we
reached the boats, which were now increased to the number of about

twenty, his death struggles began, and it was a grand sight to see his —

terrific plunges, the water lashed into foam by his enormous and pow-
erful tail, the whole sea around in commotion, and the volumes of
blood and water which he spouted in his agonies before he was igno-
miniously slain by the spit! Now he plunged down and almost over-
whelmed the boats in the storm he raised; now he reared his enormous
head out of the water; now with his great black tail he lashed the

waves ; now with a prodigious effort seemed to throw himself almost —

out of the sea; while two huge fountains of blood and water spouted
from his nostrils half-mast high, and the surrounding boats reeled and
trembled, and were well nigh upset in the confusion.

When quite dead he was towed into Lynn by the whole fleet of |
boats. Ropes were passed from boat to boat, and finally to our yacht, |

which took the lead; and with flags flying and much cheering, we
moved along, a triumphant procession, into Lynn harbour.

I forget what were his dimensions and supposed weight ; I only re- |

member that I thought him a very Leviathan, and that he brought in
a great deal of money to the fishermen: though from the number of
boats in at the death, all of which claimed a share in the prize, I fear

Quadrupeds. 3137

the two brave and adventurous men who first discovered the whale,

and ran such risks in his capture, were not sufficiently remunerated as

they deserved. ALFRED CHARLES SMITH.
Old Park, Devizes, May 8, 1851.

Instinct of a Dog. — A certain cattle-dealer in Irvine is frequently in the habit,
when visiting Ayr market, on Tuesdays, of leaving his dog behind him. On these oc-
casions, upon missing his master, the animal has been frequently known to take the
next train to Ayr, visit the cattle-market, and not finding the object of his search,
return again to Irvine. His conduct has often attracted the notice of the guards on
the line, and his movements have been watched ; but we have not heard by what class
he is accustomed to travel, and at what rate he is charged.—Ayr Observer.

Curious Capture of a Pair of Polecats, (Mustela Putorius).—In an out-house be-
longing to my neighbour, the Rev. E. Rust, there is a large cistern, which formerly
was used for malting purposes, and from which there is a communication with the
ground outside, by a hole in the wall. About a month ago, one of the servants found
this cistern occupied by a couple of polecats, male and female, who, no doubt on mur-
derous thought intent, followed each other through the hole in the wall, but were un-
able to get back. They were of course slaughtered with sticks and staves, to which
performance I believe many hands were summoned.—C. R. Bree ; Stowmarket.

Remarkable Effect of Training in Cattle. — Spending a few days in the Glenkens,
a romantic district in the south of Scotland, and travelling in company with a friend,
he directed my attention to a cow grazing in a field close by, partly oats and partly
meadow. She was eagerly feeding on the grass by the side of the corn, with nothing
to prevent her from eating the latter. Such a thing was quite new to me, and I could
not imagine how to account for it. But my friend explained the mystery. “ She is,”
said he, “an Ayrshire cow, and when young had been herded in pastures close by the
corn, and kept from eating it, till under this restraint the inclination for it had disap-
peared. I have seen,” added my friend, “in Ayrshire, the cows with their very horns
in the corn while feeding, without injuring it.” This is certainly a remarkable result
of early training.—Correspondent of the Leeds Mercury.

Poison from the Blow of a Platypus.— The following notice of poison from the
blow of a platypus, will interest the scientific reader—We have been favoured with
_ the following communication from Mr. Anstey, giving an account of the extraordinary
effect of the blow of a platypus. We insert it in the hope that the attention of natu-
ralists may be directed to the circumstances, as it would be well worth while, by a se-
ries of experiments, to determine the virulence of the poison contained in the spurs of
this curious animal. “On Monday morning last, a man named Cooper, employed by
Mr. G. C. Clarke, as gatekeeper at Interlachen, discovered a platypus asleep in the
small stream connecting Lake Crescent and Sorell. He grasped it by the neck with
his left hand, and was instantly struck by the creature’s spurs on the upper and under
sides of his wrist, the wounds being about an inch in length and skin deep. He suc-
ceeded in killing it, and at once proceeded to another establishment of Mr, Clarke’s
on Lake Sorell, called the ‘ Dog’s Head,’ distant about four miles from Interlachen.
By the time he arrived there his arm had very much swollen, and he complained of
great pain all the way up it. Fortunately for him, a party of gentlemen arrived at the

IX ¥

3138 Birds.

Dog’s Head shortly after, one of whom was a medical man. By this time Cooper's
arm had greatly increased in size, his eyesight had nearly failed him, and his face
grew black. His wounds were lanced, bathed with brandy, and, in the absence of any

stronger remedy, a large quantity of raw brandy was administered to him internally. —

Ds oe

4

een 4

La)

o

For may hours the poor man was in great danger, but ultimately the antidote tri- —
umphed over the bane; and the next morning nothing remained but a little swelling —
of the arm below the elbow, and some soreness in the spur-wounds. An hour after —
the platypus was killed, we were able to squeeze some liquid out of its spurs, but were —

not able to test its effect on any living thing.’”— Hobart Town Courier.

The Cockney House Sparrow and the Early Breakfast-shop.*

My Dear GoueH,

You know that Wordsworth describes London as a “ wil-
derness of building,” and no better description can surely be given of
this huge Babylon. ‘The human habitations of London are upwards
of 300,000, and, adding to this number all other descriptions of build-
ings, you make up a sum of jive hundred thousand—half a million of
edifices ; a “ wilderness of building !”

It is a curious fact—first noticed, I believe, by the celebrated Hone
— that in every street in the city of London you may find a tree, or
catch sight of a tree. I thought this so improbable, that I have wan-
dered through many a street to test its accuracy ; and I believe it is
almost a true saying. Still, London does not by any means present a
sylvan aspect, for as “ one swallow does not make a summer,” so one
tree does not make a sylvan street !

Tavistock-square, St. Pancras, is in the very centre of this huge
metropolis, being one of the “lungs” and therefore properly located
in the “chest” of the sprawling giant town. At the south-east corner
of this square stands a solitary plane tree, well freighted with branches
and with foliage in the season. Throughout the spring and summer
this plane tree is vocal all day long with the simple song of the house
sparrow (Fringilla domestica). So numerous are these birds among
the leaves in summer, that the tree is literally alive and black with
them, and many a scuffle takes place on some of the shadiest twigs.
for standing room. ‘The summer sun, daily coursing from the zenith
to his western horizon, pours his hottest beams upon this place, and
the surrounding buildings converge them to a focus, straight upon

* In a Letter from Cornelius Nicholson, London, to Thos. Gough, Esq., Kendal,
April 3, 1350. Read at the Kendal Natural History Society, and communicated by
William Spence, Esq., F.R.S.

Birds. 3139

this solitary plane ; so the contest among the sparrows is to try which
can get standing room under the umbrage of a leaf. They build their
nests mostly in the chimney-stacks and chinks of the houses close by,
but those places are too hot for them during the afternoon of a sum-
mer’s day. .

Among the many ways in which the working classes of London mi-
nister to the wants of each other, and provide for their own necessi-
ties; among the many occupations practised in London, but unknown
in the country, is that of the keeper of a moving coffee-shop. This
useful merchant is the first to light his fire, of all the fires that are daily
kindled as so many shrines dedicated to Mammon. He takes his sta-
tion at a corner which bisects two streets, where streams of passengers
first begin to flow; and there he retails a cup of coffee for a halfpen-
ny, and a slice of bread and butter for another halfpenny, which
pennyworth of beverage is, I am told, the total breakfast of many a
hard-working man. The caravan which composes this peripatetic
breakfast-shop, is a long, flat, double-handled wheelbarrow, with an
awning, which can be put on and off at will, as the wind or the wea-
ther may make it desirable. One of the steadiest merchants in this
line of business in all London is Patrick CorBeEtTT, who takes up his
position by four or five o’clock of the morning in summer, and by the
first glimmer of daylight in winter, at the south-east corner of Tavi-
stock-square, exactly opposite the plane-tree which I have introduced
to your notice. Among the sparrows, which I have said “most do
congregate” in this tree, is one —a female — between whom and our
coffee salesman, Patrick, there has long existed a most intimate and
interesting friendship. This bird is distinguishable from the rest (set-
ting aside her familiarities with Patrick) by having a peculiar-shaped
crest, and a few very dark feathers behind the nape of the head. Al-
though this sparrow is a female, the old man always calls her “ Dick,”
after the manner of children, who, as you know, call all /ittle birds
“Dicks.” The friendship between Patrick and “ Dick” has now lasted
nearly four years, and, with the exception of the space of about two or
three months (which I will particularly relate), the two friends have, for
all this period, every morning without fail breakfasted together, and
held sweet converse together over their morning meal! Old Patrick
cannot tell how the attachment between “ Dick” and him first exhi-
bited itself, or which of them made the first overtures. For the sake
of female “honour,” one would fain hope that Patrick made the first
advances, and so gradually won the confidence and justified the fami-
liarities of Lady Sparrow. I know not how much coyness, and diffi-

3140 Birds.

dence, and delicacy she possessed before the intimacy with Patrick
sprang up, but certes she is not over modest now! From her perch
in the plane tree she will drop down upon a lump of bread and but-
ter, as an eagle drops upon his doomed prey. She takes possession
of either the upper or lower story of the coffee-shop, and struts about —
with as busy an air as if she were both cook, scullery-maid and waiter
all in one. She will either eat bread and butter from Patrick’s fin-
gers, or sup the coffee out of his cup. She will sit in his lap without
a blush, and kiss his hand “ before folk.” Now, you might find some
excuse for such levity as this in a young, romping, girlish bird of un-
sophisticated life, but “ Dick” we know to be the mother of at least
fifty to sixty children! And I believe that that mark on the head
which I told you distinguishes her, is nothing less than the bump of
philoprogenitiveness! She has three broods of young in the course
of a season. As soon as her offspring have ripened into the era of
bread and butter, she asserts greatly zxcreased claims upon the coffee-
shop, so that at this time there may truly and literally be said to be a
great run upon Patrick’s establishment. It is a continuous flight and
counterflight between the bird’s nest and the breakfast shop for two
whole hours of a morning; in some journeys, “ Dick” contenting her-
self with what may properly be termed a crumb, and at other times
carrying off what in Westmoreland would be called “a shive.” She
seems to have no compunction in being beholden to Patrick’s store
for the whole means of subsistence for herself and numerous progeny.
She appears to think andact as if the breakfast-shop were wheeled to that
favourite corner of the Square for her special use and behoof. Every
morning it comes—every morning she feeds herself and her offspring,
and the liberal soul of a coffee-man never cries “Hold, enough!” Some-
times, in winter, when the cold winds whistle through the streets, and
darkness has set in so thick throughout the night, that feeble, strug-
gling daylight can hardly penetrate the murky gloom — sometimes, at
that hungry season, if the old man with his coffee-shop should be a
few minutes behind his time, ewarting for daylight — at such seasons,
and under such circumstances, “ Dick” has often set off from Tavi-
stock-square, and gone through Tavistock-place, and the whole length
of Compton-street into Judd-street, to meet her morning companion
and friend! When “ Dick” has, at the end of this journey, saluted
Patrick with a chirp, she perches herself either beneath or upon the
awning of the moving coffee-shop, and so rides home ! This has not
been done merely once and casually, but frequently and regularly as
Patrick has been behind his usual time !

Birds. 3141

Whilst “ Dick’s” offspring are unfledged and unable to leave their
- nest, she carries the bread and butter up to their dormitory. When
they can fly a little, she places them on the string-course of the house
in Tavistock-place, and carries their food to them there. So soon as
they are strong enough on the wing to compass the distance between
the chimney-stack and the ground, she then conducts her young ones
to within “a respectful distance” of the coffee-shop, where she and
Patrick together help them to their morning meal. Once upon a
time she brought down three young ones, one of which was so weak
that it could not rise again, and Patrick, in pure compassion, took the
little sparrow away to his home. Unfortunately, however, it died in
the course of the day. A complete change now took place in the
conduct and demeanour of “ Dick” towards old Patrick. She alighted
from her perch in the plane tree, but not, as before, under the domes-
tic roof of the coffee-shop. She alighted in the street, and kept at
some yards aloof from Patrick. In vain he called, “ Dickey, Dickey,
Dick, Dick,” to come to him. In vain he coaxed and cozened; in
vain he threw lumps of soft crumb, buttered on both sides; “ Dick”
spurned all entreaty, and all offers of reconciliation. The former
sweet chirp of affectionate confidence was changed to a harsh note of
remonstrance and reproach.

“ You need not ask Jean Jacques Rousseau,
Whether birds confabulate or no.”

Patrick knew and felt the force of everything that poor “ Dick”
uttered, and he quite despaired, as he told me, of ever regaining the
lost esteem of his bird. But time is said to be a cure for the heaviest
griefs; and, by and bye, “ Dick” produced another brood of young
ones. ‘The new joys ofa mother caused her to forget her former loss,

and to forgive the kidnapping delinquency of old Patrick. The alien-
ated friends now again embraced one another, and any Londoner who
will get up betimes in a morning, may, by repairing to Tavistock-
square, see what a happy breakfast party is there composed of old
PaTrick CorBETT and the Cockney House Sparrow !

I am, Dear GoueH,
Yours faithfully,
CoRNELIUS NICHOLSON.

55, Bernard-street, Russell-square,
London, April 3, 1850.

3142 Correspondence of Mr. Bates.

Extracts from the Correspondence of Mr. H. W. Bates, now forming
Entomological Coliections in South America.

(Concluded from page 2966).

“ Kga, Upper Amazons,

December 23, 1851.

“ After waiting many weary months, a vessel now leaves Ega for
the city (Para), and I avail myself of the opportunity to send my col-
lections. From July to the present month it is a very rare case the
departure of canoes from here down river, as during these months the
strong trade wind from below prevails, rendering the voyage not only
very protracted but dangerous, as the only means of progressing down
river is by tacking constantly across stream in the teeth of the wind.
During all this time too I have not been able to move from here, the
£40 you sent me in January I did not receive till the end of October,
thus I was quite unable to undertake a voyage further up river. I
have now, I believe, received all letters from England, down to the
date of yours (accompanying letters from my family) of August 16;
one packet I received at the end of October, another on the 7th of this
month (with £30), and a third yesterday. With the exception of two
months, I have spent all the time since the Ist of May in this villa,
and have led a life unsupportably wearisome from the want of society,
books, &c. Insects are very scarce in individuals, as everywhere else
in these dense virgin forests; but the variety of species is wonderful,
and conspicuous new things are constantly turning up. The other
day I arranged the fine Titanus which I now send. In respect of
the other branches of natural history, nothing is to be done, except
perhaps in birds, which cannot be followed up without hunters (here
impossible to be found for any amount of wages). Shells there are
scarcely any, either living or dead. I have noted well your advice in
the various kind letters you have sent me, and in the collecting of in-
sects, believe I have followed it to the letter. Of reptiles, fishes, &c.,
I have had excellent opportunities to arrange extensive series during
the two months [ spent in excursions with my friends here out on the
Amazons; but my cash was reduced to so low an ebb, that I dared
not lay out the amount of 15s. or 20s. in spirits and vessels necessary.
In one excursion we were thirty days out in a canoe, with ten Indians,
every day with drag-net, on the edges of the vast sandy beaches upon
the Amazons, and in the small lakes buried in the depths of the fo-

Correspondence of Mr. Bates. 3143

rest, in search of fish and turtle for our daily subsistance, and I was
always regretting not to have means to preserve the many curious lit-
tle fishes that turned up. The Lepidosiren never appeared. I know
the shape of the animal well, from being interested in it in England,
and have made inquiries after it from Para to here, but found no one
who could give me any information about it.

“With respect to remaining longer in this country, I was for some
time undecided, but on the receipt of letters from home yesterday, I
have well weighed the arguments of my father, and have resolved to
return to England. Whether I shall be able to settle down to quiet
life or not, I am still doubtful, at any rate, if I choose I can come out
again, and with better arrangements for making a voyage of the kind
interesting. Ega, I know, is an excellent station: from here there
are opportunities to explore many interesting regions. By taking
half the expenses of the voyage, I could arrange with any trader for
the Japura, and could ascend to the frontiers of Nova Granada, a voy-
age there and back—working on the way—of nine or twelve months.
I could do the same with the river Jurua, on the south bank of the
Amazons. A voyage which had greater charms for me was to Peru,
to the cities of Moyabamba and Chachapoyas; in the mountains be-
tween there and here there is sometimes communication. Two civil
young Peruvians were here from those cities a few days ago, and
would willingly have taken me with them, sharing the expenses. I
made every inquiry as to the voyage &c.; they informed me that with
eight or ten good Indians, a small canoe takes three months and a
half to work up against the stream to Balsa Puerta, on the river
Huallaga. From Balsa Puerta to Moyabamba is five days by land,
climbing up the steep sides of mountains, &c. The whole country to
there is very healthful. Moyabamba is a populous but poor district,
with plenty of Indians, more active and desirous to gain than the idle
scoundrels at Eiga; living is poor but cheap, and the people peace-
able and trustworthy. Chachapoyas is eight or ten days further than
Moyabamba by land, and surrounded by mountains capped with snow;
the society is refined and living expensive. This voyage is practica-
ble, as you see, but excessively tedious ; three months and a half con-
stantly tormented by mosquitoes, Tabani, &c., with no society but
dull Indians, speaking the Inca language, or Lerjoa Gual of the Ama-
zons, is scarcely to be borne, except in the company of a sympathetic
companion, both very enthusiastic and with resources to amuse &c.
I am not only without companions, but without books or maps, and
rather wearied with three years’ constant entomologizing. The other

3144 Correspondence of Mr. Bates.

voyages to Japura &c. have this one drawback, they are subject to a
severe kind of fever and ague. I know of no one who goes there that
escapes the disease ; it is seldom fatal, but serious from the utter pros-
tration of strength that accompanies it. I entertained therefore this

alternative, Moyabamba or home, and from the reasons mentioned —

decide on the latter; and if I really cannot settle at home, I can still
make the excursion, as the expense from Para to Moyabamba is not
great. As I do not wish to arrive in England during the cold wea-
ther, I shall entertain myself in the voyage down river, so as to reach
England at the end of April or beginning of May. I shall purchase
all the curious live animals and birds I meet with, though I assure you
there are very few to be had. The collection now sent is one of the
best that I have been able to get together.

“* December 31st.— I have not written any articles for the Maga-
zines, for the reason that I have no means of ascertaining the scien-
tific names of the species, or of knowing what has previously been
written concerning them. I have abundance of materials for many
interesting articles, which I am reserving for use on my return. Mr.
Wallace, I suppose, will follow up the profession, and probably will
adopt the track I have planned out to Peru; he is now in a glorious
country, and you must expect great things from him. In persever-
ance and real knowledge of the subject, he goes ahead of me, and is
worthy of all success. The vessel I suppose sails tomorrow, what more
I have to say, I hope I shall be spared to relate 2m propria persond.

“* HENRY W. BatTEs.”

Note by Mr. S. Stevens.—Mr. Bates has not yet returned, but from
the tenour of his letter we are daily expecting him, and trust he will
return safe and sound. The collection now sent is unquestionably
the finest and most valuable of all that he has sent. It contains, for
the quantity, a wonderful amount of novelty and variety, and has for-
tunately arrived in superb condition. Amongst the butterflies most
conspicuous, is a splendid Charaxes and the glorious Callithea Batesii,
Heetera Andromeda, and a singular new Papilio, which at first sight
has the appearance of a Heliconia. ‘The Coleoptera contain five fine
species of Megacephalus, including the gigantic and rare M. Klugii,
and a number of new and beautiful Longicornes, Curculionidae, Sta-
phylinide, Chrysomelide &c.

SAMUEL STEVENS.

24, Bloomsbury-street, May 19th, 1851.

Birds. 3145

Occurrence of the Osprey in Norfolk.—Three specimens of the common osprey (all
freshly killed) have been sent into Norwich to be stuffed during the past week. — J.
H. Gurney ; Easton, May 3, 1851.

Note on the Great Eagle Owl nesting in confinement.—I have already had the plea-
sure of noticing in the ‘ Zoologist’ (Zool. 2849) the curious fact of a pair of great
eagle owls in the possession of my friend, Mr. E. Fountaine, of this parish, having
nested, hatched, and brought up their young, in confinement, in the two successive
years of 1849-50; and I am now happy to be able to state, that the same birds have
again produced and hatched three eggs: the season and period of incubation being
identical with the dates mentioned by me in my notice on the subject last year. The
number of eggs in each instance has been three, which I think may therefore be safely
assumed to be the normal number of eggs produced by this species.—Jd.

Occurrence of the Pied Flycatcher §c. near Rugeley.—In April last a male speci-
men of the pied flycatcher (Muscicapa atricapilla) was shot in Regent's Wood, on
Cannoc Chase. This is the first instance of the bird having been taken in Stafford-
shire that I am aware of. On November the 15th a fine male specimen of the snow
bunting (Emberiza nivalis), in its winter plumage, was shot on Cannoc Chase, by
one of the keepers, near Wednesford. It was a solitary bird, no other birds of any
kind being near it: it is very rare here. On the 19th of November a male specimen
of the mountain finch or brambling (Fringilla montifringilla) was killed by a boy in
a lane near the town. The whole of the above were preserved by and are now in the
possession of Mr. C. Allen, bird and animal preserver.— Rk. W. Hawkins ; Upper
Brook Street, Rugeley.

Occurrence of the Gray-headed Wagtail (Motacilla neglecta) at Eastbourne, Sus-
sex.—On the 5th instant I shot a female specimen of this bird on the beach near East-
bourne. It has not, I believe, been previously noticed in this county.—J. B. Ellman ;
Lewes, May 7, 1851.

Occurrence of the Parrot Crossbill in Suffolk and Norfolk.—About a month ago I
was fortunate enough to obtain from Mr. Head, bird-preserver at Bury St. Edmund’s,
a specimen, a fine red male, of the parrot crossbill, which was shot at Saxham in
this county, last November. As Messrs. Gurney and Fisher do not include this spe-
cies in their ‘‘ Account of Birds found in Norfolk,” (Zool. iv. 1312), I am glad to be
able to say that at Riddlesworth Hall there is one, also a red male, which was shot in
the neighbourhood, and in that county, some years since. — Alfred Newton ; Elveden
Hall, Thetford, April 30, 1851.

Observations on the Cuckoo, (Cuculus canorus). — On the morning of the 14th of
April, I was out sheoting with a friend, for the purpose of obtaining specimens in Or-
nithology, and having arrived at a point of the river called the Alder Carr, situated
midway between Norwich and Thorpe, I heard from an adjoining tree the well-known

Note of a cuckoo, which I observed perched at the distance of twenty yards. I was
about to fire, when over my head sailed another, with something between its mandi-
bles. My curiosity was excited, and leaving the other to speed on its way, I followed
in a boat the flying cuckoo, which I saw alight in an adjoining meadow. I reached
the bird within twenty yards, and observed it in the act of progressing, in a similar
way to the crawling of a parrot, by the side of a drain, with the substance still in its
beak ; after traversing some distance it stopped short, and at the same time I fired.
Upon nearing it, I found the substance before mentioned to be its egg, I am sorry to
say, broken, but still quite satisfactory to me that such was the case. Upon dissec-

VOL. Iv. Z

3146 Birds. 4

tion I found the cloaca contained another egg of nearly the same size, but without the
calcareous envelope. I think in all probability this bird was searching for a nest, per-
haps that of the meadow pipit (Anthus pratensis), for the depositing of its egg.—J. O.
Harper, Curator to the Museum of Anatomy, Hospital, Norwich.

Waxwings killed in Northwmnberland.—I have to-day seen a fine flesh specimen of —
the waxwing (Bombycilla garrula), which was shot near the village of Wideopen a day
or two ago. Two others were killed at the same time, but the shooter not being aware —
of their value did not preserve them. — Thos. J. Bold ; 42, Bigg Market, Newcastle- —
on-T'yne, April 16, 1851. |

Occurrence of the Waxwing near Bishop Auckland. — I beg to inform you of the
arrival again of the Bohemian waxwing in our neighbourhood this year, though in |
very limited numbers as compared with last year, and at a much later period. I re- ©
ceived a specimen on the 18th instant, which had been shot the day before at New
Hunwick near Bishop Auckland; other four having also been obtained near that
place. Since then Mr. H. Gornall has received three to preserve: he himself shot
one on the 22nd, and saw other three, which fortunately escaped. — Joseph Duff;
Hunter Hill, near Bishop Auckland, April 26, 1851.

Late appearance of the Waxwing.—A pair of waxwings, male and female, were (I
am informed) killed at Cringleford, near Norwich, on the 20th of April. So late an
appearance of these birds would seem to denote that they would probably have nested
there, had they not been destroyed, especially as they were both killed by the same
shot.—J. H. Gurney ; Easton, May 3, 1851. |

Nesting of the Wren (Troglodytes vulgaris).—I have observed one or two instances
of variation from the usual locality of the nest of this interesting little bird, which are
perhaps worth recording. As every one knows from his schoolboy days, little “ Kitty”
chooses for its nest a bank covered with moss or ivy, an old stump covered with the
same convenient plant, or, better than all, the thatched roof of an out-house. Two
years ago, however, I was shown the nest of this bird in the hole of a wall. The en-
trance was perhaps half a foot in diameter, but it narrowed inwardly, and here the nest |
was formed, having the usual ingeniously contrived opening, into which I could just —
manage to get a finger. The brood was hatched safely. The same year I was much —
amused in watching one of my sprightly little friends carrying a mouthful of moss,
nearly as large as itself, into the newly finished nest of the house-martin. I did not |
observe the real owner of the nest disputing possession with the intruder, but as after
each load of moss it flew on to a neighbouring gate, and gave out its usual gay shrill
note of triumph, I presumed that the swallow had surrendered at discretion. I regret
that I was prevented re-visiting the place to ascertain whether this was the fact or not. —
This year I found that my little friend, or one of them, rather, for I boast of many, —
had built its nest in the branch of a yew-tree, not in the fork of two branches, but —
amongst the foliage of a large branch stretching out far from the main stem, and at _
least eight feet from the ground. I at first doubted the fact of the ownership of the
nest being that of the wren, and watched it carefully. There was an egg laid every —
day up to the fifth ; the sixth day being wet, I did not visit the nest ; on the seventh —
day I found only a single egg, what had become of the others I do not know. I care~ |
fully looked for foot-marks, but found none except my own, and I have perfect confi-
dence that no one about my premises would touch a nest. In addition to this, I hold
it impossible for any human to get the eggs out of a wren’s nest, without destroying —
the nest or breaking the eggs, and so I suppose a rascally starling was the depredator.

Birds—Reptiles. 3147

As I wished to be satisfied about the ownership of the nest, I tried hard to get a look
at the remaining egg; but so curiously contrived is this tiny thing’s habitation, that I
did not succeed without breaking it, and at the moment my doubts were satisfied, the
owner, as if in reproach, gave me an appealing strain just above my head. One word
as to the fact frequently noticed by naturalists, of nests being finished a week or ten
days before the eggs are laid. Mr. Jenyns, in his interesting ‘Observations, which I
would advise all students of nature to read, suggests that this is owing to some cause
interrupting the development of the ova. I feel satisfied that this is true, and that the
cause is the sudden occurrence of cold weather after the genial warmth of a perhaps
premature spring has called forth the architectural necessity. Such a season is the
present; and I have had several opportunities of observing the above fact. — C. R.
Bree ; Stowmarket.
Occurrence of the Hoopoe at Torquay. — A specimen of this bird was shot in Dr.
Sutherland’s garden, at Torquay, about the middle of April; and another bird, a fe-
male (the one procured being the male), was seen about there at the samne time. For
this information I am indebted to Mr. Burt, of the Torquay Museum.—Alfred New-
ton ; Magdalene College, Cambridge, May 9, 1851.

Occurrence of the Hoopoe in the Isle of Wight. — It may interest some of your
readers, if a more circumstantial account has not reached you, to learn that two spe-
cimens of the hoopoe were shot in this island during the last month.— George Guyon ;
Ventnor, Isle of Wight, May 13, 1851.

Occurrence of the Hoopoe near Weymouth.—On Friday the 19th instant, three spe-
cimens of the hoopoe were shot near here, and have been preserved by Mr. Rolls,
naturalist, of this place. One specimen was shot in a piece of land called the Park,
situate in the town, and nearly surrounded by houses; the second was killed at Radi-
pole, the parish adjoining this town ; and the third was shot in the Isle of Portland.
One specimen was much smaller than the others, and was moulting; the tail-feathers
in this bird were destitute of the white patch. I noticed the swallow on April 13th,
with the wind from the North-east; the house-martin and bank-martin on the 15th.—
William Thompson ; Weymouth, April 29, 1851.

Occurrence of the Hoopoe at Yarmouth. — A fine specimen of the hoopoe was shot
near Yarmouth on the 25th of April, 1851, and is now in the possession of J. Green,
Naturalist ; 1, Hast Road, City Road.

Nest of the Kingfisher. — I have inclosed you part of a kingfisher’s nest, which I
found yesterday near this place. It contained seven eggs, but they were so nearly
hatched that it was impossible to extract the young ones. It weighed two ounces and
a half, and was full of maggots Walter W. Reeves ; Tonbridge Wells, May 9, 1851.

[This nest consists entirely of small fish-bones, a very usual circumstance, and
principally those of roach and dace.—F. N.]

On the Hissing of Snakes.—In these days of curious inquiry into everything con-
nected with Natural History, it may be interesting to record some observations on the
hissing of snakes. Little is to be learned on the subject from writers on Natural His-
tory, who seem to have given it hardly any attention. Like others, I used to suppose
these reptiles opened their mouths when they hissed, but on closely observing them, I
found the mouth closed. This led me to think that the sound came through the small

3148 Zoological and Entomological Societies.

opening in the upper lip, assisted by the tongue, so as to form a sort of whistle. The
reptile often puts out its tongue when silent, but I am persuaded that when the snake
hisses, the tongue contributes to form the sound, which is louder or fainter, according
to the temper or rage of the reptile. I have the same to observe concerning the vi-
per, which rather blows than hisses ; but not so of our smallest serpent, the slow-worm,

which has no opening in the upper lip. I strongly suspect that this harmless reptile

is entirely dumb, for though when provoked it puts out’ its tongue, I never heard it
utter a sound.—John Wighton.

Proceedings of the Zoological Society.

Evening Meeting, April 8, 1851.—Professor Brut in the chair.

Mr. Gould read a communication upon the genus Hapalotis, of which he exhibited
several species to the meeting.

Mr. Tomes read a paper, in which he gave an account of a peculiar structure in
the teeth of the genus Tapirus.

The Secretary read a paper by Dr. Nicholson, upon the habits of a supposed new
species of Agama, and the probable use of the highly coloured gular pouch, from ob-
servations made by himself in India.

Mr. Gray communicated the description of a new species of coral, allied to Gor-
gonia: and the characters of a new genus of bivalves, to which he gave the name of
Vanganella.

May 1, 1851.—A quorum not being formed, no meeting took place on this day.

Proceedings of the Entomological Society.

May 5th, 1851.—J. O. Westwoop, Esq., President, in the chair.

The following donations were announced, and thanks ordered to be given to the
respective donors: —‘ The Zoologist’ for May; by the Editor. ‘On the Probable
Relation between Magnetism and the Circulation of the Atmosphere ;’ from the ‘ Ap-

pendix to the Washington Astronomical Observations for 1846:’ Washington, 1851. —

‘ Bericht ther die Leistungen in der Entomologie wahrend des Jahres 1848, von Dr.
H.Schaum; Berlin, 1850: presented by the author. ‘ Entomologische Zeitung’ for
March and April; presented by the Entomological Society of Stettin. ‘The Athe-
neum’ for April; by the Editor.

The President announced a Resolution of the Council, that during the Great Ex-
hibition any foreign entomologist might see the Society’s collection on any day of the
week, if accompanied by a member or subscriber.

Mr. S. Stevens exhibited a species of Curculionide, of which he had not been able
to determine the name, but which was new to Britain; also an Adela cuprella, the se-
cond known British specimen: both captured recently on sallows at Fenny Stratford.
He likewise exhibited a living specimen of Callidium sanguineum, caught at Bow,

Entomological Society. 3149

Middlesex, and some splendid Lepidoptera and Coleoptera from Ega on the Amazon,
collected by Mr. Bates, who, he mentioned, was now on his way home. He brought
for distribution specimens of Hylastes rhododactylus, recently taken in stumps of
broom at Coomb wood.

Mr. Shepherd exhibited a hermaphrodite Smerinthus Populi, found at liberty. In
this instance the right side was male.

Mr. Douglas exhibited a longicorn beetle, Coptomma variegatum, Fabr., a native
of New Zealand, caught flying at Bow Common, by Mr. Robertson, last September.
He also exhibited one of the Tipulide, apparently a species of Trichocera, the pupa of
which he found sticking out of the very hard side of the sand-pit at Charlton, the in-
sect being in the act of emerging therefrom. It was difficult to think how so slender
a creature had the power to work through such hard material.

Mr. Smith exhibited a specimen of Formica graminicola, Latr., taken by Mr.
Wing, December 9, 1850; and a specimen of Formica cunicularia, taken by Mr. 8.
Stevens, April 18, 1851. Both insects were females, and were canght flying, the
interest attached to them arising from the season at which they were found, the time
of appearance of the former being the end of June, and of the latter, the autumn.

The President observed that such observations as these might appear trivial, but
they were in reality of much importance, and in the aggregate would serve as clews to
the elucidation of many obscure points in the history of insects. For instance, in re-
spect to the economy of ants, we are in some species quite in the dark, certain things
observed of some having been attributed to all, quite erroneously, as the habits of spe-
cies differ greatly.

Mr. Waring exhibited two singular crustaceous-looking spiders from Western
Africa.

The President stated that some plants of a strawberry brought by him from Paris,
had been all but destroyed by Haltica xrata; the young leaves and buds having been
eaten in the same manner as those of turnips are devoured by H. nemorum.

The following note on Trichiosoma lucorum, by R. Maysmor, Esq., in a letter ad-
dressed to the President, was read.

“T am still puzzled respecting these cocoons, for those I have found with the in-
sect inclosed, are opened when it escapes in a very different way to the greater num-
ber of this kind of cocoon. I have observed the escape of several, and I see they cut
a round piece very nearly out at one end, so that it merely hangs by a little hinge ;
the hole thus made is just large enough for the escape of the insects. In one instance
the fly had made a slight mistake, for after having cut the piece completely out, it
proved too small, and after several unsuccessful attempts to force itself out, it set to
and cut off a slip round the hole, which made it large enough. The flies cut the holes
with their mandibles as true as they could be done with a pen-knife, and when ready,
they force themselves out head first. I fancy the flies which cut these round holes are
all females. I have five cocoons opened in this way, and all the flies are females: the
cocoons which are opened in such an irregular manner, I think belong to the male
flies: the exuvie are considerably different in the two cocoons. At any rate, the te-
nants of the irregularly opened cocoons appear to make their exit at least a month
earlier than the others, for I found them opened by the middle of March, whereas I
have not yet seen any of the others opened on the hedges. My first flies did not come
out till the 12th of April, and they had been a month in a warm room. The day after
they came out I placed them in a sunny window, and they became very active; I then

3150 Entomological Society.

put them upon some hawthorn-leaves, and had very soon the pleasure of seeing them
begin to oviposit, which they continued four or five hours. They were so intent upon
this, that I could turn the leaves about so as to enable me to see the whole operation
distinctly with a Coddington lens. ‘The fly having placed herself in a favourable po-
sition upon a leaf, so that her abdomen is in contact with it, raises the cuticle of the
side upon which she is (for I found with gathered leaves that she made use of either,
but generally the upper), by inserting the ovipositor very gradually, but working it
rapidly all the time till it was wholly extended, when it was withdrawn a liquid oozed
out, which left the cuticle raised like a little blister, of an oval form, and about the
tenth of an inch long: the ovipositor is about a quarter of an inch long. The opera-
tion lasts about three minutes, during which the fly lowers her antenne in front, and
the segments of the posterior part of the abdomen have a slight tremulous motion.
The sight is a most beautiful one, equally as interesting as the ciliary currents of the
Rotifera; the cuticle of the leaf is so transparent, that at a little distance the oviposi-
tor absolutely appears to be on the exterior surface. It would seem that although
there may be no connexion with the male fly, the desire of propagating their species
is equally strong.

‘**T would not say that the fly which leaves the cocoon by the small irregular open-
ing does so backwards ; it appears strange to me that the skin should be left in the
hole with the head of it in the cocoon unless it is so: but I hope next year to see the
actual escape of this fly. With regard to the cocoon containing larve of ichneumon
flies, I cannot see what insect made the hole in that cocoon like the others, as it cer-
tainly was, if the fly had been destroyed by the parasites, as they did not seem in a
state to make it. I inclose one of the cocoons with irregular opening, containing the
skin, also one opened by one of my female flies, with the insect and its skin. I hope
to find out from some quarter the solution of the difference of these cocoons.”

Mr. Smith observed that he had frequently observed this insect emerge from its
cocoon, and always with the head first.

A paper ‘On the Effects of Temperature, Gases, and Vapours on Insects,’ by John
Davy, M.D., F.R.S., in a letter to Wm. Spence, Esq., was read, giving a detailed ac-
count of various experiments, from which it appeared that no two of the agents em-
ployed acted precisely in the same manner. Those agents most fatal to life appear to
have been sulphuretted hydrogen, ammonia, chlorine, nitric acid, iodine, camphor, oil
of turpentine, each varying in degrees of rapidity of effect, but so far analogous that
no perfect revival ensued on exposure to the air, after a motionless state had been in-
duced. Those less fatal to life appear to have been azote, hydrogen, carbonic acid,
coal-gas, muriatic-acid vapour, ether, chloroform ;—all of them producing immobility,
and probably insensibility, with different degrees of rapidity, but not commonly termi-
nating in death, revival in most instances following. Oxygen seems to stand alone
in its effects on the functions of life; that death sooner occurred in the trial with it
thau in that with atmospheric air, may have been owing to exhaustion connected with
increased vital action of the insect unsupported by nourishing food.

Mr. Smith read a note ‘ On the Habits of the Bee, Lestis bombylans, and a Cor-
rection of its Synonymy,’ as follows : —

L&sTIS BOMBYLANS.

Apis bombylans, Fab. Ent. Syst. ii. 338, 104, 9.
Centris bombylans, Mab, Syst. Piez. 358, 19.

Microscopical Society. 3151

Also a description of a new species under the name of
Lestis £ratus, Smith.

“ Female, (7 to 8 lines). Brassy green ; the pubescence on the face pale yellow; tho-
rax punctured ; wings slightly fuscous ; pubescence at the apex of the abdomen
pale yellow.

“Male, (7 to 8 lines). Brassy; face as in L. bombylans, but yellow, patches of pu-
bescence much more dense and bright yellow; wings hyaline, slightly fuscous ;
all the legs fringed with bright yellow pubescence.”

Mr. Smith also read a note ‘On the Habits of Abispa, a solitary Australian Wasp.’

—J. W. D.

Proceedings of the Microscopical Society of London.

April 16, 1851.—Dr. Artur Farre, President, in the chair.

Robert Semple Frere, Esq., Bransby Blake Cooper, Esq., and Wm. R. Morris,
Esq., were balloted for and duly elected Members of the Society.

Dr. Asa Gray, Professor of Natural History in Harvard University, Cambridge,
Massachusetts, was balloted for and duly elected an Honorary Member of the Society.

A paper by W. Ladd, Esq., ‘On an Improved Adjustment for a Microscope,’ was
read. After pointing out the disadvantages of the ordinary rack and pinion move-
ment, Mr. Ladd described the improvement he had made, which consists of the sub-
stitution of a steel chain, known as a “ fusee chain,” for the rack, and a steel pin or
axis for the pinion. The ends of the chain are attached to the top and bottom of the
sliding bar which supports the body of the microscope, passing two or three times round
the steel pin or axis, which is furnished with a milled head. The motion thus produ-
ced is exceedingly smooth and even, and is not liable to the disarrangement on ac-
count of wear, which forms the greatest objection to the rack and pinion. A micro-
scope fitted up with this movement was afterwards exhibited to the meeting.

A paper by Messrs. Hassall and Coppin, being a description of three species of
marine Zoophytes, was also read. These are three new species of corallines of the
genera Coppinia, Hassall (Zool. 2223), Sertularia, and Campanularia. They are re-
spectively named Coppinia mirabilis, Sertularia gracilis, and Campanularia serpens,
and are found on the English and Irish coasts. Detailed descriptions were given,
and drawings exhibited in illustration of the same.

A third paper, being a translation of a letter from M. Nobert, giving a description
of a glass plate, having on it twelve systems of parallel lines, was read. These sys-
tems of lines were distinguished by the letters A, B, and C, to M, the latter being
the finest ; and the distances in each set were expressed with the utmost exactness in
Paris lines, as being, in system A, 0.’/”000375, to system M, which was the finest,
0.’’0001281. ‘The other systems were of intermediate degrees of fineness. By using
this plate in a particular manner, fully described in the paper, the systems of lines from
A to G present an aerial spectrum of the prismatic colours, A being deep red and G a
deep violet ; and as no colour‘appears in the remaining systems (from H to M), the
author considers that the distance of the lines in these systems is nearer than the length

3152 British Entomological Society.

of the smallest (the violet) undulations of light. Upon turning the plate, and arran-
ging it in a rather different manner, coloured representations of the whole of the twelve
systems are produced, not, as in the former instance, in the air, but in the glass; and
upon comparing these with the aerial spectrum, it is found that the colour of the sys-
tem F, being deep red, agrees with that of A in the aerial spectrum, G with B, and in
like manner the following systems, H, I, K, L, M, with those of the former, C, D, E,
F, G; and by uniting the numerical values for the distances of the lines harmonizing
in their colours, the main result is that the length of the undulations in the glass is in
proportion to that of those in the air, as 1 to 1.53, furnishing a direct confirmation of
the undulatory theory. The correctness of these results was also stated to depend on
the absolute accuracy of the distances of the lines, as an error of only z55455 of a Paris
line was found to produce stripes of other colours, and if the distance of the lines in
system M (that which produces the violet rays in the glass spectrum) is diminished by
only ;} of that amount, the colour will entirely disappear.—J. W.

Proceedings of the British Entomological Society.

The May meeting of this Society was held at the Society’s rooms, 10, Fountain-
place, City-road, on the 5th instant; Mr. Harding, President, in the chair.

The following insects were exhibited, all of them captured during the present year.

Notodonta carmelita, a fine specimen, taken at Shirley, Surrey.

Celena agathina, taken at Darenth, on sallow blossoms. This is a new locality
for this insect. 3

Spilonota pauperana, several specimens.

Grapholitha Paykulliana.

Eupecilia abbreviata, on sallow blossoms.

Semioscopis Avellanella.

Teniocampa gracilis, and many others.

Mr. Norman read the following account of the habits of a species of spider, from
Dickens's ‘ Household Words’ of April 5.

“Tt was to record an instance of insect talent and ingenuity, which it was my good
fortune to observe in the gorgeous forests of British Guiana, that I took up my pen ;
before doing so, however, let me offer a few brief remarks on other members of the
same family, which are natives of Guiana. In applying the term ‘ insects’ to spiders,
I adopt the classification of the older entomologists; for the moderns have, with a
considerable show of reason, placed them beyond the pale of the true Insecta. We
ever find the various forms of animal life most numerous, where their peculiar food is
in the greatest abundance; and it is to this cause we must assign the comparatively
small number of spiders which inhabit South America; for the Diptera, or two-winged
flies, which furnish their principal supply of food, are in no country so limited in num-
ber: and this is the more surprising, as nowhere are the other classes of insects so
plentiful. It is probable, however, that but a very small portion of the spider family
have as yet been discovered, from the fact that great numbers infest the topmost
branches of the trees in the forests of the interior, where they escape the eye of the
few collectors who have penetrated to their haunts, and are only thought to be found
on inspection of the crops of various insect-feeding birds. This supposition becomes
greatly confirmed, when we remember the many previously unknown species which

€ a=

British Entomological Society. 3153

have lately been detected in our own well-explored country. Those which are known
belong, principally, to that division of the family whose members are designated
‘hunting spiders,’ from their not weaving webs to entrap their prey, like the majority
of their brethren in this country, but securing it by lying in wait and pouncing upon
it when unawares, after the fashion of the feline tribe among quadrupeds. Many of
the smaller species of this division frequent houses in Demerara, affording excellent
opportunities to the inquirer of observing their tact nnd sagacity.

“ Many a time have I sat, for hours, watching them thus engaged on the floor, the
jalousie, or the wall, their compact forms scarcely distinguishable, when motionless,
from the head of a nail or a knot in the wood. A fly alights a yard or so from some
lurking robber impatient of a meal: see how quickly he detects it, whether behind or
before it matters little, for he can see in all directions equally well: with what eager-
ness, yet what caution, he advances towards his unconscious victim ; now he takes a
few stealthy paces, now he remains still; at length he has reduced his former distance
to about a third, He is now within the range of the fly’s vision, and an incautious
movemeut would balk him of his prey. Every faculty is alert — the fly advances, so
does he—it moves to one side, so does he—it retreats, so does he—one spirit seems to
animate the two bodies, they move in perfect unison ; backwards, forwards, or side-
ways, the spider walks with equal facility, and even keeping his side towards the fly,
glides as truly and silently as its own shadow. The fly has now become stationary ;
perhaps he is absorbed in the discussion of some stray grain of sugar, or, may be, clear-
ing his head and face from all particles of dust ; for flies are, in this respect, very par-
ticular, indeed perfect models of cleanliness, though I dare say Mary, the housemaid,
thinks far otherwise, as she arrays the picture-frames and chandelier in the drawing-
room in their muslin coverings ; or Martha, the cook, as she surveys her rows of cop-
per skillets and saucepans, brightened the day before by hours of scouring, and now
bespeckled by a buzzing plague: may be, with microscopic eye he is surveying some
furious combat at his feet, and thinking, with mingled feelings of derision and con-
tempt, that his mighty foot would cover the battle-field of thousands. Well had it been
for the poor fellow if ‘be vigilant’ had been written in fly-characters below his nose.

‘Meanwhile, the spider is advancing nearer and nearer; you cannot see him move, so

guarded are his motions, but can perceive that the interval which separates him from
his victim is gradually decreasing; he is now but a few inches distant, perhaps four
or five—he prepares to leap ; the fly is chuckling at some atumic Hector, dragged by
the heels from the field of slaughter by a valiant Achilles—he’ll smile no more—one

_ Spring, one pounce, and he is clasped to a breast that knows neither pity nor remorse.

“ These spiders are well-limbed for leaping, and jump an enormous distance, con-
sidering their size; to equal them, in fact, a full-grown tiger would require to spring
above fifty yards at one bound, or a kangaroo, probably the best jumper among quad-
rupeds, to increase five-fold its huge hops of twenty feet. Some of the hunting spi-
ders conceal themselves among the leaves and in the crannies of the bark of trees ;
others, again, with deeper craft, lurk among the petals and in the calyxes of flowers,
where it is probable that many, coloured by nature for the purpose, deceive their prey
by assuming the appearance of pistils and stamens. Mining spiders, of the genus
Mygale of naturalists, bore circular holes in the ground, some two or even three feet in
depth, lining them with a thick silken cloth, and securing themselves and young from
detection and intrusion by closing the entrance with an ingenious trap-door, formed
of particles of earth, and not reognizable, when closed, from the surrounding soil.

VOL. Iv. QA

3154 British Entomological Society.

Another small web-weaving species of the same genus, which Swainson observed
in Brazil, constructs a case of earth and silk, with a spring-hinged lid, which it hangs
in the centre of its web, and to which it retreats on the approach of danger. But of
all the spiders which either hunt ‘heir prey on the ground, or in the branches of trees,
or among the leaves of flowers, or dig holes in the ground, or weave delicate webs, not

one exceeds, in the singularity of its habits, the interesting individual to which I have _

already alluded. It was about the noon of a day spent among the Aritaka Rapids,
that, on landing on one of the many small islands with which the stream is thickly
studded, I detected this curious species pursuing his avocations. Leaving my compa-
nions cooling themselves beneath the shade, I had crossed over to the opposite shore,
which I found shelving and rocky, and completely overrun by a vigorous growth of
succulent plants. A Bignonia, with clusters of snow-white flowers, with large sta-
mens of the brightest crimson, diffusing around a most pleasing odour, had scaled the
branches of a tree hanging over the water, and mingled its leaves with those of a de-
licate parasite, which had, in turn, twisted round its crooked stem, and whose small,
crumpled seeds—partially covered by a protecting envelope—were swinging by hun-
dreds in the breeze, at the end of long, thread-like foot-stalks. The seeds were sticky
with a fragrant and sweet-tasted gum, and seemed to be much frequented by the scores
of flies that were buzzing around. From a meal on those latter I thought I had dis-
turbed the birds, which flew away on my arrival; but may be, as we shall presently
see, I was mistaken. Wishing to examine them more closely, I was on the point of
plucking a few of the seeds, when my hand was arrested at the sight of one of them,
suddenly endowed with a strange sort of activity—a pretty fly, intent on nectareous
sippings, had scarcely alighted, when he was tightly clutched by no friendly embrace;
and the seed, no longer a torpid vegetable, but full of life and vigour, and squeezing
poor Master Fly in two or three pairs of sturdy arms, swung in the air below its for-
mer position by three or four inches of silken line. The struggle was a short one, for
the bright red seed, or, rather, spider—a strong-limbed, thickset, plump-bodied rascal
he was—soon quieted his victim, and then withdrew to his roost to regale himself on
the juicy carcase so well earned by his ingenuity.

“T proceed to explain by what means he was enabled to maintain his assumed
character; not the less difficult because he has only to ‘look it’ to ensure suecess—as
we know by many other actors, both on the stage and off. Our spider, courteous
reader, understands the value of appearance as well as you or I: he knows how the
dashing cab brings patients ; how the shop well stocked with ‘ dummies,’ and the rat-
tling parcels’ van, bring customers; how the ‘enormous demand,’ and the ‘ cured a
duke,’ win more victims ; and how a knowing look and wise shake of the head may
make a fool seem a learned man. Yes, he knows all this, or, at any rate, he knows
what amounts to the same thing—that appearances have very powerful effects all over
the world; for our spider is a wide-awake cove, and no sleepy-head, though he may
seem so for two or three hours at a stretch; nora turnip-head either, though the greater
part of his time he may look like a vegetable. Let us charitably hope that he has
never wanted a meal by lacking a respectable appearance, like too many, I doubt, in.
more sophisticated communities.

“ As I have already stated, the seed seemed crumpled in one part; and this was
caused by a large and uneven black lump at the bottom; though I am not sufficiently
a botanist to give its technical appellation, its nature will be understood when I say
that it corresponds with the black crown on the berries of the hawthorn: a ridge that

iat

British Entomological Society. 3155

seemed composed of many longitudinal ribs and folds extended from this to the mar-
gin of the protecting cover. Now the spider, formed by nature for the express pur-
pose — imitated this peculiar conformation of the seed, by coiling up its small black
head and body on its plump, disproportionately large, red abdomen, and laying its stout
black limbs close together to form the ridge. The umbrella-like leaflet, which par-
tially enveloped the seed, performed the same kind office for the spider, and completed
the disguise, which, if the reader should think clumsy and ill-fitting, I beg him to
attribute to the uncouthness of my description, and not to any want of talent in this
incomparable actor. The flies were evidently aware of the presence of their enemies,
and also seemed to know, probably by their wanting the fragrant and attractive gum,
which they were—for while the legitimate seed had each one or more tenants, the pre-
tenders, who held a proportion to the others of fully one to four, had only chance and
unfrequent callers.

“A difficulty here naturally arises:—what led the flies, if they knew the real from
the feigned seeds, to wittingly seek their destruction? Its attempted solution involves
probably the most singular fact connected with the subject. A happy tippler, after
swilling the nectar for some time, would carelessly buzz away to the first bright object
near him, unable to perceive, or entirely regardless of danger. Can it be that the
honied liquid has proved too strong for his weak head, and he fails to see clearly after
deep potations ? — or does his sense of smell, which alone enables him to discriminate
friend from foe, become cloyed and deadened by his odorous draughts, and he falls a
victim whilst trusting to his eyes, which merely trace the resemblance? Little does
it matter what are the precise circumstances ; it is sufficient that the spider is provided
with food, while it affords an instance of that nice adaptation of the means to the end,
and of that wondrous instinct and sagacity, which is often so profusely displayed by
nature in these and other insect tribes, and not more strikingly in the more remote, as
in those that are most familiar to us. Yet how few are aware that an insect which in-
habits our houses, taking up its quarters in our bed-chambers—nay, even in our beds,
and preying on a species of vermin—with which we are most of us acquainted, as in
some localities few houses are free from them—is, in its own way, as talented an actor
as the subject of our sketch. I allude to the larva of the bug-bear (Reduvius perso-
natus), which deceives its prey by assuming the appearance of those aggregations of
flix and dust which strew the fluors beneath our beds, succeeding in this character by
arraying itself in a mantle of down and tiny shreds. In the seed-covers now occupied
by the spider, I often found a pale yellow silken purse — well stored with young: of

_ this it was almost impossible to dispossess the mother; for, with true maternal affec-

tion, sooner than part with it, she would suffer herself to be torn limb from limb. It
may be asked, how, in the first place, the spiders managed to detach the seeds, whose
position they occupied? The most natural reply is, that they merely take possession
after the birds have devoured them ; for it is probable that these are their proper food,
and not the insects, as I had at first conjectured. May be the birds come to feed on
the spiders, and tear the seeds from their delicate foot-stalks, in the endeavour to find
their prey, in whose appearance they may be as often deceived as the flies themselves ;
it must be confessed, however, that this latter conjecture is neither so simple nor so
plausible as the former.

“The complicated relations of plant, bird, and insect, form one of those beautiful
harmonies between the different kingdoms of Nature, which the amiable St. Pierre so
delighted to depict. The plant affords to the bird its daily bread, with protection and

3156 Tyneside Naturalists’ Field Club.

shade from the sun, and, it may be, materials for a nest; as I have seen in other parts
of the forest, chiefly pendant from branches on the banks of rivers and creeks, a small
pouch-like structure, artistically woven with delicate threads, similar to the footstalks
of the seeds ; the bird, in return, aids the propagation of the plant, by dropping its
seeds on the boughs of various trees and shrubs, thus enabling it to obey that primary

mandate of the Creator, ‘Increase and multiply!’ By multiplying the numbers of

the plants, it increases the quantity of food available for itself, its offspring, and its
kindred—an exemplification of another of the wise ordinances of Nature, which makes
the good and natural action (and an action is only good in so far as it is natural) bring
its own reward, and the bad and unnatural one its own punishment.

“The spider is indebted to the plant for the means—and to the bird for the oppor-
tunity of catching its prey; the plant supplies food to the fly, and it in turn forms the
nourishment of the spider. How many are the ramifications of this harmony which
we understand !—how many more kind offices may the members of one kingdom per-
form for those of the other, which are beyond the range of our knowledge! But I
have reached my assigned limits, and must reserve other notes on this interesting fa-
mily of insects to another opportunity.”—JZ. Norman.

Tyneside Naturalists’ Field Club.

March 21, 1851.—DeEnnis Emsxeton, M.D., President, in the chair.

Ralph Carr, Esq., of Dunston Hill, read the continuation of his paper ‘ On Com-
posite Names of Places of Anglo-Saxon Derivation.’

Mr. Storey read an abstract of his paper ‘On the Flowering Plants and Ferns
found within five miles of Newcastle-upon-Tyne.’

Mr. Albany Hancock presented a short paper, intituled a ‘ Notice of the Occur-
rence of Diphyllidia lineata on the Durham Coast.’

A collection of Algz and corallines was sent for inspection by Miss Errington.

Dr. Embleton and Mr. D. Oliver, jun., exhibited numerous well-dried specimens
of ferns and other plants.

On the following day the Anniversary Meeting was held in one of the rooms of the
Government School of Design, when the President, Dr. Embleton, delivered an able
and highly interesting address ; after which, Mr. Carr read the concluding portion of
his paper ‘ On the Composite Names of Places.’

The following gentlemen were elected office-bearers for the ensuing year:—Presi-
dent; Robert Ingham, Esq., Westoe. Vice-Presidents; Dennis Embleton, M.D.,
Rev. J. F. Bigge, and Mr. William Kell. Treasurer; Mr. Thomas Burnet. Secre-
tary; Mr. John Storey. Committee; Rev. G. Cooper Abbes, Mr. Albany Hancock,
Mr. John Hancock, Mr. Joshua Alder, Mr. J.T. Bold, Mr. George Tate, F.G.S., Mr.
John Thompson, Mr. R. Y. Green, Mr. D. Oliver, jun., Mr. Robert Currie, Mr. Ed-
ward Mather, and Mr. Thomas Jefferson.

The following geutlemen were elected Members of the Club :—George Robinson,
M.D., Capt. Moody, R.E., Mr. J. B. Falconar, jun., Mr. E. B. Richardson, Mr. G.
A. Hutton, and Mr, F. J. Peck, Newcastle; Mr. James Forster, Gateshead ; Mr. Ste-
phens, North Shields; Rey. Cuthbert J. Carr, Witton Gilbert; and Rev. Joseph De-
pledge, Chester-le-Street.

Fishes. 3157

The days and places of meeting were fixed as under : —
Bywell and Riding Mill,—Friday, May 30.

Durham and Finchale,—Friday, June 20.
Allenheads,—July.

Staward Peel,—Wednesday, August 20.

Roker and Whitburn,—Friday, September 12.
Corbridge and Stagshaw,—Friday, October 3.—J. S.

Occurrence of the Sturgeon in the Mersey.—A fine female sturgeon, measuring 7
feet 3 inches iu length, and 2 feet 9 inches in girth, was captured in the river Mersey,
about two and a half miles below Warrington, on the 29th of last month. It is to be
placed in the town Museum, and has been beautifully preserved for that purpose by
Mr. J. Cooper, the Curator. She contained nearly a stable-bucketful of spawn, the
roe being about the size of No. 4 shot.—W. Fell; Warrington, Fifth Mo. 8, 1851.

Occurrence of the Smooth Dab (Platessa microcephalus) at Gamrie.—A very fine
example of this rather uncommon fish was caught off the fishing-station of Garden-
ston, in this parish, about a fortnight ago. It measured in length 22 inches, and in
its greatest breadth 13 inches, a size, I am given to understand, which it seldom at-
tains. The fishermemen here say they never met with a specimen of the same fish
before ; but as they were evidently disposed to pass it as a sole, until their attention
was pointed to the difference, their judgment in the case is not much to be relied on.
It is however here, no doubt, as elsewhere on the Scottish coast, of not very frequent
occurrence.—George Harris ; Gamrie, N. B., May 23, 1851.

Note on the Lump Fish or Sucker, (Cyclopterus Lumpus, Linn.) — Dr. Parnell,
after observing that this fish is more abundant on the west than on the east coast, adds
that they “‘seek the sandy ground to deposit their spawn,” (Fishes of the Forth, 382).
Upon this coast their nests are almost invariably to be met with in rocky places, a lit-
tle beyond low-water mark. There is also this peculiarity, that the sites of these are
usually cavities, from eight to ten inches in diameter, opening horizontally into the
water. Mr. West, of Pennan (Zool. 2998) informs me, that in one case he came upon
a hen seated on her nest, just, he supposed, as she had completed the process of spawn-
ing. She adhered very tenaciously, manifesting at the same time considerable intre-
pidity, which seemed to be shared by her companion the cock, who, during the struggle,
kept close by, flitting through and through the water in a state of violent agitation.
The quantity of spawn contained in a nest is very considerable. A mass was lately ta-
ken from a cavity which filled a capacity of seven pints imperial measure. It is known
that the lump is a favourite morsel with the seal; but I have nowhere seen it stated
that previously to being disposed of for assimilation, the intended viand is carefully
divested of its somewhat repulsive looking covering, an operation which the seal ac-
complishes with considerable dexterity and neatness. This covering is frequently
floated in, and deposited on the shore by the tide, and, as usually seen, with the head
and tail attached to it: sometimes, however, the head is wanting. Judging from a
variety of specimens, the operation is commenced on the shoulder, and carried down-
wards to the tail, which is regularly chopped off and dismissed with the skin. On my
attention being first called to the above fact, I thought it possible that the cast-off skin
might be accounted for on the assumption that the seal effected his repast by excavat-

3158 Crustacea—Insects.

ing the flesh out of the skin ; but all the fishermen I have spoken with on the subject
decidedly affirm that he flays, or, as one of them quaintly expressed it, “ He peels
them like a potato.”—Jd.

Note on the Lord Fish.—In Mr. Yarrell’s work on the ‘ British Fishes, under the
head of the common cod, there is described and figured what appears to be a deformed
variety of the cod, which Mr. Yarrell obtained from the mouth of the Thames, where
it was called by the fishermen a “ Lord-fish.” A few days since, a fisherman at this
place brought me a codling, about fifteen and a half inches in length, and of a de-
formed appearance, and which he called a “ Lord.” On comparing this specimen with
Mr. Yarrell’s figure of the Lord-fish, I found it to agree exactly ; but on reference
to the description, I found a difference in the number of the fin-rays, those in my spe-
cimen being D. 11, 15, 16: P. 19: V.7: A.17, 16: C.34. The name of “Lord”
applied to these fish is probably derived from. the notion (which I have no doubt is a
correct one) of their beifg deformed examples of the common cod, the same term be-
ing often vulgarly applied to a hump-backed person, and the appearance of the fish
suggesting the idea of an individual so afflicted—J. H. Gurney; Lowestoft, May 23,
1851.

List of Crustacea taken at Weymouth, on the Dorset Coast, from March, 1850, to
March, 1851.

Stenorhynchus Phalangium Portunus arcuatus Porcellana longicornis
ee tenuirostris 3 depurator Galathea squamifera
Inachus Dorsettensis Ss pusillus - strigosa
» Dorynchus Pinnotheres pisum Palinurus vulgaris

Pisa tetraodon Gonoplax angulata Gebia deltura
Hyas araneus , Ebalia Pennantii Axius Stirynchus

» coarctatus » Bryerii Homarus vulgaris
Maia squinado Atelecychus heterodon Crangon vulgaris
Eurynome aspera Corystes Cassivelaunus 5 fasciatus
Cancer pagurus Pagurus Bernhardus » trispinosus
Pilumuus hirtellus i. Prideauxii Athanas rubescens
Carcinus menas 55 cuanensis Hippolyte varians
Portumnus variegatus levis - Cranchii

~ Portunus puber Porcellana platycheles

— William Thompson, Weymouth.

Occurrence of Notodonta trepida in Radnorshire.—I had the other day the pleasure
of breeding a beautiful female specimen of Notodonta trepida, from a chrysalis found
under oak by my brother in Radnorshire. A male specimen of N. Dodonea, from the
same locality, emerged about the same time, but unfortunately injured itself so much
before it was found, as to be utterly useless. — 47. Harper Crewe; Breadsall Rectory,
Derbyshire, May 3, 1851.

Descriptions of Larve of Sphingide, with Occasional Notes on some of the Rarer
European Species —Deilephila Alecto and cretica are becoming very scarce on the con-

ee.

Insects. 3159

tinent. In Switzerland they are seldom to be met with in the finest collections, or, if
found, the specimens are very old. According to my friend Mr. Anderregg, an inde-
- fatigable Swiss entomologist residing in the canton of Valais, and no doubt well known
among our numerous British entomologists, the former insect is becoming extremely
scarce, and difficult to obtain. D.Celerio I have frequently captured in the imago
state, but never had an opportunity of describing the larva, which is something simi-
lar to that of D. Elpenor, and feeds exclusively on the vine. Although I am perfect-
ly acquainted with the differences between these two larve, I do not feel justified in
adding its description, not having made it myself. It is reckoned scarce in most coun-
tries. A few years ago D. Celerio was rather plentiful in the neighbourhood of Lau-
sanne in the imago state; I captured several specimens in my garden, flying around
the flowers of the marvel of Peru, nasturtium (J7rope@olum majus and minus), and jas-
mine, during twilight only. D. Nerii, no doubt this insect, is no native of Switzerland,
but is brought into the country by the oleanders from Italy. A beautiful larva of this
handsome Deilephila was brought to me from the Campagne Villamont, at Lausanne,
on the 27th of October, 1844: it fed upon the Nerium Oleander. The description of
the larva is as follows : — Caterpillar elongated, and attenuated anteriorly ; the three
anterior segments being contractile, as in D. Elpenor and Celerio. Head small and
globular: anal horn small, short and thick, bent backwards, of a pale carrot-colour:
two large round ocelli, bright blue, paler towards the centre, bordered by black, and
then surrounded by green, on the third segment: the ground colour is a pale glaucous
green inclining to dull yellow on the anterior and posterior segments ; a broad lateral
line of white, rather ill defined, and marked with round white spots, bordered by dull
green, extends on either side from the fifth segment to the horn; the anterior edge of
these segments is also marked with several similar spots: head and thoracic legs pale
green ; membranous legs pale grayish green, tipped with brown: stigmata narrow,
black, bordered by white: abdomen dull greenish yellow or grayish green. The next
larva I shall describe is that of D. Elpenor. This is certainly the commonest of this
genus, and is very abundant around Lausanne, and throughout the whole of Switzer-
land. The caterpillar is smooth, elongated, and attenuated anteriorly. Ground colour
shining black, more or less spotted with pale yellow: a red or yellow dorsal line, dilat-
ing into a triangle on the first segment: a broad red or yellow sometimes interrupted
lateral line over the legs: two series of large oval patches of shining light yellow on
either side, four on each segment, of which the upper ones are the largest and bright-
est, and the most rounded; _ the part on which these spots are placed is of a deep vel-
vety black ; there is also on either side a series of triangular patches of red, yellowish
brown, or yellow: abdomen light orange, buff, yellow or green, with a macular gray or
black ventral line: all the legs brownish orange, carrot-colour or yellow: head the
same colour as the legs, with the mandibles and lower portion black, the anterior edge
of the upper lip yellow, and the palpi yellow tipped with gray: horn varying accord-
ing to the colour of the head, legs, &c., but tipped with black: stigmata white bordered
with black. There are many varieties of this larva, which differ from the general de-
scription as follows. Var. 1.— No triangular patches of yellow or brown along the
Sides: abdomen black, or black with an interrupted ventral line of carrot-colour. Var.
2.— The two lateral series of oval shining yellow patches are joined, forming a series
of large oblong patches; it is spotted with much larger spots than the common one ;
in the place of the lateral series of buff triangular patches, there is a broad and conti-
nued ferruginous longitudinal line, which is sometimes marked at the incisions by a

3160 Insects. ‘

small patch of red. Var. 3.—No triangular patches of yellow or brown &c. along the
sides, not so thickly spotted with yellow as the others: dorsal line very slender, and
in some individuals entirely missing, its place being left in black: the oval lateral
yellow patches are often tinged with pink, especially the lower ones, which are some-
times quite pink: the head generally retains the two black patches, which the others

only have when young: the abdomen and prolegs are generally quite black, and the ©

thoracic legs are generally tipped with black, and often entirely of that colour. This
handsome larva grows to nearly three inches in length, and is found from the middle
of June to the end of October, and invariably on Euphorbia Cyparissias, or Cypress
spurge, which grows on dry banks. I have found as many as 150 or 200 larve in one
spot, often fewer, but never solitary. They gnaw the lower leaves of this spurge from
their apex to their base, and eat very rapidly. It is extremely common in Switzer-
land; the little children of that country all know the larva by the name of Chenille de
Tithymale, and have often brought me their caps and hats full of them. The next
Deilephila that comes in order in the ‘ Index Methodicus’ of Dr. Boisduval, is D.
Esule. This, according to Mr. Anderregg, is the scarcest of all the European Deile-
phile. D.Galii I have once seen in the larva state; it was found on the common
vine, on which it fed, as well as on Galium verum and Mollugo. It is seldom met
with in the canton of Vaud; I met with it in the neighbourhood of Lausanne. The
following is its description. Caterpillar smooth, elongated, attenuated anteriorly, of a
fine olive-green colour, more or less speckled with yellowish green; an interrupted dor-
sal line of dull pink, and on either side one of bright green, meeting the dorsal one at
the head ; the lower half of the body and abdomen pale yellowish green; a series of
large pyriform patches of a yellow colour, bordered by black, with a brown-red spot in
the middle of each, these spots lie on the dorsal lines which meet on either side of the
horn; those on the middle segments are the brightest and largest; a lateral line of
yellow, having on the segments a pinkish red speck, on which are the stigmata; a pale
yellow ventral line: legs yellowish; thoracic legs tipped with dark brown: head slate-
colour, with the mandibles black: labrum green: palpi yellow tipped with brown:
escutcheon fine green, with a slate-coloured semi-oval patch on it: anus with a slate-
coloured patch above: horn brown, tipped and granulated with black: stigmata light
orange bordered with black. I have also had much pleasure in rearing the larve of
D. lineata in the canton of Vaud, at Lausanne, where it is reckoned a great rarity. It
was found on the 19th of June, 1846, in a vineyard near Clermont, on Les Mousquines
(Lausanne), and fed on Galium Mollugo. The caterpillar is smooth, elongated ante-
riorly ; ground colour apple-green, more or less speckled with yellowish ; an olive-co-
loured dorsal-line, dilated into a triangle on the first segment ; lower half of the body
and all the abdomen of a yellowish uniform olive colour; a series of large oval patches
of shining light yellow on either side of the dorsal line, two on each segment, of which
those of the middle segments are the largest, brightest and most round ; each of these
patches is circled with black ; a brownish interrupted lateral line, on which are placed
the stigmata: abdomen yellowish olive, with a darker ventral line: all the legs are of
the same colour as the abdomen; the thoracic legs tipped with shining brown: head
greenish olive, with a triangular brownish patch over the maudibles ; mandibles and
lower part of the head black: horn of a yellowish green colour granulated and tipped
with black: stigmata pale orange surrounded by black: a pale lateral line between the
dorsal and lower lateral line. —H. Z. de la Chaumette ; Church St., Stoke Newington,
May 21, 1851. 7

* Insects. 3161

Occurrence of Lobophora polycommaria near Keswick. — In the month of April, I
was agreeably surprised at meeting with Lobophora polycommaria in plenty, during
my rambles through the woods bordering on the sunny banks of our lake. This insect
I believe has been rarely met with by collectors. I had taken a few in the same loca-
lity in preceding years, and on their appearance this season devoted more of my time
and attention to their capture than in former years; success rewarded my pursuits,
for in about a fortnight, in company with my brother-collector, Mr. William Gleenip,
of this place, we found we had taken an unusual number. The mode of capture was
by means of a lantern ; the time between the hours of 8 and 12, P.M. We also met
with them during the day, when leisure permitted us to look for them. They were
found chiefly on the trunks of trees, free from moss or cobwebs, and when found upon
bushes seemed carefully to avoid the leaves. I find they are not often met with on the
wing; the only time I have seen them flying is about an hour after sunset. I am con-
vinced that if when they are met with they were well looked after, we should no longer
have to reckon them among the rare (however local) Lepidoptera of our island. I
should feel pleasure in sending, as far as my duplicates will go, to any collector who
may not have met with the insect.—John Harrison, jun.; near the George Hotel, Kes-
wick, Cumberland, May 19, 1851.

Generic Names in the Museum Catalogue-—The employment of harsh terms nei-
ther disproves nor confirms facts; and to make extracts from an author,—irrespective
of the context,—for the purpose of illustrating a theory, is, to use the mildest expres-
sion, very unfair. The perusal of the article on the Museum Catalogue of Lepidop-
tera, (Zool. 3098), compels me, most painfully, to make the above reflection upon the
extracts there given from M. Guenée’s letters ; and I feel called upon to add a few re-
marks in vindication of the propriety of inserting the objected references to the “ detes-
table” and “senseless” ‘ Verzeichniss’ of Hiibner. Before I proceed, however, I
would ask, as doubtless many of your readers would like to know, at what period a work
becomes “out of date”? In my folly I had assumed, on a question of nomenclature,
that the oldest name took precedence ; I have now, alas! to learn, after more than for-
ty years’ experience, that has nothing to do with the question, as the work in which it
is proposed may become “out of date” !!!* The edition of Linneus in which the
amended system of nomenclature was first introduced, appeared in 1758; the Vienna
Catalogue (W. V.), a mere Catalogue,—with a few almost unintelligible appellate de-
scriptions interspersed, and allied species occasionally placed widely apart,—in 1775 ;
and yet these are not considered “ out of date,” while we are authoritatively told by
_M. Guenée, that Hiibner’s ‘ Verzeichniss, of 1816, is so!! The real secret is, that
notwithstanding the defective classification of its contents, Hubner has pointed out
some admitted genera, and applied names thereto, which have been subsequently de-
tected and named by his suceessors,—in pure ignorance, doubtless, of his labours,—and
which it is not convenient now to adopt. That I consider his arrangement defective,
a glance at almost any page of my recent Catalogue will prove: but it must be admit-
ted that is no reason why the good should not be employed and the bad rejected, as I
have endeavoured to do; not by following the ‘ Verzeichniss, but by examining the

*I presume this to be the reason why the French Lepidopterists almost universally
omit references to Haworth (1803—10), and Leach (1815), their works being “ out of
date.”

IX. 2B

3162 Insects. ,

insects themselves, years before I had become aware of its existence ; from that exami-
nation, disposing them into genera, to many of which I applied names, and subse-
quently, where needful, substituting Hubner’s for my own: — in fact I have an old

MSS. Catalogue in my library, written by myself in 1812, in which some of the genera

are indicated ; and consequently anterior to the publication of the “ out-of-date ” work

of 1816. Ifa work is to be shelved and reviled merely because occasionally allied spe- —

cies are separated and discordant ones united, I would call attention to two genera
only, out of many, as they stand in my friend Mr. Doubleday’s Catalogue, viz., Nona-
gria and Chersotis ; and ask by what possible characters (excepting colour) their con-
tents can be held together? In the former, we have one species (Ulve) placed by
Haworth in Tortrix, another (flammea) figured by Curtis as a Tinea, a third (rufa) se-
parated by Haworth from the Noctue, and Phragmitidis and Typhe “ as wide as the
poles asunder” !! All, however, are more or less ochreous or pale, and the Chersotes
are resplendent with purplish or rosy hues—the sole character they possess in common.
(N. typica and N. Maura form the genus Mania!! in Guenée’s List, an apt name for
such madness. Again, all the German writers to the year 1840—Eversmann in 1844
—agree in placing Rhyparia melanaria in the same genus with Abraxas Grossulariata.
All this is very bad: these writers are, however, considered authorities notwithstand-
ing). As M. Guenée places my ‘ Illustrations’ in the same category as the “ detestable”
‘ Verzeichniss, taking for example my genus Margaritia in confirmation of his views ;
I denounce it, as before alluded to, as an “ unfair” proceeding. I state in p. 47, vol.
iv. of my ‘ Haustellata, “ This genus as here regarded is evidently a very artificial one,
and doubtless requires considerable curtailment, as well as a remodelling of its con-
tents.” I then proceed to subdivide the thirty-two species there included, placing the
five species he refers to in as many separate, primary, characterized sections; viz., di-
versalis in § A., cinctalis in § D.b., ferrugalis in § F. b., punctalis in § H., and pruna-
lisin§N. (The Museum Catalogue shows that I have now placed them in different
genera). ‘The remaining portion of the first extract from Guenée is one of opinion as
to the extent of genera, and a point, moreover, that he will not very easily settle. As

r

regards the barbarous names referred to, it is very unfortunate that Hubner has chosen

them, but mere barbarism is no just ground for rejecting them :—a Scandinavian may
consider them euphonious: at all events, J have not adopted the generic name Bomo-
locha, as erroneously alluded to; and that for the reason I have not adopted “ the
whole of the names in the ‘ Verzeichniss’”; ¢. e., because I do not admit that and ma-
ny other of his groups stated by me (Haust. iv. 4) “ to be very artificial.” Again, had
Guenée taken the trouble to read the official Introduction to the Catalogue, he would
have found that one object was “ to ascertain (not adopt) every name which has been
applied to the respective species and their varieties.” How then could I have ignored
Hibner’s work without incurring the censure of neglect, and of wilfully misleading my
readers, — more especially as I had noticed the book, and in part acted upon its con-
tents, so far back as 1834? I fear the expression, “ defunct as soon as it came to
light,” is another instance of Guenée’s limited knowledge of entomological literature,
and, coupled with previous remarks, of his anachronisms. In the Introduction (in the
Annales) tu his new classification of the Microlepidoptera, he talks of my Catalogue
(of 1829) not remedying the defects of Treitschke’s arrangement (of 1830-33), or of
Duponchel’s (of 1834-38), and coolly tells his readers (Ann. Soc. Ent. de France, 2nd
ser. iii. 115, pub. 1845), that I had not characterized any of these insects!!! My fourth
volume, published only ten years previously, is a sufficient reply. It may be observed,

Insects. 3163

too, that in the above paper, there is only one reference to Haworth’s Lep. Brit. al-
though many species are therein well described for the first time ; and that the genera
proposed by Curtis and myself in our respective Catalogues &c., are taken as it were
by chance, sometimes he and sometimes I being considered as the author: * and,
moreover, in this said paper, intended to reconcile this ‘‘ Babel Microlépidoptérologie,”
and to give the correct nomenclature, divers names are changed in order to correspond
with the ridiculously absurd mononymic system, introduced by the French, in defiance
of the otherwise universally adopted rules of zoological nomenclature, and thus creat-
ing instead of abolishing confusion. That I have occasionally infringed these rules is
undeniable, more particularly among the Pyralide, as pointed out by my friend Dou-
bleday. In my ‘Systematic Catalogue,’ ii. 164, published in 1829, it will be observed
that P. forficalis is separated as an unnamed genus, and that other species are simi-
larly treated. About four years subsequently to the appearance of that work, while
engaged upon the family in question, I first heard of the ‘ Verzeichniss, which was
kindly lent to me for two days only, when I contrived with great exertion to extract a
list of the indigenous species therefrom: finding that many of my indicated genera
were named in that book, I adopted them in my ‘ Illustrations, and in cases where Hwb-
ner’s coitus (or genera) were much broken up, employed his names, in accordance with
the then recognized practice, for the detached species, in order to obviate the necessity
of coining new ones, and thus arose the reference to Mesographe, and having structu-
rally characterized that genus in vol. iv. p. 45 of my ‘ Haustellata, I retained it in the
‘Museum Catalogue, not “to give any idea of the original group,” but as the only
species cannot consistently be associated with the other discordant ones mixed up in
the genus Pionea as catalogued by Duponchel ; the only authority we possess for the
employment of that name, beyond its adoption (subsequently) in Doubleday’s List.
Having thus cursorily replied to the animadversions on the Catalogue, I, for ever, quit
the subject, and only regret that the pages of the ‘ Zoologist’ should have been occu-
pied with its discussion, to the exclusion of more important matter.—J. F’. Stephens ;
Eltham Cottage, Foxley Road, Kennington, May 15, 1851.

New British Tenthredo.—I have frequently remarked upon the undue stress laid
by entomologists on their captures of novelties ; as an illustration, I will just mention
what some persons may consider a singular fact. You, Mr. Editor, requested me to
bring something: new to the recent meeting of the Entomological Club at your house,
on the 17th instant. I had been too much occupied to hunt up anything, and on the
afternoon of my intended visit strolled into my garden to find something wherewith to
_ gratify you, when, behold! in less than five minutes, I was rewarded by catching a
Selandria, which I at once recognized as new to our lists ; and in the course of a few
minutes caught two others, and lost one or two. Since then, however, I have suc-
ceeded in securing a pair (male and female) only. ‘The insect is Selandria sericea of
Hartig.—Id. May 26, 1851.

Occurrence of the Male of Lyda inanita.—While searching the rose-bed which pro-
duced the above-named insects, I was additionally rewarded yesterday by detecting
the male of Lyda inanita, of which sex only one (in the British Museum) or two spe-

* The type of my genus Dictyopteryx (Cat. ii. 189) he makes the type of the genus
Peronea, and calls it Peronea St. Curtis !! whereas not a single species of the insects
included in his so-called genus is to be found in my works.

3164 Insects.

cimens have been observed in England. During the past ten years I have taken at
least fifty females, on the same rose-bed, but never met with the male before.—Jd.

New Locality for Hypena crassalis—About fifty years since Mr. Plasted caught a
specimen of the above insect near Westerham, in Kent; a fact he communicated to
my late friend Haworth, who proceeded in due season to the spot, and supplied his
cabinet with a pair: since then the insect has, I believe, only occurred in Devonshire.
Being here on a visit, and having taken a trip to Westerham, reminded me of the
above, and finding the general aspect of this neighbourhood correspondent with that
of Westerham, I searched for the insect, and have this day been rewarded with three
fine specimens; the notice of the capture of which I considered might be acceptable.
—Id. Sevenoaks, Kent, June 17, 1851.

Anecdote of Wasps.—On the 11th of September, 1847, I was walking in the fields,
when I suddenly discovered what I at first took to be a very long insect, flying very
slowly, about five or six feet from the ground. I knocked it down, and found that it
was two wasps én coitu, and they remained thus attached even after I had killed them.
The female or queen wasp was much larger than the male or drone, and I never ob-
served the difference between the sexes before. I kept these wasps for some time, and
sent them by post from the town of Thornbury, in a tin box, directed to W. F. Evans,
Esq., Entomological Society, 17, Old Bond St., but they never arrived. I suspect
some “minion” at the post-office embezzled the box, in the hope of getting some-
thing very valuable; but one can easily imagine his disappointment at finding only a
couple of wasps!! Mr. Ramsay, Inspector of the Post-office, was here on a prosecu-
tion, and when I mentioned to him the contents of my box he laughed heartily. In
the year above mentioned I had nearly a hundred wasps’ nests within five hundred
yards of my house. I had about thirty destroyed in my home-field, close to the lawn.
There seems to be a great scarcity of queens this year. I have seen only one here as
yet. On the 27th of April I was feeding a weak stock of bees, when a queen wasp
came to the entrance of the hive, and having smelt the honey, she made an attempt to
enter, a gallant bee attacked her, and during the struggle I managed to kill the wasp.
I seldom have seen a queen wasp attempt a hive, as there is a sort of instinctive feel-
ing generally of their own importance and special self-preservation. Last year I killed
about thirty at a young whitethorn hedge in May, with my walking-stick. They seem
to be very fond of an insect that is found on a neatly trimmed thorn hedge, and also
on the wall plum-trees, where I have some seasons killed a great number. I have
made an observation, which seems verified this year, that wasps never appear nearly
so numerous in the spring after a very mild open winter, as they do after a winter with
much frost and cold weather. The same holds good as to the Bombinatrices. I am
inclined to think that in an open winter the frail bodies of these insects are more ex-
posed to the field mice and other marauding vermin in mild weather than during frost,
or else the insects are tempted to move froin their hiding-places at improper times,
and so perish. Wasps are useful to butchers in hot weather, as they kill the blue flies.
Dr. Darwin, in his ‘ Zoonomia, relates a circumstence which he was eye-witness to.
A wasp seized a large blue fly, and flew off with it, but the fly used his wings with
such power in the air, that the wasp was obliged to drop on the ground with its prey.
The wasp then deliberately bit off the wings of the fly while on the ground, and then
carried off his victim without inconvenience. Dr. Bevan has also related this in his
work on the * Honey Bee, after Darwin. —H. W. Newman; New House, near Stroud,
May 10, 1851.

Infusoria. 3165

On Notommata parasita, a Rotifer inhabiting the Volvox globator.
By the Rev. R. C. Dovuetas, M.A.

ALTHOUGH the following observations add little or nothing to what
is already known of this remarkable parasite, they may perhaps be
thought not unworthy of notice, as relating to a chapter of microsco-
pic life seldom observed in this country. Last summer a paper on the
subject was read before the Microscopical Society of London, (Zool.
vii. 2891), and has been published in the last part of the Society’s
‘ Transactions.’

On the 28th of May last, I gathered some Mougeotia genuflexa,
from a pond about a mile and a half from Stafford, and on my return
home transferred it to a wine-glass. Next morning I saw that the
water was full of Volvox globator, but I did not examine any speci-
mens microscopically, until the evening of Saturday, May 31st. The
globes of the Volvox were then in active motion, and my attention
was soon arrested by sundry oval bodies inside several of the globes ;
while examining these, a Volvox came across the field of the micro-
scope, containing a Rotifer with cilia vigorously at work; this, 1 per-
ceived, was the Notommata parasita, and at once conjectured that the
oval bodies which had first attracted my attention might be eggs.
Presently another Volvox came in sight, also containing a Rotifer.
The two Volvoces were not full grown, but the parasites were of large
size; their length, when fully extended, being about two-thirds of the
diameter of the containing Volvox. They appeared perfectly indiffe-
rent to the motions of the Volvox, either floating freely within the
globe, or holding on by their tails and allowing themselves to be car-
ried round with it, their cilia all the time in active motion, the work-
ing of the gizzard, and the spot or “eye” being distinctly visible.

Altogether it was an object of remarkable beauty and great interest.

Patches of the surface of each Volvox were without the green gem-
mules or animalcules, but [ could not detect the parasites actually
devouring them, although in one globe a gemmule was partially de-
tached, and was knocked about in the current made by the cilia of
the Rotifer. The young globes which are generally found within
specimens of Volvox, were absent in one case, and in the other were
represented by one small fragment. Scarcely any Volvoces were seen
entirely free from the parasite, although this evening I only observed
two fully developed Notommata, one in each of the globes that were
the subjects of the above observations. In many of the larger globes

3166 Infusoria.

there were two of the oval bodies or eggs. After watching them for
nearly two hours, I set aside the live-box containing them for future
examination.

Sunday, June 1.—I1 gave a hasty glance at the live-box directly

after breakfast. The rotation of the Volvoces had become very fee- —

ble, in fact had nearly stopped in all except one large globe, which
had the good fortune to be without a parasite. The two Notommata
were as active as ever, and ciliary motion was distinctly visible through
the transparent envelopes of some of the eggs.

June 2.— The large globe without a parasite had stopped moving
like the rest, but four young globes inside of it were very active.
The Notommata appeared as nimble as ever, some of the eggs were
hatched, and two Notommata were discovered swimming about free,
apparently enjoying their liberty. The fluid inside the infested globes
looked slightly dirty.

June 3.—The young Volvoces noticed yesterday had escaped from
the parent globe, but only one of them retained any power of motion.
The Notommata in the globes were still alive, but languid. No more
eggs were hatched.

June 4.—The Volvoces and parasites were all dead. This was the
case in the wine-glass as well as in the live-box.

The Volvoces kept in the wine-glass with the Mougeotia were alive
but sickly on the 2nd of June, and were quite as much infested with
the parasite as those in the live-box. While looking over some spe-
cimens taken from the wine- glass, a Notommata was seen attached by
its tail to the outside of a Volvox; it soon turned round and forced
its way head-foremost into the interior of the globe. Iam sorry that
at the time I was only searching amongst these specimens with a one-
inch object-glass, and can therefore give no better account of the pro-
cess ; perhaps it had previously forced its way out, and not liking the
appearance of things outside, had determined on returning: however
this may be, when a higher power was put on, and the Volvox moved
about by carefully turning round the lid of the live-box, I.was satis-
fied that an opening existed in the membrane of the Volvox, and that
the Notommata was actually inside. In one very large Volvox, no
fewer than three parasites were found; in this specimen also there
remained only a small mass of green matter, where, under ordinary
circumstances, several young globes would have been found.

In conclusion, I will only make two remarks : —

1. The large number of parasites observed seems worthy of notice;

Quadrupeds. 3167

in the case before related (Zool. 2891), only one Volvox out of a con-
siderable number was found to be affected.

2. This peculiar kind of “ parasitism” seems to bear some resem-
blance to that of Rotifer vulgaris in the cells of Sphagnum and the
filaments of Vaucheria. Rost. C. Douctas.

Forebridge, Stafford, June 5, 1851.

Notes on Observations in Natural History during a Tour in Norway.
By the Rev. ALFRED CHARLES SmirH, M.A.

(Continued from page 3134).

The Ermine (Mustela Erminea). 1 shot several of these pretty little
creatures in the stony fjelds. They frequent those parts which are
composed of broken rocks and mountains of loose stones ; on this ac-
count their Norwegian name is “Ros-kat,” or weasel inhabiting a
heap of stones, the word “Ros” signifying a “stone heap.” It was
curious to see them dive in among these stones, and in a minute
emerge again twenty or thirty yards distant from the spot where
they went in: it was like the diving of the black guillemot; they ap-
peared where you least expected them, and must have rushed along
their passages under the rocks as quickly as they could above them.
Though on the highest fjelds, and surrounded by perpetual snow, they
were in summer costume, a light chocolate colour above, and faint
yellow below, the black tips of their tails alone remaining unchanged
in summer and winter dress. :

The Lemming, (Mus Lemmus). Perhaps there is no living crea-
ture, not even the kraken (always supposing such an animal to exist),
which has caused more wonder and speculation, and given rise to more
fabulous tales among the wonder-loving and credulous Northmen, than
the pretty little animal of which I am now writing, — the lemming,
called in Norsk “ Leman.” It is about the size of our common rat;
but in colour, markings, and general appearance, and almost total ab-
sence of tail, is very like the Guinea-pig. Like the ermine, to which
it often falls a prey, it inhabits those fjelds which seem composed of
boundless tracts of stone. Here these little creatures may sometimes
be met with in such countless numbers that the whole mountain seems
alive with them, darting in and out among the loose stones which com-
pose their territory ; now sitting up on their hind legs, showing their
teeth, and squeaking in the violence of their excitement and rage, as

3168 Quadrupeds.

they see an intruder appear on the dominions which they have appro-
priated to themselves; now thrusting out a well-whiskered black nose,
and a still blacker pair of little bright sparkling eyes, from behind

4
2
7

some sheltering stone whither they have retreated in alarm, but whence ~

their curiosity urges them to venture on a peep at their foe; now
scampering away, and burying themselves deep down and far in

among the loose stones which seem to form a honeycomb in the sur- —

face of the mountain for their special behoof; the lemmings are a con-
stant source of wonder and amusement to the traveller, as he chances
to cross a wild fjeld on which they happen at that time to be. Their

presence, too, in these lonely and barren tracts, so far removed from —

all signs of man and his works of cultivation, imparts a feeling of so-
ciety to the traveller, who hails them with joy, as serving to break the
monotony of his dreary journey, and who delights to hear their angry
cries and fierce squeakings, as pleasing contrasts to the uniform si-
lence which reigns around.

It is strange what different effects the cries of various animals will
have upon the mind, in the same or similar places. I have already
remarked how painfully mournful it was to listen to the note of the
goiden plover, even on the hushed fjeld, when no other sound was to
be heard; and how no less pleasing to hear the loud hoarse crowing
and the prolonged guttural notes of the ptarmigan under the same
circumstances: and as with birds, so with animals, the cries of some
inspire us with feelings of delight, those of others with melancholy.
As an instance of this, I shall never forget the effect of dreariness,
and desolation, and mournfulness, produced by the shrill and start-
ling whistle of the marmot, which occasionally broke the stillness

of the scene in the midst of the most stupendous scenery in Switzer- |

land, when I was crossing the Mer de Glace to the oasis of verdure
in the midst of the ice called the “ Jardin,” at the back of Mont Blanc;
while here, on the contrary, in the same kind of wild dreary scenery,
the squeak of the little lemming, inharmonious though it was, always
produced a sensation of pleasure in my mind. It seemed to speak of
life, and happiness, and sociability, even in these dreary fjelds, and
dissolved the spell of awe and melancholy that so naturally oppresses
the spirits in such stern savage scenes of stillness, the very throne of

grim silence. But it is not from the locale in which they are found, —

that the lemmings have become the subjects of so much marvellous
fable, though this may be one remote cause of it, as their habits are
little investigated in consequence ; it is rather from their irregular ap-
pearance and sudden disappearance, and from the countless numbers

Quadrupeds. 3169

in which they sometimes migrate, and the excessive injury they do at
such times by eating up everything before them, that they have be-
come the themes of so many wild tales, and the sources of so much
superstitious as well as natural dread to the Norwegians. Accounts
seem to vary as to the frequency of these migrations ; some said they
invariably moved every third year; others (and amongst these, my
friend and companion the Norwegian officer, on whose accurate
knowledge of the Natural History of his country I place great faith)
assured me that the migrations took place about every seven years: the
probability being that they do not follow any prescribed rule as to
time, but migrate as an increase of their numbers or want of food may
prompt them. Certain however it is, that when they do so migrate,
they become a very great plague to the inhabitants of that district, for
so innumerable are they, in such countless myriads do they advance,
that they destroy everything before them ; and when the overwhelm-
ing mass has gone by, the luckless farmer looks in vain for the crops
on which his subsistence depends ; for the scourge of lemmings has
as completely destroyed them, as did a similar plague of locusts in the
land of Egypt in olden time. It is curious that they always advance
southwards, invariably go straight forwards, and never return. They
never go out of the course they have taken, but plunge into the lakes
and rivers, and over the rocks, that come in their way, and multitudes
are so destroyed, but what becomes of the main body of this vast army
no one knows. They march principally by night, and so suddenly and
unexpectedly that it was generally believed, and is still firmly upheld
by many, that they dropped from the clouds. Undoubtedly “the
plague of lemmings,” as I have heard it called by the inhabitants, is
one of the greatest scourges to which Norway is subject. I was for-
tunate in seeing these curious creatures on two occasions. I met with
them sparingly on the Sogne Fjeld, and in great numbers on the Fille
-Fjeld: in the latter place they abounded to such a degree that I could
count thirty within a hundred yards: the whole mountain seemed alive
with them, and the little black lake at the summit was quite fringed
with their dead bodies ; so that I could understand something of the
almost incredible numbers said to congregate at their migrations, when
the dense populations of these mountains join their forces together for
a move to the South.

The Squirrel, (Sciurus vulgaris). I know nothing more elegant
than the motions of these active little fellows, as they skip from branch
to branch, or run along the boughs, or up and down the trunks of
trees, and traverse considerable distances without touching the earth.

IX. 2C

3170 Quadrupeds.

The immense forests of Scandinavia are well suited to them, and there
they abound in great numbers; and many a time, when wearied with
driving day after day through these interminable forests, have I been
amused by stopping to watch the gambols of the squirrels, as they
darted across the road and chased one another among the trees ; the ©
deep sand of which the road is composed, preventing any noise of the
carriole or sound of the pony’s feet from heralding my approach: and
many times have I pulled up, and sat for many minutes within a few
yards of these frolicsome little fellows, while they continued their gam-
bols quite unconscious that they were being observed, and were within
avery little distance of a loaded gun. But that gun was never lifted
against them, excepting on one occasion, when I fired from my lair in
the carriole, and killed a very fine one, whose skin I was anxious to
procure as a specimen, but whose untimely death I could not help
deploring, as he fell from the bough on which he had been gambol-
ling; and I half regretted his barbarous murder, although the sight of
his beautiful skin soon dispelled all qualms of conscience upon that
score. I was also fortunate in procuring some winter skins of the
squirrel, which were gray, and exceedingly warm and thick, and are
much sought for by the Norwegians and Laplanders on that account.

The Hare, (Lepus variabilis). Having seen in Murray’s admirable
* Handbook for Norway,’ and in other descriptions of sporting in that
country, frequent mention of hares, I expected to find them very abun-
dant, and indeed I know that others have found them in some num-
bers; yet, strange to say, though I was peculiarly fortunate in falling
in with game of almost every other description, and although I wan-
dered about in search of game in every kind of country, fjeld and fo-
rest, mountain and valley, heath and underwood, rough and smooth,
stony and grassy tracts, I only saw a hare on one occasion ; and then
I was driving through the skirt of a forest, when the hare in question
darted across the road, and up the hill-side, where he sat very compo-
sedly at about a hundred yards’ distance, apparently for me to watch
him. He seemed of rather large size, and was of a light gray colour,
in which he assimilated very closely to the rocks and loose stones
around. I left the carriole, and taking my gun, went in pursuit ; but
he was too wary to let me stalk him, and bounded away before I could
get within shot. These hares become perfectly white in the winter, in
common with so many other of the quadrupeds and birds that inhabit
those snowy regions. ALFRED CHARLES SMITH.

Old Park, Devizes, June 4, 1851.

(To be continued).

Quadrupeds. 3171

Anecdotes of the Common Fox, (Vulpes vulgaris, Briss.) — I understand that it is
an ascertained fact, that the common fox devours shell-fish readily, when pinched by
hunger. Our rocky sea-line and deep abrupt ravines, with their patches of heath and
furze, in a country far from being generally wooded, afford inviting ground for the set-
tlement of this animal; and accordingly it has always been known as a frequent and
__ by no means welcome visitor along our shores. The two following anecdotes are cur-
: rent among the inhabitants of Pennan (Zool. 2997), and are reported on their good
authority as having happened, the one, something more than fourscore years ago, the
other, about thirty years later. An old fisherman, of strict integrity as was ever be-
lieved, who lived and died in the above-named village, on going out one calm morning
to the rocky beach which lies to the east of the tiny harbour, was somewhat surprized
by coming on the body of a fox, not very far out of low-water mark. He wondered,
as is said, how Mr. Fox, usually so wary, should have come there; and on attempting
to turn him over, his surprise was increased on finding that he seemed fixed to the
beach by the mouth. It was not properly by the mouth, as a narrower inspection dis-
covered ; he was held to the rock by the tongue. Endeayouring to detach a limpet,
he bad succeeded, as is presumed, in raising one edge by the force of his jaw, and at
_ this stage insinuated the point of his tongue, when his hold giving way, the whole
power of a full-sized limpet compressed it to the rock: and thus was he bound, like
honoured martyrs of a bygone age, to await the choking tortures of the approaching
tide. He waited and he perished; the risen waters waved their crest over him; and
when they retired after triumph, hapless Reynard’s remains were there to testify that
victory is not always to the strong, nor wily cunning security against misfortune. The
other anecdote may be soon told. A fisherman, the grand-uncle of my obliging friend,
Mr. West, on coming in from sea one evening, had his boat hauled up on the beach,
leaving in it a hand-line baited, with the view of catching “dogs,” (Spinax acanthias).
One of the hooks had been inadvertently left dangling over the gunwale of the boat.
On going out to his boat next morning, what was his marvel when, line in mouth, and
hook fixed deep in the throat, lay the lifeless body of a huge specimen of the common
fox. I have every confidence in the truth of both the above statements, as made to
me by individuals of the highest intelligence and integrity—Geo. Harris; Manse of
Gamrie, Banffshire, May 23, 1851.

Winter Dress of the Ermine (Mustela Erminea).— The annual assumption by our
blood-thirsty little friend, the stoat, of the garb destined by its semblance to be, amid
the snowy regions of the North, its protection from enemies and a shield from the ob-

_ servation of its prey, is of more frequent occurrence farther south than is intimated in
Mr. Bell’s communication (Zool. 3102). Whilst a resident in the valley of Honiton,
in Devonshire, in latitude some twenty miles farther south than Selborne, a winter
of ordinary severity seldom elapsed without affording me an opportunity of examining”
the stoat in various stages of this interesting seasonal change. My own little collec-
tion is replete with examples varying from the stoat in its general summer dress, by
numerous intergrades up to as pure an ermine, in as far as colour is concerned, as can
adorn the fur-countries of the North. When however we compare the quality of the
produce of Siberia with our own native ermine, we find ourselves far inferior, and the
beneficence of the Creator in adapting the same animal, by modifying the density of
its covering, to a widely differing habitat, is beautifully obvious. But what I would
here particularly remark is, that of the many stoats I have hitherto had the opportunity
of dissecting, in no case in which the subject had so far acquired the white dress as to

3172 Birds.

deserve the appellation of an ermine, did the animal prove a male; and among those
which had assumed the change in a less degree, the number of females is in such ex-
cess, that a male becomes quite a rarity. Hence I strongly suspect the female to be
by far the most susceptible of this change, and shall be happy to learn, through the
medium of this journal, whether the observation of other naturalists on this point has
led to concurrent testimony.—Edward Murch ; Maidenhead, May 30, 1851.

Dates of the Arrival and Departure of Migratory Birds in Oxfordshire during the
Year 1850.—

When first seen. Week in which seen

for the last time.
Chee Cee el ev adeess sce” Maren 30 1 October.
RUMOR NT SES ee res April 6 11 October.
WE eyelet 10 Iv August.
PlachGap ate eel 2.888 ee 14
MOUSE re sid. doe ieeas tes eos Ceat 14 Iv August.
INV TDMEINIOMIE aces coasts seedsets ri 14 tv August.
Willow Warbler ..........sseseeee are 17 tv September.
Wellow Waptall 02700. Te! 18 1 September.
Mi si ONE A, IAS 19 111 October.
Lesser Whitethroat.........sse00 22
PRCHOO TS, 2) aire etine ade oes nat 22 u July.
Common Whitethroat.........60. 24 11 September.
Grasshopper Warbler.........+:. 24 111 September.
WERCHUCAL ssch se ce ceruregieesctrorss 24 11 September.
Tree Pipitw RU. A 26 11 September.
Sand-Miawtin’ Uh 58h deceit a7 u1 September.
Garden’ Warbler? 223.002 iia a 28
Sedge*Warbler .....0...c...c0008 May 3 11 September.
Red-backed Shrike............ « 6
Creat Plover i.e ie T
Cat ites 2k. AINE na 9 111 September.
Whinchat UIA 9 11 September.
EG! Medias ses edd. ivdstedcusees sat 13 1 August.
dis scdees We dedave ene ws 15 1 October.
DOPUC DOVE’ oi.cssccsedevccceene’ TUNE 1 1v September.
Sipe We hi eit el Age 12 um April.
Deal ideecdtevisiillo.s.sc00. ‘September 8
Moerliniies sardiiaeiiin dees cdice ees bi 11 m1 April.
Suck Baie Leave die. bs 16 u April.
Woodeock™ iiiittl sitesi. October 22 1 March.
Fieldfare .......ssesecsecsccsssseses November 6 u April.
Redwidg i.cisli. iste beavents sve 23 1 April.
Golden Plover............s0..000 December 2
Gray Wagtail iiliiscidiveniat Vi 13 1 May.
Common Sandpiper ...ssese0 vs mm August.

Birds. 3173

The arrival of the spotted flycatcher, and of one or two other species, was not ob-
served until so late as to render any note of their appearance useless. A male of the
‘blackcap warbler was seen near this place on the Ist of December, apparently in good
health; the weather was then very severe for the season, the mercury having been as
low as 17° Fahr.—A. Matthews ; Weston-on-the-Green, April, 1851.

Notes on the Arrival of Migratory Birds at Lewes, Sussex.—
March 21. Three wheatears were seen on the Downs.
_ 4, 25. On the morning of this day I saw a solitary chiffchaff, but did not see or

hear another until the Ist of April, when I saw several.

‘April 1. A solitary swallow was seen.

» 5. At 2o’clock in the afternoon I heard the blackcap singing with all his
might ; a wryneck had also arrived.

» 10. Late in the evening of this day the nightingale was filling the woods with
his glorious melody.

» 14. On this day I saw several house-martins.

», 16. Numbers of willow-wrens came, but departed northward the same after-
noon. Several whinchats, whitethroats, a few tree-pipits and ring-
ouzels also arrived in the course of the day.

» 17. The sedge-warbler was to be heard complaining in every ditch and osier-
bed, and the cuckoo was heard in several places.

» 18. The yellow wagtail came in numbers.

» 19. Early in the morning of this day I missed my favourite blackcap, and
after some search I found out the cause—his mate had arrived.

» 24. The wood-wren arrived.

» 26. Lesser whitethroat.

May 5. Isawa single swift.

» 12. I sawa male red-backed shrike.

» 15. The spotted flycatcher was very busy among the insects; and the garden
warbler sang his harmonious song on the same day.

I did not ascertain the exact date of the arrival of the reed-warbler, and have been
told that the red-backed shrike was seen on the Ist of May, which is the usual date of
its arrival, and [ was much surprised at not meeting with it earlier. Blackcaps have
been exceedingly numerous this year, and the plumage of all the birds was splendid.
—J. B. Ellman; Lewes, May 15, 1851.

Observations on the Arrival of Hirundinide in Norfolk this Spring.—
~Chimney-swallow (Hirundo rustica) April 18. Weather mild, wind South.
Sand-martin (Hirundo riparia) ... » 19. Weather mild, wind varying from

South-west to South-east.
Window-martin (Hirundo urbica)... May 2. Weather mild, wind varying West
by North-west.
,, 7%. Weather milder than in the three
preceding days, wind West.

Common Swift (Cypselus Apus)

—J. Harper ; Norwich.

Late Sojourn of Swifts in 1850.—According to my journal of last year, I saw two
of these birds hawking for insects as late as the 29th of August.—Zd.

Display of Parental Affection by Martins.—I beg to record the following instance
of parental affection exhibited by a pair of the common martin, as it seems to place
beyond a doubt their inability to withstand the temperature of our winters, even dur-

3174 Birds.

ing a season of almost unparalleled mildness, and is strongly opposed to the notion —
that any birds of this genus can pass that period in a torpid state. At the time of their —
autumnal migration, these birds were unfortunately engaged in rearing a small family
of young, and while multitudes of their kindred were daily passing in search of more
sunny climes, the love of their offspring overcame their natural habits, and they re-
mained behind. Towards the end of October their strength visibly declined, from this —
time they were less frequeutly seen, and at length disappeared and were forgotten. Of
their fate nothing more was known, until, in March last, a nest was removed from the
eaves of our stable, containing the skeletons of three half-fledged young, and over them
those of the two old birds. Thus faithful to the last, they had perished a voluntary sa-
crifice to parental affection. I feel convinced, that the most humane course to pursue
with regard to any such stragglers, would be at once to destroy them as soon as the
main body of their species has left our shores ; by any other treatment they are only
exposed to a more lingering, but no less certain, death. — A. Matthews ; Weston-on-
the-Green, April, 1851.

Occurrence of the Pied Flycatcher (Muscicapa atricapilla) at West Firle, near
Lewes, Sussex. — An adult male specimen of the pied flycatcher was shot at Firle
Place, the seat of Viscount Gage, on the lst instant, and is now in my possession.
This bird has only been recorded to have been obtained three times in this county.—
J. B. Ellman ; Lewes, May 4, 1851.

Occurrence of the Gray-headed Wagtail (Motacilla neglecta) at Great Yarmouth.—
A fine male specimen of the gray-headed wagtail, which was shot here on the 18th of
last April, has been presented to me. I have preserved it, and it is now in my posses-
sion.—John Smith; Great Yarmouth, May 20, 1851.

Occurrence of the Cirl Bunting near Bristol.—It may not perhaps be uninteresting
to some of the readers of the ‘ Zoologist,’ to learn that the cirl bunting (Z'mberiza
Cirlus) has, within the last five or six years, become a constant resident in this part of
Gloucestershire; and I have, during the present month, discovered the nest of a pair
of these birds, in a small cypress in one of my plantations. Only three eggs were de-
posited, the birds having probably been disturbed by my visits to the nest. Neither
Yarrell nor Montagu mentions the breeding of these birds in Gloucestershire, though
I have long known them to be abundant during the wénter in the adjoining county of
Somerset, but until lately could never obtain a specimen from this neighbourhood.—
William Knapp ; Hart’s Cottage, Alveston, Bristol, May 27, 1851.

Occurrence of the Bohemian Waxwing in Shetland.—On the Ist of last month, I
had a fine specimen of the Bohemian waxwing (Bombycilla garrula) sent to me, taken
-at Northmaven, in the north part of Shetland. About the same time there was one
obtained at Lerwick, and a third was seen at a place called Aithsting, about four miles
from here.—Robert Dunn ; Helister, near Weesdale, Shetland, N. B., May 19, 1851.

Occurrence of the Hoopoe at Walmer.—A fine specimen of this beautiful bird was
shot a fortnight since, in Lower Walmer. It weighs about 12 ounces, and is nearly
12 inches in length. This, with the seven recorded in tle ‘ Zoologist’ for June, would
seem to evince that this “ fair feathered one” is becoming yearly more partial to our
clime; but how annoying is it to the real lover of Nature, to learn that no sooner does
that occasional visitant take up its abode with us, than it is shot by the hand of some
one, whose heart wars with the outward world of beauty, and whose mind is too bloody
to appreciate the perfect form of the hoopoe, or any other created thing. Is it nota
disgrace to our naturalists, to our Magazines of Natural History, to every enlightened

Birds—Mollusks. 3175

man, this daily butchery of rare and beauteous birds?—W. H. Cordeaux; Canterbury,
June 8, 1851.

The Great Snipe (Scolopax major) breeding in Norfolk.—In the April of 1846, I
found a nest of the great snipe, containing four eggs, one of which is now in my col-
lection, the others were broken by a boy who was with me, whilst stepping into my
boat. The nest was placed in a tuft of grass, in some marshes at Belaugh, near Wrox-
ham, in this county. I had a good opportunity of observing both the birds, as they

did not rise in the usual quick manner of the common snipe, but much more leisurely,
and continued to hover round the nest for some little time. A male specimen of this
bird was shot near Lowestoft, in Suffolk, the latter end of April in this year.— P. E.
Hansell ; Thorpe, next Norwich, June 6, 1851.

Occurrence of the Eared Grebe (Podiceps auritus) at Yarmouth. — Two fine speci-
mens of the eared grebe, male and female, in full summer plumage, were shot at Yar-
mouth on the 17th of Aprillast. The eggs in the female were in a forward state—the
size of asmall marble. The birds are now in the possession of J. Green, Naturalist ;
1, East Road, City Road.

Hybrid between the Common Mallard and the Pintail Duck. — About the second
week in March, a beautiful hybrid duck, between the common mallard (Anas Boschas)
and the pintail (Anas acuta) was shot near Standlake, Oxfordshire, and was brought
into the Oxford market for sale, among other wild fowl; but having fallen into the
hands of Mr. Osman, the Taxidermist, I eventually was fortunate enough to obtain
possession of it. Although these hybrids have not unfrequently been bred in confine-
ment, I am not aware of one having ever been before shot in its wild state—A. M.
Norman ; Christ Church, Oxford.

Occurrence of the Egyptian Groose at Yarmouth, and the Pink-footed Goose at Ely.
Two specimens of the Egyptian goose (Anser A’gyptiacus), male and female, in a wild
state, were shot by a fisherman, off the Yarmouth coast, on the 28th of April last; and
on the 3rd of May, 1851, three examples of the pink-footed goose (Anser brachyrhyn-
chus), one male and two females, all old mature birds, were shot at Ely, Cambridge-
shire. All the above are now in the possession of J. Green; 1, Hast Road, City
Road.

Occurrence of the Egyptian Goose on Derwent Lake. — On the 2nd of this month a
fine specimen of this rare bird was shot on Derwent Lake, by Mr. Thos. Hudspith,
game-keeper to H. C. Marshall, Esq., and is now in his possession. This, so far as I
am aware, is the first instance of this bird having been met with in this district.—J.
Harrison ; May 19, 1851.

Occurrence of the Puffin (Alca arctica) in Winter. — On the 27th of February, I
picked up on the Chesil Beach, five specimens of the puffin, all dead. The only diffe-
rence in their plumage from that of summer, was that the bill was not so vividly co-
loured, and the cheeks are of a dark lead-gray. One individual was caught alive on
the rocks under Portland, in the month of January: it was very emaciated. We have
had a long succession of South-westerly gales. The above five individuals had evi-
dently been dead ten days or a fortnight.— William Thompson ; Weymouth.

Note on the Pholas dactylus, or Sussex Piddick.—While residing here having had
opportunities of studying the habits of Pholas dactylus, I have endeavoured, during
the last six months, to discover how this mollusk makes its hole or crypt in the chalk,

3176 Zoological Society.

whether by a chemical solvent, by absorption, by ciliary currents or by rotatory motion.
My observations, dissections, and experiments, set at rest all controversy in my own
mind. Between twenty and thirty of these creatures have been at. work in lumps of

chalk, placed in sea-water in a finger-glass and a pan, at my window, for the last three’ _

months. This Pholas makes its hole by grating the chalk with its rasp-like valves,
licking it up when pulverized with its foot, forcing it up through its principal or bran-
chial siphon, and expelling it in oblong nodules. The crypt protects the Pholas from
Conferve, which, when they get at it, grow, not merely on the outside, but even within:
the lips of the valves, preventing the action of the siphons. In the foot there is a ge-
latinous style or spring, which, even when taken out, has great elasticity, and seems to’
be the mainspring of the motions of the Pholas.—John Robertson ; 48, Queen’s Road,
Brighton, June 6, 1851.

“Shower of Snails.—An extraordinary scene was witnessed at Bradford, about twelve
miles from Bristol, on Saturday week, when that village was visited by a heavy shower
of snails. They might have been gathered by bushels.”—Stroud Free Press, May 23.
What a curious thing it is, that all the showers of frogs, snails, and other things, which’
are as regularly reported in the papers as Siamese-twin calves and monstrous turnips,
should, like the wonderful cures performed by Morison’s Pills and Holloway’s Oint-
ment, always occur in out-of-the-way places, where nobody seems to take the trouble to
investigate them. Now as to the above “shower” of snails. — Where did it come
from; did any one see it fall; did it cease quickly, or was it of long continuance?
Did any one preserve a single specimen out of the “ bushels” that fell; or were they
so broken, as might be expected, that no whole ones could be found? And if any
were preserved, of what species are they? What sort of weather was it when this
molluscous visitation happened; in what sort of a cloud-chariot did it come; was
there much wind, and from what quarter? It is very desirable that these questions
should be answered ; and among the numbers of persons who must have seen the
“ shower,’ and its residuum of ‘‘ bushels” of snails, surely some one can be found
who can reply to them.— J. W. Douglas; 2, Eton Grove, Lee, June 6, 1851.

Proceedings of the Zoological Society.

Evening Meeting, May 13, 1851.—J. E. Gray, Esq., F.R.S., in the chair.

Mr. Gould communicated a paper by Dr. Nicholson, on a new species of Francolin
discovered by him in Arabia. This bird, which appears-from Dr. Nicholson’s draw-
ing to be most probably worthy of generic distinction, was provisionally characterized
under the name of Francolinus p

The Secretary read a paper by Dr. Davy, communicated by Mr. Spence, which gave
a detailed account of his observations on the eyes of the mole from actual. dissection.

Mr. Gray communicated the description of a new species of Bulimus, by Mr.
Ernest Devicke, who had himself discovered it in the neighbourhood of Valparaiso.

Mr. Lovell Reeve added some remarks upon this species, of which he had also pre-
pared a description.

Mr. Cuming communicated an account of forty-nine new species of Miton from
his own collection, drawn up by Mr. Arthur Adams.

The Meeting then adjourned to the 27th of May.

an:

Entomological Society. 3177

Evening Meeting, May 27, 1851.—Wm. Yarre tt, Esq., in the chair.

Mr. Vernon Harcourt exhibited a large and very interesting series of birds, which
he had collected in Madeira, and favoured the meeting with some remarks upon their
habits and distribution.

Mr. Oswald communicated a notice by Mr. Mack, upon the fact of a white duck
laying black eggs.

Mr. Cuming communicated a paper by Dr. Pfeiffer, describing many species of
new shells from his own collection.

The Secretary read a letter from Capt. Hutton relative to the habits of Ursus isa-
bellinus, Horsf., of which he had transmitted to England a living specimen, now in
the Menagerie.

The Secretary also read a letter from Dr. Bowring respecting the range of the
Mandarin duck (Aix galericulata), in China, and informing him of the shipment of
three living pairs of that bird for the Society.

Mr. Cuming communicated a Monograph of Trochide by Mr. A. Adams.

The Meeting adjourned to June 10.

ee

Monthly General Meeting, June 5, 1851.— The Rt. Hon. Sir G. CLerx, Bart.,
_M.P., Vice President, in the chair.

Miss Fry, Lord Leigh, W. H. Flower, Esq., F. Thompson, Esq., J. D. Llewellyn,
Esq., and G. R. Waterhouse, Esq., were elected Fellows. F.H. Gabriel, Esq., James
Blyth, Esq., Professor Percy, H. Wilson, Esq., J. Lubbock, Esq., C.S. Crowley, Esq.,
and — Evans, Esq., were proposed as Candidates for the Fellowship.

The Report of the Council stated that among the additions to the Menagerie dur-
ing the month of May, was included a second specimen of the great Malayan tapir,
which had been obtained for the Society through the obliging exertions of John Dun-
bar, Esq., Judge of the Suddur Court at Calcutta. A living specimen of the great red
kangaroo from the interior of Australia, has now been obtained for the first time; and
among the donations, there are two other Australian species, which are also entirely
new to the collection. These are the (idicnemus grallarius, presented by Dr. Mayo,
and a singularly curious lizard, presented by the Hon. Mr. Hope.

The number of visitors during May, presented a large increase over the correspond-
ing period of last year, and was, in fact, the largest ever known.—D. W. M.

Proceedings of the Entomological Society.

June 2, 1851.—J. O. WEsrwoop, Esq., President, in the chair.

The following donations were announced, and thanks ordered to be given to the
tespective donors: —‘ The Zoologist’ for June; by the Editor. ‘The Atheneum’
for May; by the Editor. ‘ Entomologische Zeitung’ for May; by the Entomological
Society of Stettin. ‘ Bulletin de la Société Impériale des Naturalistes de Moscou,’
1850, No.2; by the Society. ‘Abhandlungen der Mathematisch-Physikalischen Classe
der Koeniglich Bayerischen Akademie da Wissenchaften, band v. parts 2& 3: Bul-
letin, ditto, 1848—50: by the Academie. ‘Hymenopterologische Studien von Arnold

1X i

3178 Entomological Society.

Foerster ;’ by Mr. Stainton. ‘Insecta Saundersiana, Diptera, part 2;’ by W. W.
Saunders, Esq. A box of Cape insects, by — Rooper, Esq., through Mr. Spence. A
fine hornet’s nest, found in an uninhabited cottage near Thornbury Park, Gloucester-
shire; by H. W. Newman, Esq.

H. W. Newman, Esq., Thornbury Park, Gloucestershire, and Herr Ernst A. Zue-

kold, Halle, Prussia, were elected Members of the Society ; and Alfred Heauneay &

Esq., Huddersfield, a Subscriber.

Mr. Spence, on the part of Mr. Ellis, exhibited some oak leaves attacked by two
different larve, one of which was Lepidopterous, and the other, which had rolled up
the leaves, was Coleopterous.

Mr. Rich exhibited some splendid Goliath beetles in the finest condition.

Mr. E. Shepherd exhibited a bred specimen of Vanessa Io, remarkable for the
nearly white colour of the wings towards the extremity. He mentioned that Mr. Bond
had a similar bred specimen; and that Mr. Doubleday possessed another, taken at
liberty.

Mr. Preston exhibited an Anthocharis Cardamines, recently captured, destitute of
the green markings on the under side.

The President exhibited from his own garden, cases of larve of Coleophora Heme-
robiella, which, as he had noticed, fed on the under side of pear-leaves. He had also
observed on the same trees larve of C. nigricella, feeding upon the upper side of the
leaves; another case-maker which fed at the base of the leaves ; and a fourth, with a
very rough case, which fed all over the leaves indiscriminately : besides a larva under
a transparent web, and some leaf-rollers. He also stated that he had again found the
once rare Lyda fasciata in considerable numbers, several species of Curculionidae, and
Cemiostoma scitella, allin his own garden, showing how many species might be found
in a small space.

Mr. Augustus Sheppard exhibited a male Smerinthus Populi, found at liberty,
with a long appendage at the base of the right under wing, but distinct, apparently of
the same texture as the wing, and, like it, covered with scales.

Mr. Stainton exhibited some cases of the larve of Coleophora paripennella, found
on a fence at Brixton, where he had observed them to assume a position parallel to the
fence, by reason of the case being abruptly curved near the mouth.

Mr. Douglas exhibited one of the larva-cases off Origanum vulgare, of which he
had spoken at the January meeting. It had been stationary since the middle of
March, but no insect had yet emerged.

Mr. J. F. Stephens exhibited from his own garden specimens of Selandria seri-
cans, Hartig, a new British species of Tenthredinide, and a male and female of Lyda
inanita.

Mr. Saunders exhibited some rare Homoptera, and a moth accompanied by its
pupa-skin and transparent cocoon, similar to one exhibited by him at the meeting in
June, 1850; all received from Assam,

Mr. Smith mentioned that he had seen a specimen of Gastropacha Ilicifolia, a new
British species, captured on heather at Channock Chase, Staffordshire, in the middle
of May, by Mr. Atkinson.

Mr. 8S. Stevens exhibited several specimens of a new species of Mecinus, found in
company with Baris Atriplicis, about the roots of Plantago maritima, growing below
Gravesend ; also a new species of Limonius from oaks near Tooting. He likewise ex-
hibited fine specimens of Eupisteria carbonaria, recently taken in Perthshire by Mr.

Entomological Society. 3179

Weaver; and some remarkably beautiful butterflies, including one which he believed
_ to be the male of Papilio Zagrus, captured on the banks of the river Napo, district
east of Quito, South America, and sent home between folds of paper.

The following note by Mr. Rich, on a Goliathus Cacicus which he had alive nearly
five months, was read.

“In going on board a vessel which had arrived two days prior from Africa, I saw
suspended in the lamp-glass a fine female Goliathus Cacicus, which at the time was
very dormant, and on inquiry of the steward found it had been so ever since the vessel
came into soundings, the weather being much colder than before ; that it was hung in
a draft, but it had been very lively during the passage home, and fed freely on satu-
rated biscuit and sugar: it had been on board more than three months. On purchas-
ing it of the captain, I put it in my hat, and did not expect it to live, but on going
homewards, found it not quite so dormant, as by a sudden movement, after it had been
there some little time, I felt something equal to a dozen lancets running into me, which
will readily account for my having so many specimens with the tarsi gone, the natives,
not liking to handle them. On arriving at home I found the beetle to be exceedingly
active and restless ; and having at the time a large Fuchsia in bloom on the table, I
put it on the pot, when it immediately ran (if I may so term it) up the plant to the
top, and to my surprise took flight to the window, where there stood a vase of roses,
and immediately began to bury its head in the centre of a rose, and appeared to be
eating. The flight was very rapid, and accompanied by considerable noise. The sun
coming out, I left the beetle for some little time, when on going into the room again,
and coming suddenly upon it, it directly took flight; and I afterwards found that by
making a sudden noise, it would invariably do so if the sun were out. I could rarely
get it to take flight if the sun were not shining, but at all times it was very watchful,
and at the slightest noise would erect its antenne, and look towards the point whence
the noise proceeded, and then lie quite still; but if the noise were repeated, the beetle
would take flight. On giving it its liberty, which I generally did every day, by allow-
ing it to crawl over me, I found that it would always take three or four steps, then stop
and look about, then a few more steps, and if I chanced to move my hand, or any one
came near me, it would take flight. After having it some time, and always feeding it
myself, it came quite to know me, would not start, and would come to my finger if I
held it out, and if there was no sugar, it seemed quite disappointed. I believe that it
knew my voice, having tried it several times when several persons were in the room,
for as soon as J spoke to it, if previously quite still, it would brisk up and be quite rest-
less until I fed it, which was invariably with sugar, or honey, and a little moistened
biscuit or bread. As far as I could I supplied it with roses, having tried it with many
flowers, but to none was it so partial as to the rose. After feeding it invariably cleaned
its antenne, and the tarsi also, if by chance either of them had touched the sugar. The
antenne were cleaned by using the two fore tarsi, and drawing them to its mouth;
the hair on the middle and lower legs was used to clean the wings and elytra.”

Observations on the Bombinatrices, by H. W. Newman, Esq., were read, and some
remarks made thereon by Mr. F. Smith.

The President read the conclusion of his Memoir on the genus Evania and its allies.

The President announced that Herr de Haan, an Honorary Member of this Soci-
ety, had for a long time made researches into the venation of the wings of butterflies,
with reference to their metamorphoses, general structure, and economy, in which he
had received great assistance from M. Milne-Edwards, at Paris, and he now sought

3180 Microscopical Society. British Entomologists.

the help of English entomologists, in furnishing him with specimens of diurnal Lepi-
doptera, stating that it would be sufficient for his purpose if there were but an upper
and an under wing free from damage.

Herr Helfrick, of Berlin, had also intimated his desire to exchange with any of the
Members, specimens of the larger European Lepidoptera for English species.

It was announced that Part 5, Vol. i. n.s. of the Society’s ‘Transactions, was

ready for delivery.—J. W. D.

Proceedings of the Microscopical Society of London.

May 21, 1851.—GrorcE SHapso7t, Esq., in the chair.

Thomas Chamberlain, Esq., Jabez Hogg, Esq., John Ladds, Esq., William Ladd,
Esq., Joseph Taylor, Esq., and George Field, Esq., were balloted for and duly elected
Members of the Society.

A paper by George Shadbolt, Esq., On the Sporangia of some of the Filamentous
Fresh-water Alge, was read.

After stating that the facts to which he wished to direct the attention of the Society,
were, if not hitherto entirely unknown, at any rate, not made public, so far as he had
been able to ascertain, the author proceeded to describe that he had ascertained that
the sporangia of Zygnema quadratum, Z. varians, and of another of the Alge, proba-
bly a species of Tyndaridea, undergo a gradual change of form, and finally assume a
stellate character, precisely similar in appearance to the so-called Xanthidia found in
sections of flint, and analogous to the stellate sporangia of the allied family of the Des-
midiee. That consequently the figures of the sporangia of the above-named species,
as given in Hassall’s ‘ British Fresh-water Alge, though perfectly correct as far as
they go, are only figures of the fruit in a transition state. The author suggests, that
as Zygnema quadratum is a species in which conjugation occurs between contiguous
cells of the same frond, while, on the contrary, in Zygnema varians it takes place be-
tween those of different filaments, in all probability a similar change to that described
ensues with regard to the sporangia of all the species in both the subdivisions of the
genus, and possibly in most, if not in all, of the family —J. W.

Proceedings of the Society of British Entomologists.

The June meeting of the above Society was held at the Society’s rooms, 10, Foun-
tain Place, City Road, on the 3rd instant: Mr. Harpine, President, in the chair.

The following insects were exhibited :—Trochilium culiciforme and Acasis viretata.

The President remarked that this had been the most backward season he ever re-
membered ; he had taken many of the early Lepidopterous insects as late as the 20th

of May: for example, he had taken Teniocampa gothica, T. stabilis, and T. gracilis, —

as well as Anticlea badiata, as fine as if they had but just emerged from the chrysalis,

three months after their usual time of appearance; and many Diptera, which usually

appear at the beginning of the month, did not make their appearance until the 28th.
Some seed-heads of Centaurea nigra were exhibited, which contained the chrysalis

Insects. — Annelides. 3181

of a dipterous insect in a cell at the bottom of the seed-head : the cell-walls were so
strong, that it required a sharp knife to get at the interior.

Mr. Norman presented to the Society a specimen of Vanessa Antiopa, taken in
Lordship Lane, Stoke Newington, in 1847.

The President having informed the Members present that Mr. Bates, the unwea-
ried and enterprising naturalist, whose exertions in Para and the Amazons have tended
to render the study of Entomology more interesting, was about to return to his native
country, after an absence of three years devoted to that beautiful branch of Natural
History; it was universally agreed, on a motion from Mr. Harding,—That the thanks
and congratulations of this Society should be tendered to him on his arrival: and that
it would suggest to naturalists generally, but more particularly the entomologists of
this country, that a meeting or soirée should be held, to which Mr. Bates should be
invited, personally to congratulate him on his safe and successful tour.— J. F. Nor-
man, Secretary.

Capture of Notodonta trepida, Cleora cinctaria, &c.— On Friday, May 30, I went
to Delamere Forest, in company with Mr. N. Cooke, of Warrington, and there had the
good fortune to capture a very fine pair of Notodonta trepida, sitting on an oak. I
have also in my possession thirteen specimens of Cleora cinctaria, taken on alders by
my father, in Argyllshire, about the 15th of May; and two specimens of Calocampa
vetusta, taken on sallows in the same locality: as well as Teniocampa gracilis, which
was there in great numbers.—F. C. Buxton, jun.; Kenyon House, Manchester, June
3, 1851.

Occurrence of Eucera longicornis at Peckham.—A little greenhouse in which flow-
ers have been as abundant throughout the spring as they were scarce out of doors,
seems a sort of bee-trap: the bees enter through the open windows, but cannot find the
same mode of exit, and crawling to the glass, die in considerable numbers. Among
them Eucera longicornis is an occasional victim; but Anthophora retusa and Apis
mellifica are the most abundant.— Edward Newman.

Earth-worms destroyed by Grubs.—Two or three of your correspondents have re-
cently communicated instances of the earth-worm being attacked and killed by grubs
and other larve. The facts they have mentioned are very interesting, and to me quite
new. I find, however, in Kirby and Spence’s delightful work, mention made of a very
similar circumstance ; and as you may perhaps have other readers as ignorant of En-
tomology as myself, allow me to transcribe the passage for your pages. It occurs in
the ninth letter or chapter of the first volume, and is as follows:—‘“ The common earth-
worm is attacked and devoured by a centipede (Scolopendra electrica) ; Mr. Sheppard
Saw one attack a worm ten times its own size, round which it twisted itself like a ser-
pent, and which it finally mastered and devoured.”—W. F. W. Bird ; 5, King’s Road,
Bedford Row, June 13, 1851.

3182 Insects.

Entomological Localities. By J. W. Douctas, Esq.

(Continued from page 3106).

West WICKHAM Woop.

“There grew pied wind-flowers and violets,
Daisies, those pearled Arcturi of the earth,
The constellated flower that never sets ;
Faint oxlips ; tender bluebells, at whose birth
The sod scarce heaved ; and that tall flower that wets
Its mother’s face with heaven-collected tears,
When the low wind, its playmate’s voice, it hears.

*¢ And in the warm hedge grew lush eglantine,
Green cow-bind and the moonlight-coloured May,
And cherry blossoms, and white-cups, whose wine
Was the bright dew yet drained not by the day ;
And wild roses, and ivy serpentine,
With its dark buds and leaves, wandering astray.” —Shelley.

Most prolific in Lepidoptera is this wood, the cause being doubt-
less the variety of plants growing here, and from March to October
the collector will find something new continually appearing. Situated
between West Wickham and Addington, it is easily accessible from
London by the Croydon Railway; it is moreover one of the few woods
near town where an entomologist can go without reading “ 'Trespass-
ers will be prosecuted.” On the highest part the soil is sandy peat,
where grow only heath and fir-trees: immediately adjoining this, to-
wards Addington, the soil becomes stiffer, and here is a grove of beech
and oak. ‘The rest of the wood, towards Wickham and Shirley, is
composed chiefly of oak, birch, and hazel, mixed with sallow, spindle,
and many other shrubs; and everywhere the ground is covered with
a mixture of plants too numerous to mention. The following list of
insects is given to show what has been found; a diligent worker would
doubtless be able to add some rarities to it; but for one to be aware
of the riches of the place, it must be worked and visited again and
again.

Trochilium Myopeformis. On the flowers of Euphorbia Amygda-
loides, in May.

Sesia Bombyliformis and Fuciformis. Hovering over the flowers of
Ajuga reptans, in May.

AAgeria Bembeciformis. Bred from a stump of sallow.

Insects. | 3183

Lithosia complana. Flying at dusk.

Euthemonia Plantaginis. Kicked up among underwood.

Limacodes Testudo. Larva beat from oaks.

Notodonta Carmelita. Fence in the Addington-road, (Zool. 3152).

Acronycta Ligustri. Larva beaten from ash.

Noctua Dahli. Flying over heath, in August.

Chersotis Agathina. Ditto.

Teniocampa munda and miniosa. Sallows, April.

Orthosia neglecta. On the flowers of heather (Calluna vulgaris),
in August. It may be worth remarking that the majority of speci-
mens found here are red; in the New Forest the red ones are rare.

_ Aplecta tincta. On the fence in the Addington-road, June.
Cucullia Asteris. Larve on Solidago Virgaurea, in August.
Geometra Papilionaria. On birch, July.

Alcis Roboraria. ‘Trunks of oaks, June.

Melanippe hastata. Flying among underwood, June.

Bapta taminaria. Hedges, June.

Pachycnemia Hippocastanaria. On heath, April and August.

Pyrausta octomaculata. Flying, June.

Botys pandalis. Kicked up among underwood, June.

Madopa Salicalis. Once taken in May.

Hypenodes albistrigalis. July.

Nola cristalis and strigulalis. On trunks of oaks, June.

Penthina prelongana. Among underwood, May.

Sericoris decrepitana. Scotch firs, June.

Eriopsela quadrana. Among heath, May 28.

Phoxopteryx diminutana. Among sallows, July.

beg ramana. Underwood, near poplars, June.

Grapholita cinerana, Haw. Poplars, June. Some collectors doubt
if this be really a variety of G. nisella, Linn., certainly I never took
any but these gray ones here, and they abound. Seeing that many
species of insects have one other so closely allied that it is difficult to
separate them, it is possible there may be a dichotomy in this instance.

Paleodes immundana. On birches, April and August.

Peedisca occultana. On larches, July.

Heusimine fimbriana. Oaks, March and April.

Retinia Turionella. Among firs, May.

Carpocapsa splendana. Underwood, June.

_ Catoptria Albersana. Oaks, May.

Coclylis subroseana. Underwood, May.

3184 Insects.

Pempelia Betule. Oaks, July.
Incurvaria Zinckenii. Birches, May.
Tinea melanella. Larve on the fence in the Addington-road, near
Shirley, where they feed on lichens.
», bistrigella. Mostly under fir-trees, June.
», luzella. One among sallows, May.
Micropteryx Mansuetella. Among Mercurialis perennis, in under-
wood, May.
5 Allionella. One, flying.

5 rubrifasciella. ‘Trunks of beeches, May.
3 semipurpurella. Birches, April.
55 unimaculella. Birches, April; more common than

the last species.
Plutella antennella. Underwood, September.
Depressaria Ulicetella. Furze, September.
Ms assimilella. Larve on broom, April.
Be Hypericella. Larvee on two species of Hypericum, in
May and June.
= intermediella. Beaten from the thatch of an old shed,
now extinct, in September.
‘ ciliella. Ditto.
Gelechia velocella. Heathfield, May 2nd.
BY difinis. Open spaces, May and August.
e basaltinella. Thatch, Addington, June.
* peliella. Flying in an open space, August.

io humeralis. Beaten out, April and September.
i alcella. Trunks of oaks, May.
ge triparella. Beaten out of oaks, June.

3 atrella. Flying about heath, July.
* immaculatella, (Ent. Trans. i. n.s. p. 67). Flying, Aug.
AXchmia fuscoviridella. Swarms in May. This species appears
quite unknown on the continent, common as it is here.
» resplendella, (Sta. Cat. Supp. p. 6). One taken by beating,
in June.
Argyresthia conjugella. On mountain ash, June.
Coleophora juncicolella. Among rushes, June.
5 albitarsella. Larve on ground ivy in the Addington-
road, in April.
Gracilaria auroguttella. May and August; the larva feeds on Hy-
pericum.

Insects. 3185

Gracilaria ocnerostomella. May and June; on Echium vulgare.
Coriscium sulphurellum. By beating, September, rare.
Cosmopteryx Pinicolella. Scotch firs, July.

Elachista gibbiferella. Birches, June.

be trapeziella. June, (Zool. 2894).
# occultella. Flying, (Zool. 2806).
} ochreella. Flying, May.
Bucculatrix Demaryella. June.
Nepticula quinquella. Trunks of oaks, June.
em Septembrella. September.

Lithocolletis Faginella. Trunks of beeches, May.

5 Emberizipennella. Honeysuckles, May.

In the sand-pits at Shirley, when I collected Coleoptera, 1 used to
find many species, some in great abundance ; the wood also produces
many beetles, but from the absence of old trees, timber-feeding ones
are scarce. J. W. Dovuetas.

2, Eton Grove, Lee, Kent, June 5, 1851.

Description of the Larva of Limenitis Sibilla—Believing the larva of Limenitis
Sibilla to have been very rarely taken and almost unknown to entomologists, I beg to
subjoin the following description of it, having taken seven on the honeysuckle in Black
Park, on the 15th of June last. Length, 1 inch: colour, pea-green, darkest on the
back, two lines on the side, one greenish white, the other brown: on the back there
are eighteen spines, the first six being largest, about one line to the eighth of an inch
long, and dark brown, the next eight are smaller and lighter in colour, the four last
are the colour of the first, but rather shorter; each spine is studded with many small

points: on each side of each segment there is a bunch of short yellowish spines or

bristles: head brown and covered with short white spines or tubercles. The chrysalis
is angular, of a dark olive-green colour, with two horns and eight silver dots on the
head, and a brown hatchet-shaped protuberance on the back of the abdomen, with a
bright silver stripe on each side; back of the abdomen light green, with two silver dots
near the tail, and three in front: suspended by the tail. The first butterfly emerged

on the 2nd of July.—John Hunter ; 24, Bloomsbury Street, July 9, 1851.

Note on Trycheris mediana.—This insect is to be met with in considerable abun-
dance in a small wood on the Blythswood estate, adjoining this place. It sits upon
the leaves and flowers of the hemlock, on which plant the larve probably feed. The
best time for taking it is at mid-day, although a few stragglers may be found until late
in the afternoon. I have met with a variety without the double spot, and the two
single ones merely indicated by small dots—Angus Campbell; Renfrew, July 8, 1851.

Note on the Scarcity of Wasps.—I have to repeat the observation I made to you
last month (Zool. 3164), respecting the scarcity of wasps; it is very remarkable still.
Probably some of your readers may notice if it be so in other neighbourhoods as well
as this. This year I have not seen a single hornet in this locality up to this day, so
that it appears likely we shall have few of them also. The cold ungenial weather is
unfayourable to all the insect tribe, and there is every indication of a wet cold sum-

ix. 2D

3186 Insects.

mer; a very tempestuous equinox and a dry May are often the forerunners of this sort

of weather. The bees will have little time to lay up a store; but I must say I was sur-

prised to see what progress Mr. Milton’s had made at the Crystal Palace—it is quite
astonishing. ‘There must have been a stray honey-dew during the last fortnight in
May and the first week in June—H. W. Newman; New House, Stroud, June 18, 1851.

Extreme abundance of Asemum striatum. —In the August number of last year’s

‘ Zoologist, (Zool. 2885), this insect was noticed by me as having been taken around
here in some plenty. Again this year I have met with it, and have had the satisfac-
tion to take thirty specimens in three days. Its appearance is nearly three weeks later
than on the former occasion, no doubt attributable to the severe weather which we
have had around here, for until Thursday last nothing but cold winds and heavy rains
prevailed ; since then, however, summer has set in in all its glory. The insect world
seem to have rushed into life en masse, and appear in ecstasies, flitting and dancing
about in his rays who lights up the world with beatific splendour.—John Scott ; Lon-
don Works, Renfrew, July 1, 1851. _

Capture of Peryphus maritimus at Ardrossan.—On the 21st of last month, having
occasion to be at this place on business, and having a little spare time, I took a walk
along the shore, where I picked up fifteen specimens of this beautiful little insect,
chiefly from beneath sea-weed lying at high-water mark. As I am not aware of its
having occurred in this part previously, other collectors who visit this watering-place,
and are destitute of examples, I have no doubt might obtain the insect in such plenty
as to be able, not only to fill their own void, but also to supply their friends.—Jd.

Capture of Acalyptus Carpini (Hbst.) and Mecinus collaris (Germ.), two Curculios
new to England.—Whilst beating the sallow-blossoms on the 28th of April last, in a
small wood near Fenny Stratford, I was much pleased to find in my net a small and
pretty Tychius-like Curculio which I did not recognize; and on my capturing several
specimens, was quite satisfied it must be new, and through the kind assistance of Mr.
Walton, who has received a specimen from Germar, have ascertained it to be the Aca-
lyptus Carpini, Hdst. At first sight in the net it had somewhat the appearance of a
Tychius, but it has the habit of a Dorytomus, and from its long rostrum and the posi-
tion of the antenne, resembles it ; but its silky glossy elytra give it the appearance of $
belonging or being allied to the former genus, and in Schonherr it is placed between
that genus and Sibinea. Four years ago, whilst sweeping below Gravesend, I took a
Mecinus new to me, and this year, in May, met with another specimen near the same
place, also by brushing, but could get no more by that means. I therefore set to work,
knelt down, and examined the different plants carefully, and after about two hours’ la-
bour succeeded in finding the insect in tolerable plenty, at the roots and on the lower
stems of Plantago maritima, which abounds there. In two visits, with the assistance
of some boys, I took about forty specimens; it proves to be the Mecinus collaris of
Germar. Incompany with it I found Baris Atriplicis, Notaris bimaculatus, and other
species rarely met with by sweeping; and I fecl convinced many novelties will turn
up, if entomologists will examine carefully all the local and rare plants they meet with.
—Samuel Stevens ; 24, Bloomsbury Street, July 9, 1851.

Early appearance of Colias Edusa,—On the 29th of last month (June), whilst tra-
yelling on the North Kent line, near Higham, a fine fresh male Colias Edusa flew
along the bank, and kept pace with the train for some time ; and I also observed that
there and near Sheerness Cynthia Cardui was this year very abundant, and most cer-
tainly the commonest butterfly on the wing.—Jd.

+

|

Mollusks.— Quadrupeds. 3187

| Shower of Snails.—The notice of this “ extraordinary scene” in your last number
(Zool. 3176), induces me to offer to the pages of that useful periodical some observa-
tions on a similar phenomenon noticed in the neighbourhood of Bristol many years
ago, and reported and commented on in the newspapers of the day. Although I can-
not answer all the amusing and pointed questions of Mr. Douglas, I think the follow-
ing will throw some light on the recent phenomenon, “ the shower of snails which was
witnessed at Bradford about twelve miles from Bristol.” In the summer of 1821, the
Bristol newspaper, Felix Farley, published ‘‘an account of a wonderful quantity of
snail-shells found in a piece of land of several acres near Bristol, that common report
says fell in a shower.” This shell-storm attracting much attention at the time, I wrote
to my now long departed friend, J. S. Miller, the then Curator of the Bristol Insti-
tution, and asked him a few questions on the subject. The following is extracted
from Mr. Miller's reply to my questions, and will serve to show that a snail-shower
has engaged the attention of a naturalist. It bears date Bristol, 2nd, 1821.—
“ The periwinkles are indeed wonderful. They descended in a heavy rain-like shower
on the field of Mr. Peach, as a due punishment for his disrespect to the virtues of our
late Queen. The shower was so intense, that the umbrella of an old lady passing by
was broken to pieces, and the fragments lifted in the air by the whirlwind which picked
up all the periwinkles on the neighbouring hills, and dropped them three inches thick
on Mr. Peach’s field. You know the story of ‘The Three Black Crows;’ and thus the
whole is reduced to no periwinkle-rain, no whirlwind, and turns out to be our old friend
Helix virgata, making its annual pilgrimage in search of a mate, and occurred one in
almost every square inch in the field in question.—Wm. Baker; Bridgwater, July 7,
1851.

Notes on Observations in Natural History during a Tour in Norway.
By the Rev. ALFRED CHARLES SmiTH, M.A.

(Continued from page 3170).

THE Bear, (Ursus arctos). This is the great terror of the Norwe-
gian farmer; his enormous strength, undaunted courage and terrible
fierceness when provoked, render him a foe which they shrink from
attacking unless in considerable numbers and well armed ; and yet

which thins their sheep-folds and herds of cows year after year. His

attacks, too, are not confined to the colder season of the year, when
starvation renders even the cowardly wolf bold; indeed, in the depth
of winter, the bear is snugly ensconced in his winter quarters, a den
formed under some projecting bauk, or fallen tree, or cave in a rock,
and well covered in with a canopy of snow; and there he sleeps for
months, and dreams of the havoc he had committed and the victims
he will sacrifice when he wakes again: but in the very middle of
summer the bear will descend the mountain, and seize a cow, and
make his feast, not at all daunted by the daylight or the vicinity of
houses, or scared away by the bellowings of his victim.

3188 Quadrupeds.

I saw this fully exemplified on one occasion, and as it was the only
opportunity I had for joining in a bear-hunt, though it proved unsuc-
cessful, I will describe the whole affair. It was in the famous valley
of Jiistedal, whither we had made an expedition of three days to see
the largest and finest glacier in Norway, and other grand scenery in ~
this wild and retired spot. Our party consisted of four persons, three
being English, and the fourth my inseparable companion and fellow-
hunter, the Norwegian officer, of whom I have had occasion to speak
before, mounted on clever Norwegian ponies which we had hired at _
Lyster, and attended by four men, bearing our provision-boxes and _
blankets; the Captain and I armed with our guns and other hunting-
gear, and our companions with their sketching-apparatus. We left the
beautiful Lyster Fjord on one of the most lovely evenings in July, and
at 8 Pp. M. commenced our march in single file up the mountain side.

I omit the particulars of our night journey, how the mountain ponies
scrambled up the steep rocks, and down the most frightful stairs of
stone, where one false step would have hurried them and their riders
to destruction; or how we bivouaced several times, and lit a fire,
and cooked our coffee in the invaluable camp-kettle ; or how we ad-
mired the splendid scenery of these mountain-passes: suffice it that
at 7 a. M. of the following morning we rode into the court-yard of the
Preestegaard (or parsonage-house) of Jiistedal, the only house of any
size in the whole valley, and begged hospitality (or rather an asylum
as head-quarters) for a few days, This was at once most courteously
accorded ; although our party was certainly rather a formidable one to
demand food and lodging of a poor Preesten, whose income amounts 4
only to about £30 a-year; for we numbered in all seventeen living
beings, ourselves, and servants, and ponies (three of which had foals
runuing by their sides), and two hounds belonging to the Captain.

In the evening of that day the Captain and I again ordered our
horses (for we preferred travelling by night), and winding up the val-
ley made an excursion to the great glacier, whither our companions
had gone with their sketch-books many hours before, nor did we re-
turn to the Preestegaard until the next morning at 8 A. M.. On our
arrival there we found the whole village in great commotion, groups
of men and women, with consternation on their faces, standing in the
yard of the Preestegaard, and we soon learned that in the night a bear
had come down from the mountains, and had killed one of our host’s
cows near the foot of the mountain, within half an English mile of his
house. The villagers had heard the bellowings of the poor cow at
about 11 Pp. M. on the preceding evening, and had guessed the cause ;

Quadrupeds. 3189

but not possessing any fire-arms, and having a very excusable dread of
a hand-to-hand encounter with a bear, did not dare go to the rescue.
Such an opportunity for hunting a bear, and at the same time for
trying to repay the hospitality of the Preesten by ridding him of his
formidable and destructive neighbour, was not to be lost; so we post-
poned our departure till the next day, and resolved to hunt the bear
that night. Accordingly the Captain sent off his man, Ole (also an
old soldier), to make preparations, and to scour the country for rifles ;
and I sent off to the glacier, that our companions, who were still lin-
gering there, might hasten to rejoin us and partake in the hunt. Then
we went up the mountain, to see the scene of the slaughter and the
remains of the cow. We found her amongst some thick bushes and
underwood: she was a large cow for Norway (where all the animals
are very diminutive), and had been dragged some distance from the
place where she was killed, as was evident from the blood, the tramp-
ling of the grass, and the footmarks all around. The spot, too, where
she was first seized was clearly seen, and so was the place of her death
and of the bear’s repast, from the pools of blood on the grass. The
trampling of the ground all about, and the broken branches of the un-
derwood, and the spoor (as the South-African hunter would call it) of
the bear and of the cow, showed how severe had been the struggle.
The bear had eaten a great part of the neck of the cow, and also her
udder, and then had dragged the carcass into the bushes where we
_ found it, and which he had constituted as his temporary larder.

Now began a consultation as to how we should proceed in the hunt.
There were two plans before us: one, and that the most certain of
success, to lie in ambush not far from the remains of the cow, and to
fire upon the bear when he arrived again, which he would most un-
doubtedly do for his next meal; but then, as he had just made so
good a supper, we should probably have to wait there two or three
nights and days, and that did not at all suit our plans or our inclina-
tions: so we resolved on the second course, which, though far more
doubtful of success, gave us a good chance, namely, to station our-
selves singly at certain places on the edge of a torrent which thundered
down the mountain, where lodgments of snow had formed natural
bridges across the roaring water, and for one of which the bear would
probably make, when the mountain, in which it was agreed he must
still be concealed, was driven by the inhabitants of the village. We
accordingly proceeded to carry out this plan; and Ole having returned
in the course of the afternoon with a couple of very primitive rifles, the
stocks of which were painted sky-blue and edged with yellow; and

3190 Quadrupeds.

being also accompanied by a mountain hunter, whom he had met and
easily induced to join our forces; and our companions having arrived
from the glacier, we prepared to start for the scene of action just as it
was getting dusk, at about 9, p.m. Two of our party were armed with
rifles, the two others with double-barrelled guns, while sundry hunt-
ing-knives stuck in our belts and pistols in our pockets completed our
arms. We soon reached the torrent whose banks we intended to
guard, and whose waters came roaring and foaming down the steep
mountain-side in an almost continuous cataract from the snows above.
At the first snow-drift, which falling in an avalanche in the spring into
some deeper hollow, had remained unmelted, and formed a natural
bridge over the rushing waters, was stationed one of our party: ano-
ther was planted some hundred yards higher up: at the third suitable
position I was placed ; the Captain taking up his position some dis-
tance above me: and the old huntsman who had joined us mounting
to the outskirts of the underwood, which clothed the lower face of the
mouuntain-side and concealed the bear. Amongst us we must have
covered a good mile of the torrent. Meanwhile all the men and boys
of the village had started some hours before to the other side of the
mountain, where forming a long line, and with shouts and halloos and
much firing of a pistol which we had lent them for the purpose, they
advanced gradually towards us, scaring the ptarmigan and all the fea-
thered and furred denizens of the mountain by the unwonted noise,
and endeavouring to drive the bear towards the torrent where we were
concealed.

At this time we were snugly ensconced each in his retreat, pre-
pared to oppose the passage of the bear, should he venture to cross
the snow near which we were placed. Our instructions, given by the
mountain hunter and translated by the Captain, were that we should
lie perfectly still and watch for the bear: should he come towards us,
we were to wait until he was within thirty or forty yards, then halloo
to him, at which he would stop and stand up on his hind legs to lis-
ten and inquire the cause of this interruption to his progress; at which
moment we should have a famous opportunity for a shot. At the re-
port of a rifle or gun, we were all to hurry to the spot as soon as pos-
sible ; though the distance at which we were from one another, and
the excessive steepness of the mountain, would have made this plan of
little use had the bear come near either of us, as the conflict must have
been decided one way or the other long before that. The old hunts-
man of the mountains ended his harangue by impressing upon us the

ae oe

Quadrupeds. 3191

necessity of a sure aim, as he very coolly and laconically remarked, if
we did not kill the bear, the bear would certainly kill us.

Behold us then, each in his place of ambush, well hidden with

bushes, and shrubs, and long grass and broken rocks, awaiting the
approach of Bruin. The snow by which I was lying was marked in
all directions by the frequent track of bears, showing that here they
were in the habit of crossing the torrent. Above and below me the
torrent roared down the mountain-side; and for some distance its
banks were bare of bushes, so that I could see well if the bear came
towards the snow. A large thick branch in front served as a steady
rest for my rifle; and my position seemed most favourable both for
concealment and for sport. My hunting-knife was stuck in the snow
before me, ready for instant use; my pistol ready cocked on a rock
close at hand; some fresh powder placed in the pan of my rifle (a
flint one); and then nothing remained to be done but to lie quiet and
to wait. And so I waited, hour after hour, until my patience was
nearly exhausted, and I began to think that the chance of a shot at a
bear, and the almost equal chance of becoming a prey to one, were
rather dearly bought at the expense of lying out for a night under the
snow, especially when the ground and bushes were soaked with rain,
which had fallen very heavily all the preceding day, and I was wet to
the skin. So the hours passed by slowly enough, and notwithstand-
ing the excitement of expecting the bear, it was certainly dull work
in which to be engaged alone during the night. Keeping as good a
look-out as the darkness would allow (for the night was cloudy, and
the summer being now far advanced, the nights were not so bright as
before) ; — now peering along the snow, which extended above me for
nearly a hundred yards, now narrowly scanning every stone upon the
opposite bank of the torrent ;—now trying to penetrate with my eyes
the gloom of the bushes and rocks before me ; — I began to get very
weary of my solitary watch, and was not sorry to hear the voices of
the beaters, as at first very faintly and far off, and soon nearer and
louder, they broke upon my ear: then a loud report was heard, which
caused me to start to my feet and seize my rifle, ready to rush down
the mountain towards the supposed scene of strife ; but a moment’s
reflection convinced me it was not the report of a gun, but of the
pistol with which we had provided the beaters.

Soon after this, and when I was now quite stiff with cold and lying
so many hours on the wet ground, a shout from the Captain and the
huntsman brought me across the snow, and we proceeded to descend
the mountain, as the drivers had done their work, and the bear had

3192 Quadrupeds.

not appeared to them or to us. When however we joined our com-
panions lower down, we learned that one of them had seen the bear;
and the other had heard him. It appeared that Master Bruin had
advanced slowly and cautiously towards the torrent, within sight of
one of our party, who was some two hundred yards above him; and
being armed only with a double-barrelled gun, he of course did not
shoot at that distance. He described the approach of the bear as
most cautious, with his nose close to the ground, sniffing every breath
and smelling every shrub, and creeping along like a mouse, he advan-
ced straight in the direction of the torrent where the first of our am-
bush was placed below the snow, and who heard him crashing in the
branches above, and expected him every moment: he must have been
within fifteen yards of him at that time; apparently however the bear
smelled an enemy, for again was he seen to retreat and go up the tor-
rent, lifting his huge yellow body over the great masses of rock that
were strewn in his way, and pulling himself up by his strong fore-legs.
Whether he threaded his way among the beaters back into the moun-
tain, or whether he contrived to cross the torrent at some other point
which was unguarded, I cannot tell; he did not appear again: and
so ended the memorable night of the bear-hunt in the mountains of
Jiistedal.

Since writing the above I have just received a letter from my friend
the Norwegian officer, who tells me he returned late in the autumn to
the scene of our bear-hunt in Jiistedal, and with the help of a peasant
succeeded in killing the monster. He proved to be a very fine bear,
and the Captain describes his skin as magnificent.

Bears seem to have been most unusually abundant in Norway last
year. While staying at the little station of Ormen, in the glorious
Romsdal, for five days, no less than four cows, belonging to the peo-
ple there, were attacked by bears in that time. Two of these were
killed, and I saw the remains of their carcasses brought down from the
mountains into the village on sledges: one of the others, which was
badly wounded, belonged to the landlord of our inn, and conse-
quently I saw her wounds dressed every day: they were. frightful
wounds, and those made by the claws of the bear seemed when probed
to be four or five inches deep. ‘The other cow, which was also badly
wounded, I did not see. We heard, too, whilst in this Romsdal, that
three bears had been seen by a peasant one evening, marching up the
valley near Veblungsnees ; but so extensive and wide are the moun-
tains, so endless the forests, and so steep and inaccessible except for
bears are some of the rocks, that it was thought perfectly useless to

Smithfield Glazed Garden. 3193

attempt a hunt: and so the poor farmers must suffer the loss of their
cows and sheep, and only trust to scare away their blood-thirsty ene-
mies by the large fires which they find it necessary in many places to
burn at night round the sheep-folds and herds in the mountains.

The great strength of the bear is what renders him so formidable.
He has been known to descend into a cow-shed by a large hole in the
roof, and to carry off a struggling bellowing cow in his arms through
the same hole. He has been known to scalp a man, and even to
crush in his skull, by a pat from his paw. And only two years since,
Mr. Lloyd (the great hunter of the North) was almost killed by a stroke
of a wounded bear’s paw. Mr. Lloyd had wounded the bear, which
immediately turned upon him, and dodged him round and round a
tree, behind -which he ran for refuge : and though his companion lost
no time in coming, to his rescue, and by a well-aimed shot laid the
bear dead at his feet, it was not until he had with his fore-paw struck
at Mr. Lloyd, and: torn all the skin off his face. This is another nar-
row escape that great hunter has had from the bears of Scandinavia.

ALFRED CHARLES SMITH.

Old Park, Devizes, July 3, 1851.

(To be continued).

pases Sat SR ee a ee me

Proposal for a Great City Conservatory, or Geographical, Peren-
nial, Glazed Garden, on the site of Smithfield Market. By
Epwarp NEwMany.

Nore.—The following Paper was written for the ‘ Phytologist,’ but tt ts so strictly
m accordance with the object of the ‘ Zoologist, the diffusion of a love of Na-
tural History, and the extension of the means for indulging that love, that I
trust it will not be otherwise than acceptable to a great majority of my readers.
—E.N.

SMITHFIELD Market, heretofore the monster nuisance, I might per-
haps even say the monster curse, of this great metropolis, is to be
removed: the House of Commons has decided on its fall. While the
question of its existence was under discussion, I would not weaken
the hands of those who had so long and so worthily laboured for its
removal, by introducing any minor plea—any less powerful argument
than that on which they took their stand. The nuisance was unri-
valled in the history of nations; it was intolerable, and therefore must
be removed. No ulterior consideration could add to the strength of
this position; in fact, every scheme for the occupation of the site

IX. 25

3194 Proposal for a Glazed Garden

was liable to be met by the objection, — “ You have, then, an ulterior —

object.” This has been avoided: the question has been discussed on
its own merits, and is decided. The occupation of the vacant site
has therefore become a subject fairly open to consideration.

It will immediately occur to those who, from motives of philan-
thropy, have uniformly advocated the retaining of open spaces, or, as it
were, breathing-holes, here and there throughout the metropolis, that
another of these is now jeopardized. Such a vast area will not long
remain unappropriated. The idea which I have formed on the subject,
and which I am glad to find meets with general approbation amongst
those to whom I have mentioned it, is to construct, on the site of the
Augean stable, which a strength greater than that of Hercules is on
the eve of cleansing, a geographical, perennial, glazed garden, in
which shall be exhibited, in a growing state, in all their native luxu-
riance and beauty, the vegetable productions of the entire world. I
introduce the term ‘ perennial’ advisedly. The term ‘ winter’ garden,
so generally employed, seems to imply that it is designed to be a win-
ter resort exclusively. Such an idea is erroneous; the term simply
meaning that such a garden is to be enjoyed in winter as well as in
summer: no one ever thought of restricting the use of winter gardens
to the season whence their name is derived. Those citizens of Lon-
don who have visited the great conservatories at Kew, Regent’s Park,
Sion House, &c., must be fully aware of the advantages of having
such a building in the centre of the metropolis. These may be briefly
enumerated under six heads:—Ist, health; 2nd, comfort; 3rd, safety;
4th, instruction; 5th amusement; 6th, accessibility.

nae

Ist. Healih.—There is no question whatever that the health of Lon- —

doners suffers from continually and habitually staying indoors. No
one, not even nursemaids and children, can go out to enjoy air which,
in our crowded streets, impregnated abundantly with particles of soot
and dust, and with the fumes of beer, gin, and tobacco, is not to be
enjoyed. The student, the clerk, the schoolboy, the wife, the child,
cannot seek the streets as a temporary relaxation or change — cannot
expect to find in them even a momentary invigoration; whereas a
glazed garden would supply the desideratum, oxygen. That pabulum
of animal life is abundantly exhaled by plants during the day; and
not only would the invigorating effects be felt within, but they would
extend, though in a minor degree, all around. The consumption of
oxygen, and its consequent abstraction from atmospheric air, is the
main cause of that oppressive feeling which so continually produces
fainting, sickness, and all kinds of illness in omnibuses, theatres, and

on the Site of Smithfield Market. 3195

_ fashionable places of worship. The glazing would serve to arrest the
escape of this life-giving principle, not prevent but arrest it, and the
invigorating effect of entering the building would be at once manifest.
The advantage of such buildings to invalids, especially in cases of
incipient phthisis, is a matter now becoming notorious, through the
recently-published views of Mr. Paxton and others; but I do not see
that any of these gentlemen make the acknowledgment which com-
mon courtesy requires to Mr. Ward, with whom the idea originated.
In order to set that gentleman right with the public, I beg to refer the
reader to his work, published nine years ago.* After describing fully
the advantage of such closed glass houses as that I am now proposing
to erect, Mr. Ward goes on‘to consider the application of the same
principle to animal and human life,—an application which he justly re-
gards as of far higher importance than the scientific, amusing, or orna-
mental purposes to which the Wardian cases are now generally applied.
“With respect to consumption, could we have such a place of refuge
as I believe one of these closed houses would prove to be, we should
then be no longer under the painful necessity of sending a beloved
relative to a distant land for the remote chance of recovery, or too
probably to realize the painful description of Blackwood—‘ Far away
from home, with strangers around him,—a language he does not un-
derstand,—doctors in whom he has no confidence,—scenery he is too
ill to admire,—religious comforters in whom he has no faith,—with a
deep and every day more vivid recollection of domestic scenes,—
heart-broken,—home-sick,—friendless and uncared for,—he dies.’ ”

2nd. Comfort.—The great discomforts of out-of-doors life in Lon-
don, arise from cold winds, rain, intense sunshine, dust, soot, filthy
smells, wet muddy ground, incessant noise, &c. Now one and all of
these disagreeables would be excluded from a glazed garden: cold
winds, rain, dust, soot, smells, and noise would of necessity be shut
out. The roof of green and corrugated glass would effectually obstruct
all disagreeable effects from the sun’s rays, which, transmitted through
such a medium, would not injure the most delicately-sensitive skin ;
and such glass, unlike all other kinds, would diminish instead of
increasing the temperature. The walks, made entirely of comminuted
shells, would be always dry, yet never dusty—always fit for the thin-
nest sole to traverse with impunity and cleanliness.
3rd. Safety—There can be no doubt that a ramble in the streets

* *On the Growth of Plants in Closely-glazed Cases. By N.B. Ward. Lon-
don: Van Voorst. 1842.’

3196 Proposal for a Glazed Garden

of London is attended with great danger, and the danger, if not
positively so frequent as is supposed, is still a sore trial, even in
anticipation. It is but lately an infuriated bullock threw an elderly
female into a two-pair window; the shaft of a furiously-driven cab
has passed through the body of aman; the brains of a child have
been scattered about the street by the wheels of an omnibus. Such
cases as these may be rare, but broken arms and legs, from falls
occasioned by compulsory contact with horses and carriages, are
innumerable; and let it not be supposed the victims are the only suf-
ferers: thousands of timid people have fled in terror from racing
omnibuses and goaded cows, and although their bodies may have
escaped scatheless, their minds have suffered a deep and lasting
injury. From a glazed garden all such perils and thoughts of perils
are absent.

Ath. Instruction.—Such a garden might be made the means of
complete instruction in botany. Is it not a part of every medical
education that the pupil shall possess a competent knowledge of
structural and systematic botany? In order to perfect him in the
study, he is now taken to Kew, to Chelsea, to Regent’s Park, or he is
whisked by some railway far into the country, on the remote chance
of finding the specimens in their native habitats, causing a loss of
time, labour, and money that has been considered a great grievance
to many young men with whom I have conversed. Here the informa-
tion would be brought to him, not he to the information. Here would
be a lecture-room among the objects themselves,—a lecture-room
open to every professor or lecturer, on the sole condition that
all within the walls at the moment should be at liberty to attend.
Here the student of British botany should find living specimens of
all our native plants; should have every facility allowed him to exa-
mine, dissect, and compare them. Here a committee should be
formed, with the duty of alternately attending to give instructions to
every inquirer; of pointing out the plants whose various parts serve
as articles of food, clothing, or medicine; of exhibiting them in a
manufactured as well as growing state; and of explaining by what pro-
cess they are prepared for use. And not only should this committee
exercise its function of tuition: every botanist, known to be such, as
the subscriber to a society, or the contributor to a journal, or the cu-
rator of a garden, or the holder of any title whatever to the office of
teacher, should be always at liberty to illustrate his views by the living
objects before him. A knowledge of ethnology and geography could
also be acquired.

on the Site of Smithfield Market. 3197

5th. Amusement.—Simply considered as a place of amusement,—
a place where the seekers of pleasure might continually meet their
friends, might exhibit their best dresses, lounge on the softest otto-
mans, listen to the best music, enjoy the scent of the sweetest and
the sight of the loveliest flowers, and the shade of loaded orange-
trees and of graceful palm-trees; might do all this without the
usual inconvenience of late hours, heated rooms, vitiated atmos-
phere, certain headaches, and that dreadful feeling of ennuc and
lassitude which nocturnal revels and dissipation inevitably bring,—
surely this is something to achieve. Say it is idle and frivolous, it is
still the substitution of a healthful and invigorating for an unhealthy
and debilitating frivolity, and this is no despicable change; indeed,
I feel convinced that the right-minded will consider it exactly the
reverse. Let those who will, enter the list against frivolity: I decline
sO Quixotic an attempt. But make frivolity beneficial, and you ac-
complish a very reasonable object. I would have a band, the best
that could be procured, to play for two hours every Saturday after-
noon during the winter and spring months, omitting only those
months when the band plays in the gardens of the Zoological Society.
I would on no account interfere with the prior claim of that admir-
able institution. By this arrangement, the company who frequented
the out-of-door promenade in Regent’s Park during the summer, would
have the opportunity of attending the indoors garden during the winter.

6th. Accessibility. — Whoever will take the trouble to examine a
map of London, will find that West Smithfield occupies the exact geo-
graphical centre. It is therefore equally accessible to all. Let us
compare this with the situation of the Crystal Palace at Kensington,
which it is proposed to convert into a vast conservatory or winter
garden, open alike to pedestrians and equestrians. From the Post
Office or St. Paul’s it takes the traveller sixty-five minutes to reach

the Crystal Palace, sixty-five minutes to return, and costs him one

shilling; from the Town Hall in the Borough, the India House, or
Finsbury Square, the time occupied is full ten minutes more, or seven-
ty-five minutes in all. All these spots are in the great thoroughfares.
From any less frequented part the time would be greater. Two hours
and a half may be taken as a fair average of the time occupied in
passing to and from a Hyde-Park conservatory ; the time occupied in
passing to and from the Smithfield glazed garden from the same loca-
lities, would average twenty-six minutes, supposing the visitor to
walk; twenty minutes, supposing him to patronize an omnibus; six-
teen minutes, supposing him to indulge ina cab. An average of two

3198 Proposal for a Glazed Garden

hours’ difference would occur in each journey from the most distant

parts of the city to either locality, but for residents near Smithfield
the difference would be far greater. Again, from Holborn there would
be a vast saving of time, so also from Blackfriars’ and Southwark
Bridges, so also from the densely-peopled regions of St. John’s Street,
and so also of the entire east: indeed, it is beyond a question that, to
upwards of a million of the inhabitants of London, every visit to the
city glazed garden would occupy two hours less than a visit to the
Hyde-Park conservatory. But this primd facie saving of time and
money is not all: whoever spent two hours in transit would think the
time sadly wasted unless he spent four hours there, so that a day
would be occupied; and in fact a visit to a Hyde-Park conservatory
must, like a visit to the Great Exhibition, be a special holiday; so
also whoever spent twenty minutes in transit to and from the Smith-
field glazed garden would think it time wasted unless he could spend
forty minutes there ; thus an hour would be consumed, but no more.
This would readily be afforded. Again, although time is money, yet
money is money still more emphatically ; the city visitors to a Hyde-
Park conservatory must lay out one shilling in transit, and they must
almost of necessity lay out one shilling and sixpence each in refresh-
ments; that is the most moderate computation: the visitor to the
Smithfield glazed garden would not necessarily incur either expense.

A few observations may be added under the heads of ‘ plan, ‘ funds,’
and ‘ alternative.’

Plan.—I think the roads now passing through Smithfield might be
made to divide the area into six principal compartments. These I would
call Europe, Asia, Africa, N. America, 8. America, and New Holland.
In each division I would endeavour to place the yegetable productions
which are natives of the soil, and in all instances imitate as nearly as
possible the natural conditions of the plants themselves; and each geo-

graphical district should be further illustrated by stuffed specimens of —

the quadrupeds, birds, and reptiles for which it is most remarkable;
Asia by its camels, elephants, and tigers ; New Holland, its cassowary,
emu, and kangaroos; Africa, its giraffe, elephant, hippopotamus, lion,
ostrich, and crocodiles ; North America, its bison, beaver, and alliga-
tors; South America, its llama, alpaca, vicuna, and its humming- birds ;
Europe, its-wolves, elks, and aurochs. ‘The specimens in all instances
should be the best that could be procured, regardless of cost, and
should be placed amid the scenery where they once enjoyed life,
The stuffing or preservation of animals is an art that has now
reached something like perfection, and I would have no creature set

*

%

on the Site of Smithfield Market. 3199

up for exhibition unless approved by some competent naturalist. In
the centre of each compartment should be a model of the continent
whose productions it exhibited, its ascertained mountains, its rivers,
seas, &c., displayed in their exact proportionate height, situation,
course, length, &c.; and the unknown parts, as the interior of Africa,
Australia, China, &c., left a perfect blank, not thickly sown with sup-
posititious cities, as we too frequently see them in our maps. ‘These
models should be constructed only under the superintendence of men
of the highest attainments, the cost being a matter of no comparative
importance, and not to be weighed for an instant against accuracy.
At each of these models a demonstrator should be stationed, thoroughly
qualified to give explanations, and he should hourly give such expla-
nations unasked, in the most simple, intelligible, and unassuming
manner, carefully pointing with a light wand to the part to which he
was alluding. If a plant or animal of interest was peculiar to either
continent, of which there are numerous instances, he should be able
to point out in what particular locality it occurred, and every other
fact of importance connected with its history. Thus, if asked what
species of monkey was found in Europe, and where, he should be able
to name the Macacus Inuus; to point at once to the rock of Gibraltar;
and to state that this ape abounded there, feeding chiefly on the young
leaves and tender shoots of the dwarf palm (Chamerops humilis).
The plan of structure, and of connecting the various continents, need
scarcely be discussed, but between continents which are connected
only by water the mode of transmission should represent a ship’s deck,
and those which join should be united by dry land. Each conti-
nent should be further illustrated by some of its aboriginal inhabi-
tants, in the ordinary. dress of their respective countries. I imagine
there would be no difficulty in procuring the Negro, the Hindoo, the
Australian, the Red Indian, or the Indian of the Pampas. This idea
has been already pictorially carried out in the ‘ Physical Atlas,’ but
only the very rich can see that beautiful work: this practical illus-
tration of the idea every one should and every one would see.
Funds.—The difficulty of raising funds always stares one in the
face on occasions of this kind; but it is scarcely within the scope of
this preliminary notice to go into financial details. It is found pos-
sible to obtain an income of £14,000 a year for the maintenance of
the gardens of the Zoological Society, in Regent’s Park, at a distance
of five miles from the centre of the metropolis, and presenting the
single attraction of living animals; and the great secret of this income
appears to lie in the judiciously-liberal expenditure. The Crystal

x
3200 Proposal for a Glazed Garden

Palace is astill more striking instance of the success of liberality.
Nothing but what I would call the judiciously-liberal expenditure
could have brought the prodigious income that has been received.
So, in the present instance, everything should be conducted on the

most liberal scale. The choicest and most beautiful exotics, the

= ea 4 g

most graceful statues, the best botanical nomenclature, should be —

found wherever required. The sum for the principal and first outlay
must be borrowed, and government, once aware of the practicability of

the scheme, would doubtless be willing to advance it, The interest on

this, the ground-rent, and the cost of maintenance would be the three
items of current expenditure.

I would propose having a graduated scale of subscribers and con- —

tributors.

Ist. A subscriber of £10 a year should admit whom he liked and
when he liked. ,

2nd. A subscriber of £5 a year should admit five persons on any
day or every day; of £4, four persons; of £3, three persons; of £2,
two persons; of £1, one person. Such introductions should be
either by filling up a printed form or personally.

8rd. A subscriber of 10s. a year should admit personally his wife
and children, but should give no orders.

Non-subscribers should be admitted on the following terms :—

Acknowledged botanical authors, editors of literary journals, bota-
nical lecturers, and students of medicine with certificates of attending
botanical lectures, at all times gratis.

Children in non-paying schools, introduced by a subscriber, and

under suitable superintendence, gratis on Mondays and Thursdays.
Children in paying schools, under similar restriction, one penny each
on Tuesdays and Fridays.

Other persons should pay—

3d. Monday and Thursday.
6d. Tuesday and Friday.
]s. Wednesday and Saturday.

No money taken on Sundays, and no refreshments to be sold; no
wine, beer, spirits, or tobacco to be sold or allowed at any time
within the garden; and the ordinary attractions of tea-gardens, as
balloons, fireworks, burning cities, volcanoes, &c., should on no ac-
count whatever be introduced.

Alternative.—It is quite certain the site of Smithfield will be
occupied. If its occupation be not as proposed, it will probably be

on the Site of Smithfield Market. 3201

_ covered with noxious factories or dense rows of an inferior kind of
houses. No one will build good houses there, simply because in
such a situation they would not pay. Thus the mass of brick and
mortar would become yet more prodigious, the locality still more con-
fined, the atmosphere still more unwholesome, the neighbourhood, if
_ possible, still more degraded. On the other hand, this vast garden,
frequented as it would be by a superior class of people, would im-
prove the condition of the neighbourhood; gin-shops and beer-shops
and thieves’ kitchens, all of which may now be said to have their me-
tropolis in the Smithfield district, would disappear, and the neigh-
bourhood would improve until it became on a level with other parts
of the metropolis. Support therefore may be expected from all the
better class of inhabitants; they will welcome the new comer, and
bid bon voyage to the departing disreputable dependents on drunken-
ness, filth, and theft.

Oljections.—The first objection, and the only one that can be made
by the public, is this,—“ Your scheme is very fine on paper, but it
can’t be carried out: no plants would grow in such an atmosphere.”
Leaving the ulterior difficulties of obtaining the site and the money
open for future consideration, I will address myself solely to the prac-
ticability of growing plants on such a site. I, then, unhesitatingly
pronounce that I would grow the most delicate plants without any
difficulty in the centre of Smithfield Market, amidst all its filth and
traffic, with the assistance of glass only. The most delicate and ten-
der plant with which I am acquainted grew luxuriantly for four years
in the room in which I am now writing, in a dark, narrow, close, and
dirty street in one of the worst localities in London. But I am well
aware that a projector is too ready to paint everything couleur de rose,
and therefore I have fortified my cause with the highest opinion ob-
tainable on such a subject, that of Mr. Ward, so well known as the
inventor of the method of growing plants in closed cases, and who
succeeded so wonderfully at his late residence in Wellclose Square.
_Here is Mr. Ward’s reply to my inquiry, accompanying a proof of
the foregoing, as to whether the locality presented any obstacle to my
plan :—

“My dear Mr. Newman,—I received with much pleasure your note
respecting your intended plan of converting one of the greatest nui-
sauces of London into a closed garden, a regular oasis in the desert.
It would be difficult to point out any situation where such a scheme
would be of so much utility as on the site you have chosen. I cannot

IX. 2F

3202 Proposal for a Glazed Garden

better answer your inquiries respecting the growth of plants in such a ~
situation, than by stating what, after more than twenty years’ experi-
ence, I conceive may be effected in a closed case in the worst possible —
locality. Old and hackneyed as the subject has now become, I will —
give you, as briefly as possible, the results of my experiments. —
Having tried in vain to grow plants in my former residence, in one —
of the most smoky parts of the metropolis, I was led by accident to
make experiments on their growth in closely-glazed cases, and was
delighted to find all my endeavours crowned with success. One of
the first practical applications of my plan, was the conveyance of
plants to and from distant countries. It would be fruitless to enter
into any detail of the hundreds of experiments made with reference
to this point. One example will suffice. The Horticultural Society
were so convinced of the efficacy of this new plan, that they sent out
Mr. Fortune to China with a number of closed cases; and they were
not disappointed in their expectation. Whereas in the old mode of
conveyance one plant only in a thousand survived the voyage from
China to England, two hundred and fifteen out of two hundred and
fifty arrived in perfect health by the new method. At present the
plan is universally adopted throughout the whole civilized world, and
all kinds of plants can be grown in any locality whatever, provided
due attention be paid to their natural conditions, with respect to
solar light and temperature. It must likewise be borne in mind that,
owing to the quiet condition of the atmosphere in the closed cases,
plants, like man, will bear variations of temperature, which in open
exposure would prove injurious and even fatal to them. Hence it
follows, that numbers of plants belonging to more southern climes will
pass through our winters with impunity when surrounded by glass.
“ Believe me to remain, very sincerely, yours,

“N. B. WARD.

“ Clapham Rise, July 9, 1851.”

P.$.—While a proof of the foregoing was in my hands, Mr. Paxton’s
petition to the House of Lords, for the conversion of the Crystal Pa-
lace into a conservatory, was published in the ‘ Times’ (July 12); and
as this petition comprises all that has been previously said on the ~
subject, I think that in fairness it should be appended to my proposi-
tion. Freely admitting as I do the very taking character of Mr.
Paxton’s proposition, it will still be observed that his scheme is open
to reasonable objection, on the following grounds :—

on the Site of Smithfield Market. 3203

' Ist. It would be a positive breach of contract, the building having
been erected on its present site on the express condition that it should
be removed by a certain day, and the park restored to the public use.

2nd. It would be a breach of faith with the subscribers who gave
_ £70,000 for a specific object, totally different from the proposed ap-
_ plication.

3rd. That the inhabitants of the parks have already access to the

_ great conservatory of the Royal Botanic Society, to Kensington Gar-
dens, &c., and strenuously oppose the proposed plan for making the
Crystal Palace permanent; whereas every respectable inhabitant in
the vicinity of Smithfield would desire a garden on that site.

4th. That to nine-tenths of the metropolis it would be useless from
its distance.

H

Mr. Paaton’s Petition.

“To the Right Hon. the Lords Spiritual and Temporal in Parlia-
ment assembled—

“The humble petition of Joseph Paxton, of Chatsworth,

“* Showeth,-—That the building for the Exhibition of the Works of
Industry of all Nations, erected after the design of your petitioner,
would, after the Exhibition is closed, supply a great public want
which London, with its two and a half millions of inhabitants, stands
most essentially in need of—namely, a winter park and garden under
glass.

“ That when your petitioner sent in a design for the Glass Palace,
he had in view quite as much the after purpose for which the building
could be adapted as the object then more immediately required.

“ That your petitioner respectfully calls the attention of your right
hon. House to the fact that within the last twenty years the physio-

_ logy, economy, and requirements of animated Nature, with the effects
which climate, locality, and various contingencies have upon its
health and habits, have been studied and examined with the best
results.

“That by the aid of chemistry and botany many useful discoveries
have been made which practical horticulture has rendered subservient
to the comforts and happiness of man, and that the removal of the
duty on glass has given great impetus to this science; indeed, had
that duty still existed, no such building could possibly have been
erected.

“ That the achievements of horticulture lead onwards to the forma-

3204 Proposal for a Glazed Garden

tion of climates, which even under opposite influences are rendered _
healthy and suited to the wants and requirements of man.

_ “That formerly, wherever plants were congregated beneath a glass
structure, the atmosphere was invariably deteriorated and rendered
unfit for being more than transiently inhaled, the usual method with ;
visitors being to take a hurried view of the chief beauties within, and _
then retire to a more genial air.

“That now plant structures are now no longer unhealthy, pent-up
ovens, and that the objects within them grow with ease and natural
vigour.

“That the ventilation and climate of our dwelling-houses have also
been considered, and many additions to our comfort have in this
respect been made. The perfection of these internal arrangements,
contrasted with the atmosphere without, renders it still more desirable
that something on a large scale should be done to counteract the
effects of the outer air, which in this country, and in the neighbour-
hood of London especially, is often during many months of the year
impure, murky, and unfit for healthy recreation and enjoyment; and
it is to meet this want that your petitioner offers the present recom- -
mendation to the consideration of your right hon. House.

“That all structures hitherto erected, however great and noble
some of them are, fall far short of answering this end, and that your
petitioner respectfully recommends the Crystal Palace as being, in its
dimensions, the best adapted for such a purpose of anything that has
been hitherto attempted, and that its great advantages should be used
for the public benefit.

“That the Crystal Palace, if properly laid out, will open a wide
field of intellectual and healthful enjoyments, and will likewise stimu-
late the wealthy in large manufacturing towns to a similar adoption
of what may now be raised so cheaply ; and when judiciously fur-
nished with vegetation, ornamented with sculpture and fountains, and
illustrated with the beautiful works of Nature, would be pure, elevating,
and beneficial in its influences on the national character.

“That at present England furnishes no such place of public resort;
for although Kew has a splendid palm-house, where daily are congre-
gated a great number of individuals, yet its warm and humid atmos-
phere is only calculated to admit of visitors taking a hasty view of
the wonders of the tropics, as they pass in their walks through the
gardens. On the contrary, in the Winter Park and Garden your pe-
litioner proposes, climate would be the principal thing studied; all
the furnishing and fitting up would have special reference to that end,

on the Site of Smithfield Market. 3205

so that the pleasures found in it would be of a character which all
who visit could share. Here would be supplied the climate of
Southern Italy, where multitudes might ride, walk, or recline amid
groves of fragrant trees; and here they might leisurely examine the
works of Nature and Art, regardless of the biting east winds or the
drifting snow. Here vegetation in much of its beauty might be
studied with unusual advantages, and the singular properties examined
of those great filterers of Nature which, during the night season, when
the bulk of animal life is in a quiescent state, inhale the oxygen of the
air; while in the day, when the mass of animal existence has started
into activity, they drink in the carbonic supply given out by man and
animals, which goes to form their solid substance; at the same time
pouring forth streams of oxygen, which, mingling with the surround-
ing atmosphere, gives vigour to man’s body and cheerfulness to his
spirits.

“That in this winter park and garden the trees and plants might
be so arranged as to give great diversity of views and picturesque
effect, spaces might be set apart for equestrian exercise, while the
“main body of the building might be arranged with the view of giving
great extent and variety for those who promenade on foot.

“Fountains, statuary, and every description of park and garden
ornament would greatly heighten the effect and beauty of the scene.
Beautiful creeping plants might be planted against the columns and
trailed along the girders, so as to give shade in summer, while the
effect they would produce by festooning in every diversity of form
over the building would give the whole a most enchanting and gor-
geous finish. |

“That, besides these delightful objects, there might be introduced

a collection of living birds from all temperate climates, and the
science of geology, so closely connected with the study of plants,
might be illustrated on a large and natural scale, thus making practi-
cal botany, ornithology, and geology familiar to the visitor.
“That should your right hon. House agree to give the public this
source of public enjoyment, your petitioner would recommend that
the wood boarding round the bottom tier of the building should be
removed and replaced with glass, whereby the appearance would be
marvellously changed; those who drive and ride in the park would,
even in winter, see the objects within as they pass by, and the whole
would have alight aérial appearance, totally unlike what it has at
present.

“That in summer your petitioner would recommend that the whole

3206 Smithfield Glazed Garden.

lower glass tier should be entirely removed, so as to give from the
park and the houses opposite the Palace an appearance of continuous
park and garden.

“ That the residents opposite the Crystal Palace would have within
a few minutes’ walk a beautiful park, decorated with the beauties of
Nature and Art, under a skyroof, having a climate warmed and venti-—
lated for the purpose of health alone, furnishing, close to their own
firesides, a promenade unequalled in the world, and for the six winter
months a temperature analogous to that of Southern Italy; and your
petitioner has no doubt that the property in that immediate neigh-
bourhood would from such an arrangement considerably advance in
value, because of the recreation and exercise afforded to the inhabi-
tants and their families.

“That your petitioner believes many suburbs of London will be led
to desire to have such a winter garden in their neighbourhoods.

“ That the advantages derivable from such an appropriation of the
Crystal Palace would be many, and may be thus briefly summed
up :—

“1. In a sanitary point of view its benefits would be incalculable.

“9. By its various objects it would produce a new and soothing
pleasure to the mind.

‘3. The great truths of Nature and Art would be constantly ex-
emplified.

“4. Peculiar facilities would especially be given for the develop-
ment, on a large scale, of the sciences of botany, geology, and orni-
thology.

“5, A temperate climate would be supplied at all seasons.

“6, Taste would be improved, by individuals becoming familiar
with objects of the highest order of art, and by viewing the more
beautiful parts of Nature without its deformities.

“7, Pleasant exercise could be taken at all times, and in every va-
riety of weather.

“8. It would serve as a promenade or lounge, and as a place
which could at all seasons be resorted to with advantage by the most
delicate. 3

“Tn conclusion, your petitioner submits, as his opinion, that, hav-
ing such great public attractions, the Crystal Palace might be ren-
dered self-supporting.

“And your petitioner prays your right hon. House to preserve the
building of the Exhibition for the public uses above submitted.

* And your petitioner will ever pray, “ JOSEPH PaxTon.”

Birds. 3207

_ In conclusion, I beg to solicit communications and suggestions
from any lady or gentleman who is disposed to regard my proposi-
tion favourably. .

Epwarp. NEWMAN.

9, Devonshire Street, Bishopsgate,
July 13, 1851.

Occurrence of the Osprey in Norfolk.—During last week an excellent specimen of
the male osprey was shot on the estate of S. M. Peto, Esq., M.P., of Somerlyton.—J.
O. Harper; Norwich, June 16, 1851.

Note on the Nesting of the Passerine Owl in confinement.—A pair of passerine owls
which I had in confinement, nested this spring in asmall covered box which was pla-
ced in a corner of their cage. They laid four eggs, about the middle of the month of
May, two of which they soon broke, but hatched the other two early in June. The
two young ones did not long survive; how they disappeared I am unable to say, and
am almost disposed to think the old birds must have devoured them. I regret that
owing to the nest having been placed in a covered box, I was unable correctly to as-
certain the period of incubation.—J. H. Gurney ; Easton, Norfolk, July 7, 1851.

The Red-backed Shrike, (Lanius Collurio).—I shot a pair of these birds on the 9th,
at Smitham Bottom, near Croydon, Surrey.. The male J shot on the wing, the female
I found an hour afterwards perched on the top of a thorn-bush, although I was within
fifteen yards before I saw her, and stood to observe her some time, she never moved.
I found the nest close by, a clumsy construction nine inches in diameter, composed of
moss, wool, and dried grass; in it was one egg, fresh laid. A former brood had not
long left the nest, and not the slightest repair or cleansing had been made.—Richard
Strangwayes ; 70 and 71, Chiswell Street, July 15, 1851.

Nesting of the Wren (Troglodytes vulgaris).—On reading a paragraph in your June
number under the above heading (Zool. 3146), there came to my recollection a wren’s
nest, which I saw three or four years back, in a most singular situation. It was built
in one of the “ hatches” of the river at Winchester. I fear I shall be unable to de-
scribe its exact position, so as to make myself intelligible, but will endeavour to do so.
The nest was built in the angle formed by the beam by which the “ hatchway ” is put
up or down, and the “hatch” itself; so that the nest was raised and lowered together
with the hatch, at one time therefore being close to the surface of the water, at ano-
ther some feet above it. One would have thought this would have been the last place
in the world the little fellow would have chosen. I one day saw the hatch lowered
while the wren was in her nest; she flew out, perched herself on a neighbouring bush,
and there sat uttering her shrill notes until the hatch was down and all quiet, when
she returned to her nest. Whether any eggs had been laid or not I do not know, but
if there had been, I should fancy the lifting up and down of the hatch must have bro-
ken them. One day, on visiting the spot, I was grieved to find nothing remaining
but a few remnants of the hay of which the nest was formed. In the paragraph above
referred to, an instance is given of a wren which took possession of the nest of a mar-
tin ; a similar circumstance is described as occurring in North America, by Captain
Brown, in a note to his edition of White's ‘ Natural History of Selborne, at page 128,

3208 Birds.

where a wren is mentioned as having taken possession of an old martin’s nest, and the
martins, on returning to their old locality, were for some time kept off by the wren, but
at length they succeeded in barricading the poor wren out, and kept forcible posses-
sion: the species of wren is not given.—A. M. Norman ; Christ Church, Oxford.

The Kingfisher makes no Nest.—I have the following note in M.S., written by the
late Richard Strangwayes, Esq., of Kirby Fleetham, near Catterick, Yorkshire.—“ On _
the 5th of April, 1827, I saw a kingfisher by the side of a small brook, where the bank
was about six feet high. I approached the place unseen by the bird; it was busy in
making a hole in the bank, about an equal distance from the top and bottom; the soil
was sandy, and the hole was about two inches in diameter, and, I am quite certain, of
its own forming, but did not then stay to examine it. I passed the place repeatedly
for the following four weeks, but never saw either of the birds except during the first
week, when I saw they had been busy every day, as fresh soil had been pulled out of
the hole, but for the remaining three weeks their labour had ceased, and I thought
they had forsaken the place. I went to the hole and made a noise, but all was still. _
I then enlarged the hole so as to admit my hand. It was eight inches deep, and the
first object I felt was the old bird sitting on the eggs, she was in the hollow of my
hand; I never grasped her, but allowed her to escape. There were five eggs; nest
there was none — the eggs were on the bare mould. At the end of three weeks I paid
her another visit, when I found the young half feathered, and surrounded by a crust
of filth composed of their evacuations and the bones and other indigestible parts of
fishes disgorged from the stomachs of the young. While the young are in the nest,
this substance cannot harden, from the daily fresh accession ; but when the young are
fledged it hardens, and thus is formed what is erroneously called the kingfisher’s nest.
After the young had left the hole I examined it again minutely, and could discover
no trace of a nest, except as described above. I am now satisfied that the kingfisher
makes no nest ; and if there is any of this substance found in the hole before the young
are hatched, it is formed by the young of former years, for these birds, if undisturbed,
will breed in the same hole for a number of years.” “ In May, 1828, I found a king-
fisher’s nest: the young in it were just hatched, and were without nest, upon the bare
mould. I visited them a fortnight after, they were surrounded by filth in so putrid a
state that maggots had bred in it.” I have two other notes on this subject, of later
dates, by the same author; but they are only repetitions of the above. The writer was
a true sportsman for upwards of sixty years, thirty-five of which were chiefly devoted
to fishing and shooting ; at the age of seventy-five he was “a dead shot,” and seldom
known to miss his aim, and could tire many a youthful sportsman.— Richard Strang-
wayes ; 70 and 71, Chiswell Street, July 15, 1851.

Occurrence of the Avocet (Recurvirostra Avocetta) at Yarmouth. — Two fine speci-
mens of the avocet were killed at Yarmouth on Thursday last, and are being preserved
by Mr. Knight, of this city —J. O. Harper; Norwich, June 16, 1851.

The Domestic or Mute Swan in the Leamington Gardens.— We could only briefly
announce, in our last week’s impression, the singular circumstance of the swans on the
lake in the Jephson Gardens, producing the extraordinary number of nine cygnets ;
and we are happy to observe that both the old ones, aud the whole of their progeny,
appear in excellent health, and enjoy greatly the sunny days alternately on the lake
and the river; although the male bird is not altogether in the most amiable mood
when any person approaches near them. It may not now be out of place if we give a
few particulars of this majestic bird, which the poet Wordsworth so elegantly describes.

Birds. 3209

‘** Fair is the swan, whose majesty prevailing
O’er breezeless water, on the garden lake,
Bears him on while proudly sailing
He leaves behind a mvon-illumin’d wake :
Behold! the mantling spirit of reserve
Fashions his neck into a goodly curve ;
An arch thrown back between luxuriant wings
Of whitest garniture, like fir-tree boughs
To which, on some unruffled morning, clings
A flaky weight of Winter's purest snows ! ”
We believe it is almost, if not quite, an unprecedented circumstance, of this bird pro-
ducing so great a number as nine cygnets at one time; the largest brood we ever re-
member to have seen recorded was five, and more generally, from two to four. An
intelligent correspondent says that whilst in conversation with a gentleman, who was
one day this week admiring the movements of the old ones, with their numerous pro-
geny, on the lake, that individual stated that he had never seen more than six, although
he had for more than half a century resided where they were constantly kept; so that
both from recorded facts and all the inquiries we havebeen able to make, we believe this
will be found to be a very singular incident in natural history. The number of eggs
laid was nine, although we believe the gardener confidently asserts, on the authority
of a sly peep at the nest, that there were only eight ; be this as it may, there are doubt-
less nine cygnets daily sailing on the lake. The day after they took to the water, no
less than five of them were seen nestling beneath the wings of the female ; the other
four swimming round the old ones, no doubt envying the good fortune of their com-
panions, and the snug berth they were enjoying. A few years since so little was known
of this bird of Apollo, although domesticated in this country from a very early period,
that only two species of swans were recorded ; but the progress made in the science of
Natural History, and the great attention paid to Ornithology in particular, has brought
to light four varieties uf this favourite bird, and we have now not only the wild and
domestic swans, but Bewick’s and the Polish swans. The swans, with their extraor-
dinary progeny, will no doubt contribute to the amusement of the numerous visitors
to our delightful Jephson grounds. Mr. Yarrell observes in a letter to the writer: —
*« The brood of swans in the Jephson Gardens is the largest I ever heard of; seven
being considered a large number, the generality of broods being much less than that.
We get no such broods in St. James’s Park.”—Contributed to the ‘ Leamington Courier’
of May 18, 1851, by John Evans, E'sq., of that place.

The Great Crested Grebe (Podiceps cristatus) in Norfolk.—In the months of April
and May last I collected twenty-nine of these birds, in full summer plumage, all shot
in Norfolk. Four of them I preserved, and they are now in the Great Exhibition in
Hyde Park, where they are exhibited by Messrs. Robert Clarke and Sons, the furriers,
in Class 18, to which they very appropriately belong, as the breast of this bird has
become a fashionable and very beautiful substitute for furs, (see Manufactured Arti-
cles in the Crystal Palace). ‘The rest of the skins I have had manufactured into ladies’
boas and muffs, and may perhaps say they are the first British specimens used for this
purpose. The market for grebe is chiefly supplied from southern Europe.—Richard
Strangwayes ; 70 and 71, Chiswell Street, July 15, 1851.

Occurrence of the Caspian Tern near Lausanne.—I heart yesterday from an orni-
thological friend of mine, resident at Lausanne, on the Lake uf Geneva, that a fine

rn. 2G

3210 Reptiles. —Fishes.—Zoological Society.

adult specimen of the Caspian tern (Sterna Caspia), was shot near that place about a _
fortnight ago. Another, also in adult plumage, was shot near Lausanne before I left
Switzerland early in May, 1851. It is of very rare oceurrence there, though all our —
commoner species of tern are pretty abundant on the lake in summer.—7’. W. Powys ;

10, Grosvenor Place, July 1, 1851.

A Toad in Difficulties —W alking with a friend round a fish-pond on the 30th of ©
June last, my attention was attracted by a toad of forlorn aspect, crouching on the —
marshy edge of the pool. Something was evidently wrong, so I stopped to investi- —
gate, and was much surprized to find that the middle toe of one of the hind feet was ©
firmly held between the valves of a mollusk about half an inch in diameter, Cyclas
cornea, I think, and thus all attempts at locomotion on the part of the poor toad were —

effectually impeded. When I detached the bivalve the toad proceeded to make the

best use of its restored liberty, by seeking the shelter of the long grass and sedge, its ;

gravity a good deal disturbed and its leg a little crippled by the accident. — Robt. C.
Douglas; Forebridge, Stafford, July 14, 1851.

The Ballan Wrasse (Labrus maculatus, Bloch).—I lately procured a very fine spe-
cimen of this fish, which is frequently caught along our coast. It measured in length
fully 19 inches, the largest size I have seen noted. The dorsal and anal fins differ
considerably in figure from those represented in the cut given in Yarrell’s ‘ British
Fishes,’ (Vol. 1. p. 275): in fact, a drawing of the present specimen would produce a
very different figure. In the first instance, the terminating and larger lobes of both
the fins referred to, are larger and much more rounded throughout; and in the second,
the two first spinous rays of the anal fin are wider apart, and extended, as in the figure
of Dentex vulgaris (p. 111, wt supra). The snout is largely protractile, a long shaft

of bone proceeding from each of the two pieces forming the superior maxillary jaw, —

and extending upwards for more than an inch under the common integuments of the

4

skull. These shafts are arranged alongside of each other, and seem only to be united Y
by a gristly membrane at their origin. The fleshy lips are plaited or channelled by —
longitudinal folds, particulars, I presume, characteristic of this species, but which I —

have not seen recorded by any ichthyologist.— Geo. Harris; Gamrie, Banffshire,
June 19, 1851.

Proceedings of the Zoological Society.

Evening Meeting, June 10, 1851.—Joun Goutp, Esq., F.R.S., in the chair.
My. Sclater read descriptions of two new species of birds of the genus Twnioptera,

which he characterized under the names of T. erythropygia and T. striaticollis. These —

birds, of which the specimens were derived from the collection of Edward Wilson, |

Esq., are natives of Ecuador.

The Seeretary read a paper by Dr. Nicholson, on a new species of Artamus, disco-
vered by him in Northern India.

The Secretary read a second communication from Dr. Nicholson, on the habits of
the tailor-bird, as observed by himself at Surat and at Raghote.

Entomological Society. 3211

Mr. Tomes demonstrated the structure of the poison-gland which supplies the fang
in the ‘“ Rat-tail” of Sta. Lucia (Craspedocephalus atrox), from a dissection recently
made in a specimen which died in the Menagerie. Mr. Tomes’ communication was
illustrated by drawings from the pencil of Mr. Flower, F.Z.S.

The Secretary read three communications from Mr. Adams, on the genera Scutus,
Monotygma and Nematura: and the meeting adjourned to June 24.

Evening Meeting, June 24.—Joun E. Gray, Esq., V.P., F.R.S., iv the chair.

Mr. Lovell Reeve communicated the description of a species of Bulimus from Bris-
bane, Moreton Bay, Australia, which he considered new to science, and which he cha-
racterized under the name of Bulimus Maconelli. The fine specimen from which
Mr. Reeve’s description was drawn up, forms part of the collection belonging to the
Manchester Museum, and was exhibited to the meeting.

The Secretary read some notes on the Birds of Madeira, which had been observed
by Mr. Vernon Harcourt, during his residence on that island. Mr. Harcourt’s obser-
vations are to the effect that 30 species of birds breed in Madeira, and that 65 species
are occasional visitants, numbers which greatly exceed any previous account of the or-
nithoJogical riches of the island.

Mr. Westwood read a paper upon the dentition of the tiger beetles, which was
illustrated by several careful drawings of their structural peculiarities.

Mr. Gray communicated a notice of the recent occurrence of Ryalecus Glesne,
which appears to become more common in the British Seas.

The Secretary stated to the meeting that he had just received a large and interesting
collection of birds, mostly collected in Trinidad, from His Excellency, Lord Harris.

Mr. Gould directed attention to some of the most interesting among them.

The meeting then adjourned to July 8.

July 8.—In consequence of the death of the President, no meeting was held. —
D. W. M.

Proceedings of the Entomological Society.

July 7, 1851.—J. O. Westwoop, Esq., President, in the chair.

The following donations were announced, and thanks ordered to be given to the
donors thereof:—‘ The American Currant-moth, (Abraxas ? Ribearia) ;’ by Asa Fitch,
M.D.: ‘A Catalogue with References and Descriptions of the (Homopterous) Insects
collected and arranged for the State Cabinet of Natural History, New York;’ by Asa
Fitch, M.D.: both presented by the author. ‘Transactions of the Linnean Society,
Vol. xx. part 3: ‘Proceedings of the Linnean Society, Nos. 41—44, pp. 49— 112:
*List of Members of the Linnean Society, 1850:’ all presented by the Society.
‘The Zoologist’ for July; by the Editor. A Blatta and a Pentatoma, on which were
living larve of one of the Tenebrionide, imported from Abyssinia in a parcel of the
new vermifuge called ‘“‘ Kousso;” presented by William Mansell, Esq.

Mr. Edwin Shepherd exhibited specimens of Phibalapteryx polygrammata, Har-
palyce Sagittata, Eupithecia sparsata, Psecadia funerella, Cosmopteryx Lienigiella,
and a new species of Gelechia allied to dimidiella ; all recently captured at Burwell

3212 Entomological Society.

Fen, Cambridgeshire: also Phoxopteryx Upupana, Ephippiphora obscurana, and a |

new Spilonota allied to dealbana; all from Darenth Wood: and a very fine Stauropus
Fagi, captured at Black Park, Bucks.

Mr. Augustus Sheppard exhibited a fine series of Depressaria assimilella, reared
from larve found on broom.

Mr. J. Jenner Weir exhibited Bucculatrix Cidarella from alders, Gracilaria Ono- —

nidis from Genista tinctoria, Auchmia oculatella from Eupatorium Cannabinum, and
A. metallicella ; all captured near Pembury, Kent.

Mr. Smith exhibited the specimen of Gastropacha Ilicifolia caught by Mr. Atkin-
son, mentioned at the June meeting; also living specimens of Chrysomela cerealis,
which had fed for the last fortnight on leaves of wild thyme, on which plant Mr. Fox-
croft found them in the Pass of Llanberris, N. Wales.

Mr. Douglas exhibited, in illustration of the natural history of the following Tor-
trices : —

A pupa-skin of Ditula angustiorana, projecting from the interior of one of the

shoots of yew exhibited at the February meeting.

A pupa-skin of Cochylis Francillana, and a section of a dry stem of an umbellife-

rous plant, in which the larva had fed.

A pupa-skin of Pedisca bilunana, with a catkin of birch inside which the larva fed.

Dry capsules of Saxifraga granulata, gathered at Southend, 7m which he had found

pupz which produced Phaleroptera Ictericana.

It was somewhat singular that all the six or eight specimens of this insect that had
appeared were males; the females (longana, Haw.) he had reared from larve found
on Aster Tripolium growing near Gravesend, which quitted the plant prior to changing
to pupe; so that granting the larve of the pupe found in the capsules of Saxifraga
granulata had fed therein, it would appear, judging from the instances in question,
either that the sexes fed on different plants, or that these two insects had been erro-
neously united as one species. It was not safe to speak positively without further ex-
perience, but it would at least seem that if there were but one species, the larve were
not only polyphagous, but had different habits on different plants ; in one case chang-
ing to pupe in the seed-capsule of the plant, in the other quitting the plant and re-
tiring to the earth.

Mr. S. Stevens exhibited Chrosis Audouinana from Black Park, Psyche reticella
from Sheerness, and Eupithecia tenuiata, bred from sallows.

The President directed the attention of the meeting to the descriptions of the win-
ter insects of New York by Dr. Asa Fitch; specimens of the greater part of which
were intended to be presented to this Society.

Mr. 8S. Stevens stated that Mr. Walton had had the kindness to determine the
names of the two new British Curculionide he had recently captured. That from
Gravesend he had no doubt was the Mecinus collaris of Germar, for it answered ex-
actly to Germar’s description ; the other from Fenny Stratford is Acalyptus rufipennis
of Schonherr. Of this, Mr. Walton in a note, observes: — “‘ The genus Acalyptus,
Schonherr states, is not very dissimilar to Sibynia, and is partly like Tychius, but dif-
fers in the construction of the funiculus of the antenne and in the form of the rostrum.
The location of the genus is next to Sibynia. Schonherr records only two species in
the genus, viz., A. Carpini, Herbst., and A. rufipennis ; but T am of opinion that Car-
pini is identical with rufipennis, which is founded upon Gyllenhal’s description. If
I am right, the synonymy will stand thus : —

Microscopical Society. 3213

“ Acalyptus Carpini, Hbst., Gyll., Sch.
** Ellescus sericea, Dahl., Dej.
“ Sibynia sericea, Sturm, (Ins. Cat.)

“ Acalyptus rufipennis, Schon.

“ According to Gyllenhal, it occurs plentifully in Sweden upon the flowers of Salix
cinerea.”

Mr. Saunders alluded to the great abundance of cockchafers this year, and stated
that he had made experiments on the relative weight of males and females. He found
that in twelve males the average weight was 13% grains each, in twelve females 203
grains.

The heaviest male weighed 17 grains, the lightest 12 grains.

The heaviest female weighed 24% grains, the lightest 16 grains.

The difference between the heaviest male and female was 7% grains.

The difference between the lightest male and female was 4 grains.

The difference between the lightest male and heaviest female was 123 grains, the
heaviest male being 1 grain heavier than the lightest female.

The President said that these observations might possibly prove to be more than
curious, and to have an economic value; for in some places on the continent, in sea-
sons when cockchafers were abundant, quantities had been collected and pressed for
the sake of the oil they afforded; and in Transylvania they had been made into a paste
with which cart-wheels &c. had been greased.—J. W. D.

Proceedings of the Microscopical Society of London.

June 18, 1851.—Dr. ArtHour Farreg, President, in the chair,

A paper by P. H. Gosse, Esq., ‘On the large Actinophrys of Eichhorn, and on the
Structure of the Flesh in the Polygastrica,’ was read.

After citing the observations of Eichhorn, to the effect that he witnessed the cap-
ture of small Crustacea by the tentacles of this animal, and the digestion of them within
its body, which have been doubted by later naturalists, the author mentioned that he
had himself met with the animal on two occasions, though it appears to have been un-
seen since the days of its first describer. Mr. Gosse then characterized the species, to
which he assigned the name of Actinophrys Eichhornii. It is a whitish globe, dis-
tinctly visible to the naked eye, and seen, under the microscope, to be studded all over
its surface with long, delicate, pointed, divergent rays. These organs have the power
of arresting, by mere contact, animals of much higher organization, which the author

witnessed, and thus confirmed the testimony of its discoverer. The paper went on to

describe the rays as wholly retractile within the body ; and other organs, in the form
of clear oval bladders, also capable of being protruded and retracted, at various parts
of the surface; as well as vesicles contained within the substance, and which, fre-
quently inclosing food, evidently perform the part (the author thinks only ¢emporarily)
of stomachs.

Mr. Gosse described the body of this animalcule as made up of an aggregation of
large, distinct, perfectly transparent, unnucleated cells, pressing over and against each
other, and thus rendered polygonal. Their walls are not membranous, but composed
of a semifluid viscous mucus, resembling the bubbles on the surface of soapy water.
This substance is endowed with contractility, which the author proved from several
circumstances ; and he considered that the protrusile bladders and the stomach-cells
are only modifications of the common cells of the flesh. Mr. Gosse drew analogies to

3214 Microscopical Society.

illustrate this structure from the Meduse, the Hydre, and especially from the Spiro-—
stoma and the Stylonychia, polygastric animalcules; and his observations went to show —
that the organization in this class of animals is exceedingly simple, consisting of little —
more than a homogeneous fluid drawn out into spherical films or cells, probably in- —

closing a very subtle vapour.

A second paper, by H. C. Sorby, Esq., ‘On the Tensions developed among the —

Tissues of Wood by its Growth,’ was read.

The author commenced by stating, that in studying the depolarizing structure of —
wood, he had used as a polarizer a rotatable large Nichol’s prism, placed behind the ©

lenses of the achromatic condenser; and as an analyzer, a film of selenite and another
Nichol’s prism, which could be rotated independently or conjointly, placed over the

eye-piece. By these arrangements, he obtained abundance of light when using high ~
powers; and by rotating the selenite, the direction of the positively and negatively —

doubly-refracting axes of the object under examination were easily ascertained.

Upon examining with this apparatus longitudinal sections of recent wood, with a —

power of about 400 linear, they were found to consist of lamine, some of which pos-
sess positive and others negative double refraction in the line of their length, the prin-
cipal axes lying one in that direction, and the other at right angles to it. This alter-
nation of positive and negative laminez, and the probable cause, form the principal
subjects of this paper. The number of alternations varies, but from five to ten are
usual. The passage from one to the other is often quite sudden, but is sometimes gra-
dual. The wood considered as the best for showing these effects, was that of the Co-
niferz ; and the effects of polarization, as exhibited by the medullary rays, the disks,
the spiral fibre, and the ducts, were described. The cause of alternation of the posi-
tive and negative lamine, is ascribed by Mr. Sorby to the tension produced, by the
growth of the plant; and he explains it by supposing that first of all the original walls
of the tubes of which the lamine are composed were neutral, or had such a variable,
slight, positive and negative action as is seen in cellular tissue, and that then inside
them woody matter was deposited, which had a tendency to expand in the line of the
length. This, by stretching the original walls, would produce in them a positive ac-
tion in the line of their length, and their reaction on the fresh-formed tissue would
develope in it a negative structure; and a constant repetition of this process would
produce the various alternations now under consideration. In conclusion, he stated
that although these suppositions might not adequately explain all the phenomena that
might be observed, still this structure proves that there have been alternations of lig-
neous tissue, either having tensions in different directions, or a self-existing double re-
fraction of different characters; but he considers the supposition that the effects are
due to tension agrees with the neutral action of some parts and the general properties
of others much the best: and he felt convinced that the study of the double refraction
of the tissues of plants would be of great utility in arriving at a correct knowledge of
the manner of their development.

Another paper, ‘On the Minute Structure of a Species of Fangasina, by W. C.
Williamson, Esq., was also read.

In former communications to the Society, the author pointed out the existence of —

a curious system of tubes and canals, penetrating the parietes and septa of several spe-
cies of foraminiferous shells, in which the structure of Polystomella, some species of
Nonionina and Amphistegina were described, On making sections of a species of
Fangasina, D’Orb., from Manilla, the existence of a much larger and more interesting

Microscopical Society. 3215

arrangement of tubes was discovered. The shell is constructed on the inequilateral
plan of Truncatulina tuberculata, and viewed as an opaque object, exhibits a series of
vertical translucent spaces, with the intervening parietes to which the foramina are li-
mhited. Along each of the vertical septal lines there exists an irregular double row of
very distinct pits or depressions; similar pits are also seen inferiorly in the radiating
septa which divide the different segments of each convolution. On making a series of
sections of the shell, we learn that these pits or depressions are the external orifices of
a curious system of intraseptal canals and spaces ramifying in its interior. A section
taken close to the inferior flat surface of the shells exhibits a spiral translucent septum
separating the convolutions; the segments present the ordinary foraminated aspect,
and are arranged in the usual spiral manner; in the radiating interseptal lines are
seen numerous small orifices, which open, by means of short canals, into the intersep-
tal spaces immediately above them. On making a second section, parallel to the first,
but a little above the peripheral margin, we perceive that there exists a number of
large branching intraseptal tubes and passages, which commence at the innermost seg-
ments, and proceed in a radiating manner towards the periphery; these appear de-
signed primarily to multiply the number of external orifices; but in addition to this,
they subsequently facilitate the establishment of a free communication between the
internal intraseptal spaces and those of the newer convolution, in which the septa are
more numerous. Small circular apertures appear along the course of these tubes, and
mark as many points where the section has traversed the orifices of the canals descend-
ing to the inferior surface of the shell. A third section, made parallel to the forego-
ing, is cut through the shell a little above the superior extremities of cells belonging
to the central convolutions. We here see that the portions which, in the former sec-
tions had the appearance of radiating tubes, are really the lower borders of vertical
interseptal spaces, but at the same time giving off true divergent cylindrical canals
from their external margins, which penetrate the thick parietes of the shell. Whilst
these spaces communicate externally, they open internally into a large irregular cavi-
ty, the true nature of which is better understood by reference to a vertical section of
this instructive object passing nearly through its centre; this section, if it has not tra-
versed the primordial cell, has certainly crossed the secondary one, along with four
others, in the successive order of their development. Whilst their inferior portions are
nearly on a uniform level, the upper extremities of those belonging to successive con-
volutions become rapidly elongated, leaving between them a large, irregular, conical
space. In the species under consideration, a new and curious feature is presented ;
the cavities in the translucent calcareous shell are thickly lined with a dark olive-brown
substance: this substance not only exists in the interior of all the cells, but also occu-
pies the intraseptal spaces and their respective canals, as well as the irregular cavity in
the umbilical centre of the shell. It is most probable that this brown substance is
really the desiccated soft animal. A thin superficial section, made in the plane of the
oblique sides of the conical shell, exhibits some of the septa with the large orifices of
their interseptal canals, with the external parietes of some of the segments densely per-
forated with minute pseudopodian foramina, and a small lateral portion of the dome-
like apex of the shell, which is perforated with apertures, through which a free com-
munication is maintained between the external medium and the inclosed space. The
nature of the latter varies considerably ; sometimes it exists in the form of a large ir-
regular cavity, and at others as an intricate network of large canals. The character
of the external orifices also varies: in some examples they are large and patent; in

3216 British Entomologists.— Entomological Club.

others, numerous smaller tubes, ascending from the subjacent network, converge at

some superficial depressions which occupy the position of the larger orifices.

The above facts show that the subject of the present memoir presents a very diffe-
rent structure from any of the Foraminifera hitherto described, but they support the
conclusion at which the author arrived in a preceding memoir, viz., that the soft ani-

mal has the power of extending itself far beyond the limits of any individual segment, —

and is thus enabled to secrete calcareous matter in other situations than the mere in-
vesting parietes of its own cell. It is only in this way that we can explain the produc-
tion of the dome-like covering which incloses the central umbilical cavities and their
ramifying canals. But if it should be ultimately proved that the soft tissues have oc-
cupied all these irregular cavities, we shall then have a form of organization which,
from its great variability of contour, will approach more closely to the sponges than
any hitherto described.

The author concludes by stating that although these details may appear to be te-
diously minute, yet it must be remembered that until we are accurately familiar with
all the leading types of structure existing in this interesting group of organisms, we
cannot be in a condition to arrive at final conclusions respecting their nature and zo-
ological position.—J. W.

Proceedings of the Society of British Entomologists.

Tue July meeting of the above Society was held on the Ist instant, at their rooms,
10, Fountain Place, City Road ; when the following insects were exhibited, all taken
during the past month :— Cerura Furcula, Apatela leporina, Acronycta Ligustri,
Ceropacha fluctuosa, Aplecta tincta and herbida, Heliothis marginata, with many
others.

Mr. Harding exhibited a singular variety of Aplecta nebulosa, in which the usual
broken black line near the margin of the superior wing was replaced by an irregular
well-defined black band.

Mr. Shield exhibited a specimen of Biston prodromaria, in fine condition, taken
on the 24th of June, at Caen Wood.—_/. F’. N.

The Entomological Club.

Tue annual field-day of this little Association, took place at Birch Wood on Wed-
nesday, June 18; the members and their friends dining together at the Bull Inn,
under the Presidency of Matthew Marshall, Esq. There were preseiit: — Messrs.
Bennett, Bowerbank, F.R.S., Busk, F.R.S., Clow, Deane, Elsey, Gratton, Hanson,
Hutchinson, Keddell, Marchant, Marshall, Newman, F.L.S., Powle, Salmon, F.L.S.,
Saunders, F.L.S., Smith, Spence, F.R.S., Stevens, F.L.S., Tebbs, Van Voorst, F.Z.S.,
Ward, F.L.S., Wade, White, F.L.S., Woodward, F.R.S., and Yarrell, V.P.L.S.

Mr. Wollaston, of Eltham, kindly exhibited to some of the party who called on
him, an extremely fine living specimen of Orchis hircina, which had been recently dug
up at the old and often recorded Kent locality.

Insects. 3217

Entomological Localities. By J. W. Dovuetas, Esq. |

(Continued from page 3185).

DARENTH Woop.

“A little lowly hermitage it was,
Downe in a dale, hard by a forest’s side,
Far from resort of people that did pass

In traveill to and froe: * * ne
* * eae x x * *

Arrived there, the little house they fill,
Ne looke for entertainment where none was.”
Spenser.—Faerie Queene.

This is the Fox and Hounds at “ Darn,” as the natives call it, at
least the description suits it well even now, when one can go within a
mile or two by rail; the latter part applied better fifteen years ago,
when nothing eatable was to be had without twelve hours’ notice at
least. In 1836, my dim notions of Darenth Wood, received from the
works of Stephens and others, were rendered more vivid by the men-
tion thereof in the ‘“ Wanderings and Ponderings of an Insect-hunter,”
published in the ‘ Entomological Magazine,’ and I determined to ex-
plore for myself. How in my infantine knowledge of Entomology I
wandered by day and by night through its leafy expanse ; how I was
never tired of its sights and sounds; and how my delightful experience
served ineradicably to fix my taste for insects, it matters little to tell:
but I remember the many hours spent here with a feeling akin to the
blissful ecstasy of “‘ Love’s young dream.”

I mentioned the railway as a means of getting here; and if my
reader be a man who is accustomed to go direct to his point, he will
travel by it and alight at the Greenhithe station of the North Kent
line; but if he be not in a hurry, and like to study human nature by
the way, he will go by steam-boat to Greenhithe. Then he will have
an opportunity of observing that most curious of all animals, a genu-
ine Londoner, in his most unusual of all practices—taking his pleasure.
There is the young swell, great in his neck-tie and self-estimation,
patronizing the captain, and endeavouring to show him how much he
knows. There is the old mother, wondering in her simplicity how it
is that one steamer can go faster than another; telling all around her
how pleased she is with a steam-boat, and how she hates “them rail-
roads,” for she never reads a paper, she says, but she reads of “ haxi-

IX. 2H

3218 Insects.

?

dents ;” and “it must be so very uncomfortable to be blowed into
anatomies and die with broken bones!” There is the veritable Lon- |
don tradesman, who thinks “ the country is all very well on a fine day
in summer, but there is nothing like London;” and to prove it brings —
his newspaper and drinks London porter all the way. If, as Cowper —
says, and I think few doubt it,—

“ That man immured in cities, still retains
His inborn inextinguishable thirst
Of rural scenes,”

then is it not a fit subject for regret, that when he does escape from
his prison, his want of knowledge of the objects he sees prevents his
enjoying the greatest charm Nature possesses? But to return.

Years before I was born this wood was hunted for insects; and al-
though rivals have appeared in all directions, it still has many attrac-
tions. A dozen nets at the Fox were not an uncommon sight a few
years since; how it is now I cannot say, not having frequented the
locality much of late, but whether many or few go, some rarities must
from time to time occur. ‘The whole wood rests on chalky soil, and
is composed of oak, hazel, birch, maple, sallow, dog-wood, spindle,
privet, blackthorn, and a host of other trees and shrubs, while the more
lowly growth is very various, and prolific in insects of all orders. I
enumerate some of the more uncommon Lepidoptera found here.

Thecla Betule. The first week in September, flying about oaks:
the larva feeds on blackthorn at the end of May.

Trochilium Allantiforme. Greenhithe, (Ent. Mag. i. 79).

Sesia Bombyliformis and §S. Fuciformis. On the flowers of Ajuga
reptans, in May.

Notodonta Cucullina. Once taken by Mr. J. F. Stephens.

Ptilophora plumigera. Larva on maple.

Ceropacha fluctuosa. At sugar; June.

Noctua rhomboidea. At sugar; July and August.

Neuria Saponaria. At sugar; June.

Acronycta Ligustri. At sugar; June.

Hadena adusta and H. contigua, At sugar; June. The larve of
the latter I have found in September on young birches.

Polia tincta. Larve on birches; April.

», advena and P, herbida. At sugar; June.

Cloantha conspicillaris. Rarely, flying; May.

Heliothis marginata. Rarely, at sugar; June.

Acontia luctuosa. Among clover, outside the wood ; June.

Insects. 3219

Tephrosia extersaria. By beating; June.

-Melanippe amnicularia. By beating; June.

Lobophora polycommata. March, rare.

Dosithea bisetata. By beating; June.

Acidalia subsericeata. By beating; June.

Minoa Euphorbiata. By beating; June.

Tortrix semialbana. Roman road on the north of the wood; end
of June.

_ Spilonota pauperana. On wild roses; March.

Eriopsela quadrana. May.

Heusimene fimbriana. By beating; March and April.

Carpocapsa splendana. By beating; June.

Psecadia decemguttella. End of May. Larve feed on Lithosper-
mum officinale in August, (Zool. 2332).

Hypercallia Christiernana. Mr. J. F. Stephens has specimens he
took here many years ago, but it has not occurred since.

Phoxopteryx Upupana. June.

Ephippiphora obscurana. June.

Having been to this wood but seldom since I collected Micro- Lepi-
doptera, I am unable to indicate how many more rarities occur; but
there is no doubt that a place so large and so good must produce ma-
ny which only want to be looked for, or, if already found, to be noted
for the benefit of present and future collectors.

GREENHITHE AND SWANSCOMBE Woops.

A list of captures by Mr. Hodgkinson in these woods, which are
contiguous to Darenth, and also of captures in the chalk-pits at Nortb-
fleet, have already been given in this work (Zool. 2328); among them

are several rarities.
J. W. DouGLAs.
2, Eton Grove, Lee, Kent, June, 1851.

On Hunting diligently for Lepidoptera.—On looking over the ‘ Zoologist’ for the
present month, I find some very useful observations by Mr. Douglas upon the neces-
sity of diligently hunting up any locality of note, (Zool. 3182); and I beg to add the
testimony of my experience in favour of his very useful advice. It is not enough that
you visit a locality frequently, it is necessary to hunt it thoroughly at all times of the
day and evening, as well as at all favourable times of the year; for instance, one of the

3220 Insects.

insects found in the locality mentioned by Mr. Douglas, namely, Chersotis Agathina, ©
we never find flying until the evening is so far advanced that we can scarcely see it, —
but then it hovers round the dense bundles of heath-flowers, somewhat slowly, and —
may be easily captured hy keeping a steady look-out about a yard in front of your feet. —
Hypenodes humidalis is also very regular in its time of flying, not one being visible —

until about half-past 6, Pp. m., when you may take them in plenty until about 8 o’clock. —
The pretty little Rhodaria sanguinalis has this season shown a partiality to the same —

time of evening as Hypenodes humidalis, but not so decidedly ; this however may in

part have been owing to the intense heat of the weather from the 24th to the end of ©
June, the principal time of their flight. I visited New Brighton sand-hills to look —

for them on the 27th ult., the day being excessively hot. I succeeded in raking up
about fifty before 6 o'clock p. m.; they then began to fly, and I took nearly as many
more in little more than half an hour, when I was obliged to leave them flying on all
sides, in order to catch the ferry for Liverpool and the train for Warrington.—James
Cooper ; Museum, Warrington, July 2, 1851.

Capture of Elachista locupletella, (Stainton’s List). —To prove how often a rarity
may be stumbled upon by the merest chance, the present example may serve as an il-
lustration. On my way to dinner about a month ago, my attention was drawn to
the top of an Epilobium, on seeing it all twisted together. Having ascertained that it
contained a chrysalis, I cut it off and carried it home. For a week I watched it very
carefully, and was at last rewarded with a fine specimen of the above-named insect.
For several days afterwards I eagerly sought the place from whence I took the chry-
salis, and found it in plenty. I had concluded at first that it was an Epilobium-feeder,
but investigation showed otherwise, as but one plant was near the place. The ground
is marshy, and abounds with reeds, docks, white ladies’ bed-straw, and forget-me-not.
—John Scott; London Works, Renfrew, July 21, 1851.

Inquiry respecting Pupe.—I inclose two pupe, and shall be much obliged if you
can inform me what insects they belong to. One is white and soft, this I have put into
spirits of wine; the other is inclosed in a hard brown skin. I found them in the fol-
lowing manner. On the 17th of last May I observed a large female wasp fly into a

hole in the sandy bank of the river Aine; in a few seconds another wasp, also appa- *

rently a large impregnated female, flew up to the same place, but seeing me did not
enter the hule. The one that I first noticed shortly came out again, when I captured
it with my forceps. It was a large female of Vespa vulgaris. Wishing to ascertain
whether it had furmed any part of its nest in the bank, I dug away some of the sand
with my stick, and at the distance of five or six inches from the surface, I turned out
the pupe that I have sent you: I noticed several of the soft white ones, but only one

of the others. They were contained in oval cells formed in the sand; the cells were —

tolerably smooth internally, but had no lining of any kind. The sand was loose and
crumbling, and as I had no other tool than my walking-stick, I could not ascertain
whether the cells were arranged together in any manner. After digging as deeply as
I could into the bank, I found no traces of the nests of the wasps.—R. H. Meade ;

Bradford, Yorkshire, July 15, 1851.

[The pupe exhibit a fully developed prothorax, and are clearly those of a coleop-_

terous insect, and one of the Heteromera, but I cannot pronounce on the genus. I
consider the evidence insufficient to show any parasitism.— 4. N.] :
On the Occurrence of the Pupa of a predaceous Beetle in the vicinity of the Nests of

Wild Bees.—On the 31st of May I noticed a number of wild bees (Andrena albicans)

5 re i

es

—r-eteS

Insects. 322]

flying in and out of numerous small holes in a little grassplot, in front of a house in
the immediate vicinity of the town. There must have been as many as forty or fifty
holes within the space of a couple of square yards, close to the door. I had the curi-
osity to dig into the ground, and found that the hules penetrated seven or eight inches
deep, and each terminated in an oval cell, formed in the mould, which was rather of a
clayey consistence. ‘The cells were beautifully smooth inside, measuring about half
an inch in the long diameter, by a quarter of an inch in the short diameter, without
any lining, but having the appearance of being varnished. Each cell contained a
small grub, and a round pellet of pollen of a dark green colour, in shape and size ex-
actly resembling a pea. I found in several instances two of these cells, one placed
exactly on the top of the other, not fitting into it, but separated by a small interval.
The lower part of the hole leading to the cells, when the latter were complete, was
filled up with loose earth. The bees appeared to throw in again the mould which
they first placed round the margins of the holes at the top, for on watching the place
for several days, I noticed that a little mound of dirt, almost like that thrown up by
an earth-worm, which I had noticed in the evening, had frequently disappeared in the
morning. I was surprized at the rapidity with which the bees reconstructed their
burrows, when, as I supposed, the cells at the bottom were incomplete. One day I
carefully stopped up some of them, obliterating all appearance of the holes at the top,
and by the next morning they were perfectly reformed. I do not know whether the
bees of this family usually stay in their burrows in the night during the progress of
their labours, but on digging out one of the cells in the evening I found a female bee
in her burrow several inches below the surface of the ground. J may here mention
that although I caught many individual bees, and examined them, they were all fe-
males, I did not notice a single male. On digging in one spot where there were seve-
ral bees’ cells close together, I found a pupa of a coleopterous insect, contained ina
cell about the same size as that of one of the bees, but less compactly made and rough
internally, and about seven inches below the surface. The pupa was quite white, ex-
cept the eyes, and soft, lying in a curved position, the head and legs being doubled
inwards ; it was quite naked, having no membranous or other covering. I placed it
in a small box and took it home. On looking at it the next morning, I found that it
had assumed its perfect form and was walking about the box; I then recognized it as
the Calathus cisteloides, a very common black beetle in this neighbourhood. It was
still perfectly white and soft, the eyes being the only black parts. Wishing to preserve
it in its present state, I immersed it at once in spirits of wine, but was afterwards sorry
that I did not keep it alive, and notice whether exposure to light and airwould give it
its natural black tint. I could not discover any kind of exuvie in the box; it seemed
merely to have unfolded its limbs and resumed an active life. Was the occurrence of
this beetle among the cells of the bees simply fortuitous ? Does the larva of the Ca-
lathus, when about to assume the pupa state, bury itself in the earth, and there form
a cell, in which it remains until ready to take on its perfect form? Or is there any
probability that this insect feeds upon the larve of the bees, and is thus found among
them? I ask these questions, as there appears to be very little known at present re-
'“Specting the transformations of the tribe of predaceous beetles.—Jd.

On the occurrence of Aphides in an Ants’ Nest.—On the afternoon of May 3, 1851,
I found two large Aphides under a flat stone, in the midst of a colony of small red
ants (Myrmica rubra). They were walking about leisurely, and were surrounded by
numbers of ants, which seemed to take no notice of them, but on being disturbed

3222 Arachnida.

occupied themselves in carrying off their larve and pupe to places of concealment as
quickly as possible, leaving the Aphides to their fate. Two specimens of the latter

were all that I could find. They were of an oval shape, full and swollen, of a pale
apple-green colour, 1} line in length, and 1 line in breadth, with very minute black

eyes, the antenne and legs tinged with brown, and the proboscis blackish at the apex.
The antenne were not more than one third of the length of the body, and were com-

oa

posed of 5 joints, of which the Ist and 2nd were very short, the 3rd very long, being

nearly one half the whole length of the antenna, the 4th not quite half so long as the

3rd, and the 5th rather shorter than the 4th, and conical: the antenne were slightly
thickened towards the apex. The proboscis was half the length of the body. The
latter was quite smooth, apterous, and destitute of anal tubercles. The legs were ra-
ther short. They approached most nearly to the description of the genus Rhizobius
of Burmeister,* one species of which, he says, is found under stones in the spring, as
well as at the roots of plants. I am not aware whether this insect has been as yet de-
scribed as an inhabitant of Britain; but in the present communication I am not so
much desirous of recording anything novel, as of asking a few questions concerning
the interesting connexion which is sometimes found to subsist between the ants and
Aphides. Were the two individuals which I found, located fortuitously among the
ants, or had they been captured and confined in their nest purposely by those insects?
It is well known that ants are very fond of the honey-dew excreted by Aphides, and
will climb trees and plants to attend upon them and obtain it. Huber and others
have also described how ants imprison Aphides in their nests, which they regularly
milk, and whose eggs they take the greatest care of. But the honey-dew has always
been thought to be excreted by the anal tubercles, of which the species found by my-
self were entirely destitute; I therefore doubt whether they had any connexion with
the ants among which they were found. Many species of Aphides live on the sap
contained in the roots of plants; it is therefore easy to suppose that they may occa-
sionally be found beneath stones in shrubby or grassy places, and that they may find
their way also into a colony of ants, without having been purposely conveyed there by
the latter insects.—Id.

Stratagem of a Spider.—The interesting account of a spider cited by Mr. Norman
(Zool. 3152), reminds me of what I once saw at Lyme Regis, in Dorsetshire. During

one of my rambles I saw in the corner of a field, where two ditches met, a pretty pink

flower growing from the side of the ditch. On going nearer to the flower I discovered
a very fine spider's web, about twenty inches square, so transparent that it was not
perceptible except at a very short distance. A working moss-carder bee (Apis musco-

rum) made a dash at the flower, but unluckily entangled irself in the web; the spider

advanced and retreated at least a dozen times, but was afraid to attack his formidable
adversary. I waited some minutes, and saw that my poor friend was on the high-road
to perishing from exhaustion, as he could not liberate himself. I therefore took him
in my hand, and after some trouble released him from his most irksome situation, he

* * Handbuch der Entomologie, ii. 87. See also Amyot et Serville, ‘ Hist. Nat.

des Hémipteres, 613.

ah 5
am,

Quadrupeds. 3223

having rolled over and over in the beautiful web so as to render himself quite helpless.
After I had cleared him from his entanglement, the bee commenced rubbing his face,

and showing signs of gratitude for his deliverance ; and though I pulled him about

ee

very roughly, although the most irascible of the genus, he never once attempted to
sting me, and when recovered he flew away, taking a long look at his deliverer. The
manner in which this spider’s web was placed, with the flower for a decoy, was beauti-
ful, and the exquisite fineness of its texture, made to avoid observation, quite wonder-
ful. I laid hold of the spider, but he escaped out of my hands into the long grass in

the shape of a small round ball.—H. W. Newman; July 15, 1851.

_ Notes on Observations in Natural History during a Tour in Norway.

By the Rev. ALFRED CHaARLEs SmiTH, M.A.
(Continued from page 3193).

Tue Elk (Cervus Alces) is a most ungainly-looking animal. Long-
legged, very high-shouldered, large-footed, with a neck very short and
a head very large, and its upper lip projecting and very thick, it is the
most awkward creature imaginable, and seems scarcely to belong to
the usually elegant and light family of which it forms a part. In size
it exceeds a horse, sometimes reaching as much as seven feet in height.
Its horns, though not long, are very thick, flat, and heavy; indeed the
animal must require its thick short neck, and strong, ugly, large head,
to support so ponderous a weight. A pair which I brought home with

_ me were enormously heavy ; and with these broad palmated horns the

elk throws back the snow in searching for food. This animal is by no

_ means numerous in Norway, and a few years since seemed likely to

be exterminated ; but the government, anxious to preserve so noble a

species of game, passed some very stringent laws for its preservation,
imposing a very heavy fine on those who should violate them ; and
_ since that time it has increased considerably in number. The forests

of the Glommen are said to be peculiarly favoured by their presence ;
and I can bear witness to the truth of this, from the number of heads
I saw nailed up over the farm-houses in this district: it being a regu-
lar custom in Norway for the successful sportsman to nail up over the
door of his dwelling-house such trophies of the chase as he may have
gained in hunting, just as game-keepers in England nail stoats, wea-
sels, hawks, owls, jays, &c., to the barn which forms their museum.
In the Fille-fjeld and in Romsdal, the skulls of bears grinned in a
ghastly manner from many a bonder’s house, bearing evident proof
that there bears abounded: in other parts, the heads and antlers of

3224 Quadrupeds.

reindeer to be seen over the doors, showed that they were the more
profitable as well as less dangerous victims of the huntsman’s rifle ;
while here and there a wolf’s grisly head told tales of an attack on the
sheep-fold: and here, in the Glommen, the long quaint head of the
elk reminded us that we were in their especial district. An intelligent
farmer in this valley assured me he had killed two of these scarce
animals within so many weeks; and promised to show me some sport
if I would make a hunting expedition with him, an offer I was most
reluctant to decline; but the day of my departure from the country
was at hand, and I was compelled to push on for Christiania.

- The elk prefers the forest for his abode, and seldom leaves it for the
open country. He is very timid, and consequently very difficult to
approach ; and he has the finest possible sense of hearing, seeing and
smelling, as indeed he might be expected to have, with ears and eyes
so large and nose so prominent: and away he goes, crashing along
through the trees of the forest in his enormous strength, and with his
large awkward body, the instant his acute ears or eyes or nose give
him warning that danger is at hand.

The Wolf, (Canis Lupus). Strong, blood-thirsty, and cowardly
seem to be the characteristic epithets applied to the wolf. He is
rarely if ever seen in the summer, during which time he remains in the
depths of the boundless forests, or in the heart of the mountains: but
when the snows and frosts of the long Scandinavian winter wrap eve-
rything in their icy mantle, the wolves too, becoming white or nearly
so, and rendered bold by starvation, band together in packs and ven-
ture to the homesteads of the peasants, and even into the very villa-
ges, in search of prey. During this season they are a great terror to
the farmer, and sometimes even to the traveller ; and many are the
fearful tales told of the pursuit of sledges for miles by a pack of
wolves; and many the hair-breadth escapes; and many, alas! the
horrible deaths from these blood-thirsty and cruel marauders. One
means of escape recommended to the luckless traveller, should he be
so unfortunate as to be pursued by these savage beasts, is to trail a
long rope behind the sledge; and so innate is cowardice in the wolf,
that the oscillating movement of the rope, as it is dragged along
the ground, has been found sufficient to deter the whole pack from
venturing to approach the dreaded cord. Another effective means of
escape is to shoot the foremost of the pack ; for the wolves will inva-
riably stop in the midst of their chase to devour their dead, dying, or
wounded comrade, and the traveller takes advantage of this delay to
press forward to a place of safety. But unless near to some village or

Quadrupeds. 3225

farm where sufficient help can be obtained, he has little chance of es-
cape from the most horrible of deaths, should the wolves pursue him
on his journey. So fierce, savage, and destructive, the wolf has no
claims upon the forbearance of man: he has none of the noble cou-
rage aud intrepidity of the bear; but unless urged on by dire hunger
(which changes his everyday nature) and backed up by numbers, he
will fly or rather skulk from the presence of man: though were his
boldness equal to his cruelty and strength, the destruction caused by
him would know no bonnds. There are no warmer furs than the win-
ter skins of the wolves, and for their sake, as well as to rid themselves
of such savage foes, the inhabitants attack them whenever an oppor-
_ tunity presents itself. Ina letter lately received from a Norwegian
_ friend to whom I had sent an English setter, he says : — “ I am espe-
cially delighted with the dog you have sent me, as I lost my best
hound most miserably last winter. I was shooting black-cock in the
_ forest, when on a sudden [ heard a piercing yell; I at once guessed
the cause and hurried to the spot whence the sound came, and there I
_ saw my poor dog in the fangs of a wolf. I managed to kill the wolf,
but the dog was so severely wounded, that I was obliged to shoot him
too on the spot.” Such are the vicissitudes to which the Norwegian
sportsman is constantly exposed.

The Glutton (Ursus Gulo). In addition to those I have mentioned,
Norway numbers amongst its quadrupeds the cruel glutton, which,
concealing itself in a tree, and lying along an overhanging branch,
drops upon the back of some unhappy animal passing below, and
sucks its blood until it falls from exhaustion. Though no larger than
the badger, the glutton is said in this manner to destroy reindeer and
horses and the largest animals of the North.

_ The Common Lynx, (Felis Lynx). What I have said of the man-
‘ner in which the glutton takes its prey, refers no less to another fierce
inhabitant of Norway, the common lynx ; which, vigilant and active,
adopts the same method of lying in ambush in a tree, and leaping on
the back of some unsuspecting victim, as he wanders beneath: but
the lynx also condescends to hunt in open field, and prey upon such
lemmings, ermines, squirrels, &c., as he can catch in open chase or
by stratagem.

The Beaver, (Castor fiber). It is not only the cruel and the blood-
thirsty, as those animals I have last described, that are to be met with
in Norway; there too may be seen occasionally the sagacious, socia-
ble, water-loving beavers, building their huts, and making their dikes,
and astonishing man by their intelligence and skill. But I could not

IX. 21

3226 Fishes, &c.

learn that they were numerous, or that they were to be found except
in the most northern and wilder parts of the country. |

The Salmon, (Salmo Salar). 1 know nothing of the natural history —
of fishes, and am no fisherman; and with the exception of a great
number of small trout, weighing from a quarter to three quarters of a
pound, or perhaps a pound, which I caught for the sake of having
something to eat, and one very small salmon, which I caught by acci-
dent, I did not take advantage in this respect of my tour to this, the
best country in the world for the angler. I don’t doubt that I shall
be thoroughly despised by the disciples of honest old Izaak Walton,
for throwing away such golden opportunities, however, be that as it
may, such is the fact: and therefore all I say about the fishing of
Norway is not derived from personal experience, but from Norwegian
friends, or those Englishmen whom I met either at their fishing-sta-
tions, or returning from the more northerly ones, which are the best.
The great salmon-streams of Norway are the Namsen and the Alten;
the great majority of the rivers of Norway offering no accommodation
to those fish, as in that rocky country of precipices there is sure to be
some great fall near the mouths of the rivers, presenting an insur-
mountable obstacle to the source-seeking propensities of the salmon.
Still there are very many salmon-streams, and the weight of fish caught
by a successful angler in Norway in a single day was quite astounding
to my mind, so unconscious of the gentle art. However, salmon-fish-
ing in Norway is by no means that gentle, calm, quiet amusement,
which seems to give angling so great a charm in the eyes uf some of
the lazy dolce-far-niente-loving gentlemen of this country. There it
is really hard work, and requires a strong arm and a steady hand, as
well as considerable skill and adroitness ; for the salmon in Norway
are none of your dull, feeble, passive, resistless fish, yielding them-
selves to an adverse fate when hooked, and suffering themselves with-
out a splash to be towed to land and deposited on the grass ; but they
are strong, stardy, independent fellows, like the Norwegians them-
selves, and when they find themselves deceived and in danger from an
enemy, make such a splutter and commotion as shows their spirit is
up, and that they are determined on a bold resistance and a fight to
the last. And their resolute bearing and expert manceuvres to free
themselves by sudden jerks or by main strength, often try to the ut-
most the skill of the angler and the strength of his tackle, and not un-

Fishes, &. 3227

frequently leave him discomfited on the rocks, while they swim away
with a glorious but most inconvenient palm of victory, a large hook in
their mouths, and part of a line dangling therefrom. Moreover, the
rivers in Norway are none of your still, quiet, smooth streams, gently
meandering through flat grassy meadows; but good, honest, hearty
torrents, roaring and foaming among the rocks with a deafening noise,
plunging and hissing in their mad career, tossing the spray on high,
eddying round and round, and playing all kinds of gambols in their
frantic excitement to reach the fjords. In truth, salmon-fishing in
Norway is no child’s play ; but to give some idea of the quantity and
weight caught, it will be necessary to come to statistics. Two Eng-
lishmen, whom | met at their fishing-station, told me they had killed
1,500 tbs. weight of salmon in thirteen days: four of the fish weighed
above 30 tbs. each, their weight respectively being 34, 35, 37 and 38
tbs. One of them going out alone killed in one day seven salmon, not
one of which was under 20 Ibs., their united weight being 160 tbs.
But the sport of the Namsen far exceeds this: one Englishman killed
no less than 2,000 tbs. weight of salmon last season. This same gen-
tleman, a very expert angler, killed four fish, whose weight exceeded
30 Ibs., one of them being no less than 48 tbs. in weight. — I believe
the largest fish ever known to have been killed in Norway, was one
of 52 Ibs., taken in the Namsen. But I see it stated that in Sweden
Sir H. Parker outdid this, by killing one of 60 tbs. weight.

Salmon, as may be supposed from what I have said, forms a very great
article of food to the Norwegians: indeed “ Lacks,” or salmon, as regu-
larly makes its appearance at “frokost” (breakfast), “middag’s-speise ”
(déjeiner ala fourchette), and “aftens” (or supper), the three Norwegian
meals, as bread would do in this or any other civilized country. But
then the “ Lacks” one sees there so constantly is not what the English

gourmand would picture to himself: the fish indeed is the very finest
and best that can be had, but it is dried in the sun when caught, and
never sees a fire, but when required is cut up in slices and served up
quite raw. This, indeed, is the manner in which all meat is prepared
for the table: meat is killed in October, and never at any other time
of the year, (I allude now to the country, not to the towns, where fresh
meat can always be obtained). In the month of October, then, a great
slaughter of cows, sheep, goats, &c., takes place throughout the coun-
try; all the meat is dried and stored away, and lasts the entire twelve-
month, ard when wanted, is merely sliced off in shavings, and eaten
in its raw state. These meats resemble mahogany in colour, but in

3228 Fishes, &c.

taste they are too rank for description, and an Englishman would starve
before he could persuade himself to swallow such strong, tainted, tal-
low-like, raw meat.

Since writing the above account of the salmon, two friends of mine
have started for the Tana, at the extreme north of Norway, a river |
scarcely known, but reported to abound with fish. They have taken
with them a tent, and all the apparatus necessary for an encampment
of six weeks in that wild spot, depending chiefly on their rods and
their guns for a supply of provision. Their intention was to proceed
at once to the North Cape, and thence to strike across to the Tana,
with horses and men to carry the tent and baggage. I trust I may be
able to communicate to the ‘ Zoologist’ the result of this enterprizing
expedition, and any zoological observations they may make in those
little-explored latitudes.

The Trout, (Salmo Fario). Every stream, every torrent, every lake,
even every ditch in Norway, seems to abound with trout, generally
speaking of a very small size; still these little mountain trout are very
delicious, and being so abundant, enable one to procure a dinner in a
short time, a point of no slight importance in a hungry country such
as Norway. But though usually so small, sometimes trout are taken
there of enormous weight. A Norwegian naval officer, with whom I
was slightly acquainted, assured me that he had himself seen a trout
taken in the river Logen, near the cataract called Hiinne-foss, which
exceeded 40 English pounds in weight: and others have mentioned
instances similar to this.

When I was following the course of that glorious river, the Glom-
men (the largest river in Norway), for a hundred and fifty miles, I
learned that the method adopted there in taking fish is to spear them
at night by torch-light, a very curious and most picturesque sight,
which I was unfortunately too early in the season to witness, but
which I well recollect having admired in the Bay of Naples, when in
the beautiful cloudless starry nights of that glorious climate, the blue
waters of the Mediterranean were illumined here and there with the
glowing pan of charcoal placed on the edge of the fishing-smack, and
luring the unhappy fish to destruction, just as a candle proves a never-
failing attraction to the moth.

The Great Sea-serpent.— Being in the country of the renowned
Bishop Pontoppidan, and in the fjords which are generally claimed
as the home, or, at any rate, as one of the habitations of tht sea-ser-
pent, whose existence seems yet to be a disputed point in England,
I lost no opportunity of making inquiries of all I could see as to the

Fishes, &c. 3229

general belief in the country regarding the animal in question: but all
(with one single exception), naval officers, sailors, boatmen and fish-
ermen, concurred in affirming most positively that such an animal did
exist, and had been repeatedly seen off their coasts and in their fjords,
though I was never fortunate enough to meet a man who could boast
of having seen him with his own eyes. All however agreed in unhe-
sitating belief as to his existence and frequent appearance, and all
seemed to marvel very much at the scepticism of the English, for re-
fusing credence to what to the minds of the Norwegians seemed so
incontrovertible. The single exception to which I have alluded was
a Norwegian officer, who ridiculed what he called the credulity or
gullibility of his countrymen ; though I am bound to add my belief,
that he did this, not from any decided opinion of his own, but to make
a show of superior shrewdness in the eyes of an Englishman, who, he
at once concluded, must undoubtedly disbelieve the existence of the
marine monster. That Englishman, however, certainly partakes of
the credulity of the Northmen, and cannot withhold his belief in the
existence of some huge inhabitant of those northern seas, when, to his
mind, the fact of his existence has been so clearly proved by numer-
ous eye-Witnesses, many of whom were too intelligent to be deceived,
and too honest to be doubted.

The Porpoise, (Phocena communis). The seas and fjords which
so bound and intersect Norway, seem full of strange monsters. On
all sides one may see porpoises rolling and gambolling and tumbling
over in the sea, and well are they denominated “ nise” by the Norwe-
gians, which word means originally “ hobgoblin;” for their antics are
strange indeed: and often have I watched with admiration the rol-
lickings of these unwieldy fellows, who find their way to the heads of
the fjords, sometimes a hundred miles from the open sea. Once when
steaming down the Fjord of Christiania, the ship seemed surrounded
by enormous monsters of this kind, but whether they were porpoises
or dolphins, or the smaller species of whale, I cannot say.

In the Christiania Fjord, too, the clear transparent water seemed
full of a species of jelly-fish, which, seen from the bow of the ship,
looked exactly like slices of lemon, but as the water dashed from the
keel disturbed them, shut up immediately like a hollow bag, and then
resembled hyacinth-bulbs in a glass of water, with their long roots
depending all around. ButI feel that I am getting out of my depth;
and indeed to describe the wonders of the fjord, into whose unfathom-
able depths, the intense clearness of the water enables one to gaze,—
to describe the inhabitants of those waters, the strange quaint uncouth-

3230 Correspondence of Mr. Bates.

looking fish which were exposed for sale in the fish-market at Chris-
tiania, such as | had never seen before, — to speak of these and other
rare curiosities of those inland seas, whose salt waters are frozen dur-
ing sO many months, would require the knowledge and the pen of a
Yarrell ; and so I close my account of the fish and fishing of Norway.

ALFRED CHARLES SMITH.

Old Park, Devizes, July 24, 1851.

(To be continued).

Extracts from the Correspondence of Mr. H. W. Bates, now forming
Entomological Collections in South America.

(Continued from page 3144).

Para, April 30, 1851.

I arrived in this city on the 19th instant, having left Ega on the
lst of March, a rapid passage down the current of the Amazons, being
now the season of full waters. Your letter of October 3, 1850, where-
in you acknowledge the receipt of my first Ega collection of two
boxes, I received at the ‘ Barra,’ coming down; and another of Janu-
ary 8, 1851, I received here. I am very glad to see that my collec-
tions have sold remarkably well, and feel very much the compliment
Mr. Hewitson has paid me, in naming the new Callithea after me. I
am convinced that I could not have done a great deal more in Ento-
mology at Ega, if I had staid there longer, although a few more new
Nymphalide might have turned up when the river falls again ; but a
good picking might be had in St. Paul’s, further up the river; and
there must be quite different ground higher up, within the Peruvian
frontier. None of the branch rivers are very practicable from the So-
limoens, none of them having white settlements, and all the Indian
savages being more or less enemies to white men. I hope you re-
ceived the fine collection I sent from Ega January 2nd, which went
from here in March. I have now about 1600, chiefly Coleoptera, ta-
ken since January at Ega, which [ could not possibly get ready to go
by the present vessel, although I worked hard the last two days, hav-
ing been all the other days since I landed very much delayed in get-
ting a house. However, there sails a vessel for London in about ten
days, the ‘ Princess Royal, by which I will send them. You will see
how few I took of Callithea Batesii; I have one more with me: it is

‘ Correspondence of Mr. Bates. 3231

very rare at Ega, and found chiefly round solitary houses in the forest;
it flies slowly, and settles upon the leaves of trees with wings closed.
Callithea Sapphira seems peculiar to Santarem; I have not taken it.
C. Laprieurii was common at Obydosin November, 1849. Besides the
Callithea, there must be many new species in the Nymphalidz and
Papilionide taken at Ega; I numbered 124 species of Diurnes taken
new to me, and now number 922 species taken by me in the province.

I wrote to you accompanying the January collection, saying I was
coming home. It was chiefly from a desire to please my father, who
wishes me to return; but after receiving your last letter, I have
thought more seriously about it, and shall consider the matter before
I leave Para. The Rio Negro is the only very practicable river-branch
of the Amazons, having many turns right away to Venezuela, and
pretty frequent conveyances ; the rest are all savage countries, the
best being the Tapajos from Santarem. I made inquiries at Santa-
rem coming down, and find there are no serious obstacles, either from
unhealthiness or ill-disposed Indians, on the Tapajos and white set-
tlements to 151 miles from Santarem. Between this and the sailing
of the ‘ Princess Royal’ I will consider it, as I am now all in confu-
Sion, with my new house, &c.; meantime I will see to preparing here
a few chests of botanical curiosities, young palms dried, curious fruits,
&c. There is also a good picking yet of insects here. A German,
whom I had taught at Carepe, has collected and sold to an American
merchant here about 4000 specimens of Coleoptera, amongst which
I see fifty-five species of Longicornes alone new to me; they are
however all falling to pieces by the Dermestes, from being kept in
open lath boxes. Mr. Hewitson will see in the last collection a short
series of the Heliconia-like Papilio; it is found at the edge of the
water in the lake of Ega, when the river is falling. I assure you I
took all I could of this, the Callithea, and other rarer Diurnes, when I
was there. I could have taken more of some species, of which you will
see full series; and perhaps, if I had known positively that the Calli-
thea, was a Batesiz, | might have made greater efforts to have taken
more. For this reason, you had better give me the names and num-
bers of all the species, common and rare, with advice to each, the
numbers according to my private specimens of each kind, as I can al-
ways recognize them by my note-book.

Carabidz are still very rare ; there are really very few in this region,
being all a dead flat from Para to Ega, the only hilly country is about
Monte Alegra and Santarem; the Amazonian valley there is much
narrower than further up. From the chain of mountains of Monte

3232 Birds.

Alegra to the hills behind Santarem, it is probably thirteen or fifteen
miles in direct width, but at Ega the valley is doubtless more than a
hundred miles broad. Up the Rio Negro you have six weeks’ voyage
before reaching the mountainous country; and up the Jurna to the
south, people go up two months, and find no particularly high land ;
it is one vast flat of unbroken, lofty, and entangled forest. There are
no Cetonie, except a few very rare Gymnetes ; very few Buprestide
and Cleride. You would see a fine series of Megacephalus Klugii,
and a few other species, in my last. I have now no more of them.

I will prepare some kind of descriptive articles for the ‘ Zoologist,’
and send in my next. My great objection is, that I cannot mention
any animal, or insect, or plant, under a name by which it will be re-
cognized ; but I have some interesting notes on hunting turtles, &c.

The yellow fever has now disappeared here. I am still in excel-
lent health, and ready for any kind of sport you could mention.

Henry W. Bates.

On the Habits and Instincts of Birds.—Birds are fond of building their nests near
the habitations of man, from a dread of vermin and birds of prey ; these last include
not only hawks, but many others not reckoned in that category. Partridges and phea-
sants constantly have their nests close to foot-paths and roads—even the railroads are
not exempt from their visits, they having been hatched within a fvot of the very rails.
The notes of alarm of birds are easily known; I hear the thrushes in my shrubberies
often give them, and am sure to find a cat, a hawk, or a stoat near. The same with
the little wren ; she is always ready to announce the approach of a stoat or any other
enemy: so does the wary blackbird. When hunting in large covers, I have frequently
been warned of the unkennelling of a fox long before the hounds challenged, by the
“ Skirr rick a dick dick” of the watchful magpie. I forgot to mention another anec-
dote of rooks. I lived many years at Clifton, near the far-famed St. Vincent’s Rocks.
There is a large rookery at Ashton Court, Somersetshire, “ as the crow flies” about a
mile and a half distant. A portion of these rooks have invariably gone out to feed on
the Gloucestershire side of the river for the last forty years, and still doso. I have no
doubt these rooks which cross the Avon, are descendants of some which formerly were
bred at Stoke (the Duke of Beaufort’s), in Gloucestershire, where there is another
rookery still. These rooks may be seen to this day, going and returning, mornings
and evenings, as regularly as possible. I remember a severe frost, when a sort of sleet
fell, and froze the wings of many birds so that they were taken alive with the hand.
White mentions this to have happened in 1768. At Jersey they seldom have any se-
vere frost; but about ten years ago a sharp frost came on, such as the oldest inhabi-
tant had never seen there. Several birds were frozen to death while at roost, and one
in particular was found inclosed in a sort of icicle, like a small lamp or cage, caused
by its breath previously to death ; it was quite stiff, and the twig of a tree surrounded
by what I have described. For a couple of days at this time the roads were impassa-
ble from frozen rain. A gentleman who saw this bird festooned in its icy cage, said

Birds. 3233

it was one of the most beautiful things he ever saw. My late worthy friend and neigh-

-bour, Mr. Knapp, author of the ‘ Journal of a Naturalist, was quite horrified at a price

being put by churchwardens on the heads of tomtits; but I can answer for the large
black-headed tomtit being a mischievous bird. When food gets scarce in November,
he commences gnawing at the entrance of the straw bee-hives, and the moment a bee
makes its appearance, flies off with it to the nearest tree and devours it piecemeal.
In cold weather the tomtit continues this practice from November until March: and
in Hampshire the common people have designated this bird the “‘ bee-eater.” I have
never observed the Parus major, or large tomtit, do this during the summer months ;
it is generally confined to three or four months in winter. It is beautiful to see the
wonderful instinct of birds in the preservation of their young; I have seen a partridge
decoy a dog four or five hundred yards from her brood, pretending all the while to be

_ disabled. One of your correspondents mentions that he saw a rook destroy some
_ young sparrows, it might have been a carrion crow. But gamekeepers of great ex-

perience have told me that in very dry seasons, like 1844, when there was little food
for the rooks, many of the young ones died from hunger; in that year, the rooks at-
tacked the nests of pheasants and destroyed the eggs, for want of moisture. — H. W.
Newman ; New House, Stroud, July 18, 1851.

Occurrence of the Jer Falcon at Mayfield, Sussex.—I have obtained an immature
specimen of this bird, shot at the above place during the severe month of January, in
1845.—J. B. Ellman ; Lewes, August 8, 1851.

Regularity in the Movements of the Barn Owl, (Strix flammea).—In the beginning
of July last year I was much interested in watching the flights of a common owl, which
flew across the lawn every evening. This owl was punctuality itself; when the clock
was at five-and-twenty minutes past 8, I used to go to the window, and was sure to
see him before two minutes were over. Not only was this bird remarkable for its
punctuality, but also for a most extraordinary regularity in its movements; I always
saw it first flying through two elms at the bottom of a field in front of the lawn, (I
suppose that it came down from the wood above) ; then it swept close to the ground
across the field, and rising into the air as it passed the corner of the lawn, after flying
over a small plantation, it again dropped, and skimmed beneath the apple-trees in an
orchard, when, having come to its journey’s end, it flew in at the window of a barn.
For nearly three weeks, night after night, these movements were repeated, the owl al-
ways flying through exactly the same trees, and falling at exactly the same places.—
A. M. Norman; E¢glesfield House, Yatton, Somerset.

Golden Oriole-—A specimen of the golden oriole (an adult female) was killed near

Bungay during the month of July.—J. H. Gurney ; Easton, Norfolk, August 4, 1851.

The Rose-coloured Pastor (Pastor roseus) in Suffolk.—A fine adult male specimen
of the rose-colonred pastor was killed at Lound, near Lowestoft, about a week since.—
Id. ; June 13, 1851.

The Rose-coloured Pastor in Devonshire. — A beautiful specimen of this rare Bri-
lish visitor was shot at Chudleigh on the 18th instant, and may now be seen by the
lovers of ornithology, at Mr. Truscott’s, Bird-stuffer, North Street, Exeter.

Occurrence of the Rose-coloured Pastor &c., at Berry Head, Devon. —I ought to
have made known to you before this, that I had a very beautiful female specimen of
the rose-coloured pastor brought to me to be preserved, which was shot at Berry-
head on the 12th of June last, by a servant of the Rev. Mr. Hogg: and about the
same time of the year in 1845, I also preserved a beautiful male specimen, shot near

rx, ; 2k

3234 Birds.

the same spot by Farnham Lyte, Esq., of Berry-head, Brixham. The latter bird I
saw a fortnight ago, looking as fresh and bright as ever, of a deep salmon-colour and
purple, with a magnificent crest. I do not know if this bird was recorded in your
*“Zoologist’ or not. The female I found to be full of eggs. It might not perhaps be
out of place to inform you that I have most seasons one, two, or three specimens of
the black redstart brought to me; these birds are found round the coast from Berry-
head to Teignmouth. I have had them from the former place, from Goodington Sands,
Babbicombe, Watcombe, and Teignmouth: and in your February number you will
find a pair mentioned as having been shot at Teignmouth, [? Lewes]. Within the
last twelve months I have had the common buzzard (common here), the hobby, the
female hen harrier, the great spotted woodpecker, the gray phalarope, the ringed or
bridled guillemot, the red-throated diver, the young of the black diver, and the young
of the Iceland gull.—#. Burt ; the Museum, Torquay, August 12, 1851.

Occurrence of the Crane at Pevensey, Sussex.—I have recently obtained a male spe-
cimen of this scarce bird, which was shot at the above place in May, 1849.— J. B.
Ellman ; Lewes, August 9, 1851.

Remarks on the Swan.—In your August number (Zool. 3208) is an article about
the common swan, and stating tho number of cygnets which it produces to be “ five,
and more generally from two to four.” I have at this time a brood of eight young
ones, which are now nearly as large as the old birds, and which I shall soon shut up,
and fatten for the autumn. The whole brood were frequently seen on the old mother’s
back, until they became too heavy for her to carry, and they had gained strength to
swim about without fatigue. Eight is by no means unusual for this stream (the Wan-
dle), and that number has frequently been bred on this property. In Beddington
Park, last year, there was a brood of twelve, all of which, I believe, came to maturity.
—Samuel Gurney, jun. ; Carshalton, August 4, 1851.

Remarks on the Egyptian Goose. —In your July number (Zool. 3175) I observe
some remarks on two Egyptian geese being shot in a wild state near Yarmouth, and
another on Derwent Lake. Is it not more probable that they were birds which had
bred in a state of domestication, and not having been pinioued, had flown away? My
reasons for suspecting this to be the case are, that when at Alnwick Castle in the spring,
I saw a pair of Egyptian geese, which I was told had flown away, and after being ab-
sent, I believe for two years, they had returned with a brood of young ones. Again;
I have a pair of them, which I have had for four or five years, and which have bred
every year. I only succeeded in bringing up one the first season, which was not pin-
ioned, and which took flight regularly every morning, not returning for two or three
hours, and it was eventually shot. ‘This year I have hatched eleven young ones, by
taking the first and second layings and putting them under a hen, when the female
laid again, and hatched seven young ones from as many eggs. The old ones are of a
most ferocious disposition, from the time of their nesting until the young ones are ta-
ken away ; so much so that my man declares he saw the male attack one of the old
swans, which he held by the neck, and would have killed if he had not separated them.
They are perfectly hardy, and require no particular care in rearing them. They are
not pleasant near a house, as their noise is very loud and continuous in the night, so
much so that my neighbours have had to complain to me more than once, and I now
keep them in a pond surrounded with wire netting.—Jd.

Occurrence of the Greater Shearwater (Puffinus cinereus) at Lynn. — An example
of this rare bird was caught on the 25th of July last by some of our fishermen, who

Birds.— Insects. 3235

found it asleep upon the water in the lower part of our river—the Ouse. They struck
it with an oar, and afterwards succeeded in taking it alive. A friend of mine bought
_ it, and kept it alive until the 30th, when it died from the effects of the blow with the
oar. He fed it upon fresh beef and small sprats, which it readily devoured. It slept
and rested during the day, but in the evening it became more active and lively. On
dissection it proved to be a male. It measured 17 inches in length: wing from an-
terior joint 12 inches, from tip to tip 3 feet 6 inches: whole length of the bill 2 inches,
from tip to the gape 24 inches, tubular portion 3 of an inch: tarsus 2 inches: middle
toe, including the claw, 23 inches: web extending to the extremity of the anterior
toes: the posterior toe rudimentary. Colour of the bill dark brown, under mandible
lighter at the base: irides dark brown: top of the head, neck and back dark clove-
brown, margins of the feathers on the back darker: throat light ash-gray, darkening
on the sides and softening into the brown of the head: scapulars brown, the margins
lighter ; tertiaries brown, the stems darker ; wing-coverts blackish brown ; primaries
blackish brown, the stems nearly black, inner web lighter than the outer: tail-feathers
dark brown: breast and belly dark ash-gray: legs brown, toes and membranes lighter.
In all probability this was a young bird of the last year’s hatch, in the plumage resem-
bling its maternal parent. Upon comparing this with the descriptions given by Yar-
rell of the two birds figured and described by him, it will appear that the difference of
plumage manifested by this example from that of Yarrell’s darker bird, is owing to the
progress it has made towards the assumption of its adult plumage.—Edwd. L. King ;
Lynn, August 18, 1851.

Note on the Gull-billed Tern. —I have lately seen a fine adult male specimen of
the gull-billed tern, in full summer plumage, which was killed at Yarmouth in the .
early part of July. The frequent occurrence of this species during the last two or
three years in the above locality, would seem to indicate that it is a commoner species
than has been supposed; probably it is often mistaken for its near congener, the
Sandwich tern. —J. H. Gurney ; Easton, Norfolk, August 4, 1851.

Occurrence of the Caspian Tern at Yarmouth.—A fine adult male specimen of the
- Caspian tern, in full summer plumage, was shot at Yarmouth about a week since —
Id.; August 21, 1851.

The Museum Catalogue of British Lepidoptera.—I do not think I can possibly al-
low Mr. Stephens’ remarks upon my article on the Museum Catalogue (Zool. 3161)
to pass quite unnoticed, although I have no wish to say any more on the subject. My
sole object was to show that the sections into which Hubner has divided the Lepido-
ptera in the ‘ Verzeichniss, could not be adopted as genera. To this work, and to
this only, I referred; and I still adhere to the opinion that these sections, founded
only upon colour and markings, are not genera at all. In several instances a variety
is placed in a different coitus from the typical insect. The well-known Papilio Turnus
of North America is placed in coitus Jasoniades, along with Machaon, Xuthus, &c.;
while the suffused variety of the female (Glaucus of Linneus) is associated with Troi-
lus, Asterias, &c., in coitus Euphocades. That in some few instances the species pla-
ced in a coitus by Hubner form a natural genus, I fully admit; but this has arisen
from these species closely resembling each other in colour and markings, and hada
Bombyx been found resembling a Noctua in these respects, it would doubtless have

3236 Insects.

been associated with it: in fact, Hubner has done this, as I have previously stated,—
Coryli, a genuine Bombyx, and Scoriacea, a Noctua, forming his coitus Colocasia.
Some parts of Mr. Stephens’ communication I do not understand, and therefore can-
not reply to them. The allusion to the genus Nonagria appears to me to prove nothing
more than that Haworth and others did not know genuine Noctue from Tortrices and
Tinee ; and however widely the species have been separated by authors, it is clear —
that Mr. Stephens coincides in my views, as he has followed me with the exception of
subdividing my genus Nonagria into two or three others. In the ‘ Illustrations, flam-
mea and Ulve were placed among the Tine, but in the Museum Catalogue they are
removed, and very properly, to the family Nonagridi, being true Noctue. I admit
that the genus Chersotis is not a very natural one; but I think that Agathina is far
more closely allied to Porphyrea than it is to umbrosa, with which it is associated by
Mr. Stephens, and which it resembles in nothing, either in the larva or perfect state.
With regard to Maura and Typica, I may say that if there is any madness in the case
it must be in placing the former in the family Catocalidi, with which, as Boisduval
justly remarks, it has nothing in common, excepting the large size of the perfect in-
sect, and the mealy appearance of the pupa. The larve of the Catocale are very
much elongated, flattened, attenuated at each extremity, and fringed laterally with
hairs; they conceal themselves during the day in crevices of the bark of the trees upon
which they feed. The larva of Maura, on the contrary, is short, fleshy, and incras-
sated posteriorly, closely resembling that of typica, concealing itself underground in
the day-time, and feeding at night upon low-growing plants, forming a cocoon on the
surface of the earth when about to assume the pupa state. If Maura is associated
with any species it must be with typica, to which it is more nearly allied than to any
other European species. Mr. Stephens having mentioned the genera above alluded
to, as a proof that many of those in my list are no better than Hiibner’s, I felt com-
pelled to say a few words in my own defence. I will not enter into the charges against
my friend Guenée, further than to say that he expressed his regret at having been
unable to obtain a sight of Haworth’s ‘ Lepidoptera Britannica’ previously to the pub-
lication of his Catalogue, as he would have been glad to have quoted it for every one
of the species. I have since procured him a copy, and also sent him Mr. Stephens’
fourth volume, one great defect of which is the impossibility of knowing which of the
descriptions are original and which are taken from other authors; in several instances
the borrowed descriptions not applying to the insect intended by Mr. Stephens. In
conclusion, I may say that I am confident that neither M. Guenée nor any of the
French naturalists have ever intentionally slighted what has been done in Britain ;
and I am sure I have ever received the greatest attention and kindness from them.—
Henry Doubleday ; Epping, August 6, 1851.

Note on the Scarcity of Insects——I can most fully confirm the observations of Mr.
H. W. Newman on the scarcity of queen wasps this year, (Zool. 3185). Up to the
time of his writing the note which appeared in the ‘ Zoologist’ for August, and indeed
until a month ago, I had hardly seen a wasp, and consequently expected that we
should have but very few; they are now, however, on the eontrary, very numerous,
devouring all our wall-fruit, and filling the rooms directly the windows are opened.
It is a curious fact, that occasionally when queen wasps have been unusually numer-
ous in the spring, and there is every reason to expect a great abundance of wasps,
there are nevertheless very few in the autumn; while in other years, as is the case
now, after having had apparently a great paucity of queens, wasps are very numerous.

Insects. - 3237

There has been a most remarkable scarcity of all insects here this year ; and where I
used to find thousands last year, now hardly one is to be seen.— A. M. Norman ;
: Eglesfield House, Yatton, Somerset.

Note on the Larve of Limenitis Sibylla and Camilla.—I have with much pleasure
read the description of the larva of Limenitis Sibylla by Mr. John Hunter, in the Au-
gust number, (Zool. 3185). Having frequently found this larva in Switzerland, as
well as the imago, and that of the closely-allied L. Camilla, I subjoin the description
of these two larve, for the confirmation of Mr. Hunter’s description of that of Sibylla,
and thinking he might like to compare the descriptions of the two larve. L. Camilla
is, in Switzerland, by far the commonest insect of the two, and generally frequents
gardens; whilst L. Sibylla confines itself to open places in woods and forests. The fol-
lowing description of L. Sibylla was made from larve found in the forest of Sauvabelin,
Lausanne, on the 26th of May, 1844, feeding on Lonicera Periclymenum; it will also
eat the leaves of Lonicera Caprifolium. It crawls by jerks, and is rather lazy and slow
in its movements. Caterpillar bright green, covered with very small pale tuberculous
spots, and two dorsal rows of brownish pink branched spines of unequal lengths, two
on each segment, excepting the first and last, which have none: the largest are those
of the second, third and fifth segments ; the next in size those of the tenth and ele-
venth; and the smallest are those from the sixth to the ninth segments: the fourth
segment has but two very small greenish spines. A pale yellowish white lateral line
extends over the nine last segments, on which is placed, on each segment, a very small,
pale, and semi-transparent branched spine, and between these and the dorsal spines
are, on either side, a series of minute pale spines: there is also a small, pale, semi-
transparent spine on either side of the second segment; also a brownish pink broad
line over the prolegs, immediately beneath the lateral line. Stigmata just above the
lateral line, and pale yellowish white, narrowly bordered by brownish pink. Head,
light pinkish lilach, with a deep brownish piuk streak on either side, and covered with
short spines. Thoracic legs pale flesh-colour, with the base gray. Prolegs pale yel-
lowish and shining. Abdomen pale bluish green, with a pale ventral line. Limeni-
tis Camilla.—Description made from larve found at Cour sous Lausanne, on the 14th
of June, 1845, feeding on Lonicera Xylosteum, but will also eat Lonicera Caprifolium
and Periclymenum: habits as in the last species. Caterpillar thick and gibbous, with
two rows of fleshy protuberances of a lilach colour, covered with small, stiff, yellowish
hairs down the back, and two lateral rows of minute, fleshy, branched spines, of a pale
yellowish colour: the two dorsal protuberances of the fifth segment are the largest.
Ground colour livid green, inclining to yellowish on the sides, with a broad and pale
yellow undefined lateral line on the eight posterior segments, and faint traces of pale
oblique streaks along the sides. The seventh and eighth segments are a little tinged
with lilach along the back. Abdomen pale lilach. Head bifid, of a light brown co-
lour, with two black lines, forming a triangle towards the mandibles. Thoracic legs
flesh-colour. Prolegs buff-colour. Stigmata pale brown, bordered by dark brown.—
H. L. de la Chaumette; Church-street, Stoke Newington, July 31, 1851.

Erratum.—Zool. page 3159, line 28, for Deilephila Elpenor, read D. Euphorbie.

3238 Entomological Society.

Proceedings of the Entomological Society.

August 4, 1851.—J. O. WEstwoop, Esq., President, in the chair.
Herr Herrich-Scheffer and Count Mniszeck were present as visitors.

The following donations were announced, and thanks ordered to be given to the |

donors thereof: —‘ The Zoologist’ for August; by the Editor. ‘ Entomologische Zei-

tung’ for June; by the Entomological Society of Stettin. ‘Isis, 1848, Heft xi’; by —

Herr Koch. Lieut. Maury’s ‘ Investigations of the Winds and Currents of the Sea,’
(from the Appendix to the ‘Washington Astronomical Observations for 1846’), with a

map: Washington, 1851; by the Author. ‘ Monographia Cassididarum,’ tom. 1., i

auctore C. H. Boheman; by the Author. ‘Verslag van de Zesde Algemeene Verda-
gering der Nederlansche Entomologische Vereeniging ;’ by the Netherlands Entomo-
logical Society. ‘ Transactions of the Microscopical Society, vol.iii.parts 1 and 2; by
the Society. ‘Additamenta ad Faunam Carcinocologicam Africe Occidentalis, scrip-
sit J. A. Herklots ;’ by the Author. A box of Brazilian Hemiptera; by M. de Gand.
Specimens of Apamea ophiogramma and Gelechia velocella; by Mr. F. Grant. Two
living specimens of Chrysomela cerealis from Llanberris ; by Mr. Foxcroft. A nest
of the spider, Theridion variegatum (T. callens, Blackwell) ; by Mr. Meade.

Mr. J. F. Stephens exhibited a series of varieties of Abraxas Grossulariata, caught
by himself; some of the specimens being remarkable for variation in the form of the
wings as well as the colours.

Mr. Bond exhibited a specimen of Saturnia Carpini, reared by Mr. Barlow, of
Cambridge, in which the usual ocellus on the upper wings was replaced by a yellow
dash; and the President observed that at least one of the veins was deficient.

He also exhibited some very remarkable varieties of Harpalyce suffumata, Cidaria
fluctuata, C. montanata, Boarmia rhomboidaria, and Spilosoma Menthrasti, all taken
near Leeds.

Mr. Bedell exhibited the following Micro-Lepidoptera, all taken near Mickleham
on the 27th of July : — Pempelia ornatella, Depressaria rotundella and D. Douglas-
ella, Gelechia neuroptella, Pterophorus baliodactylus and P. didactylus.

Mr. 8. Stevens exhibited some splendid Coleoptera and Lepidoptera, received from
Messrs. Wallace and Bates, and collected by them at Ega and Guia, on the Amazon.
Among the Lepidoptera were several novelties, and a female of the butterfly of which
Mr. Hewitson had lately described the male in this Society's ‘ Transactions,’ under
the name of Papilio Bolivar. Mr. Stevens also exhibited some fine Buprestide from
Swan River.

The President exhibited a living specimen of Cerambyx Heros, forwarded to him
from Pembroke dock-yard by Sir T. Pasley; Phibalocera quercana, reared from larve
living under a silken web on leaves of pear-trees, to which they had done much da-
mage; Plutella Cruciferarum, reared from leaves of turnips, on which in many coun-
ties they had appeared in immense numbers, and caused great devastation ; turnip-
leaves, containing living larve, probably of the last-mentioned species, and others
which had been forwarded to him, accompanied by specimens of Crambus culmellus,
which were said to have caused the damage to the turnip-plants, but which was not
probable; Melizethes eneus, seen eating pollen of roses ; Balaninus Brassica, found
gnawing the petals of roses; a monstrous claw of Astacus fluviatilis, with two horus
instead of one; a nest of Chelostoma florisomne, with three cells, in a straw; anda
species of Astyages from asparagus. He also distributed a number of Coleophora
Hemerobiella and C. nigricella, reared from leaves of pear-trees.

— Entomological Society. 3239

Mr. Moore exhibited some Lepidoptera from Hastings, among which were Spha-
leroptera longana, Haw., and Bryophila glandifera.

_ Mr. Smith exhibited two specimens of the rare Ctenicerus castaneus, captured by
the Rey. C. Kuper, in Monmouthshire.

Mr. Smith also exhibited a great number of Hymenoptera, which he had recently
captured in the Isle of Wight ; among them the following were the most remarkable.
Mutilla Ephippium (male and female), Larra unicolor, Philanthus triangulum (hi-
therto exceedingly rare, but of which he took between 200 and 300), Andrena nigri-
ceps (Kirby), Panurgus calcaratus, Nomada varia (Kirby), Ccelioxys vectis (Curtis),
Megachile maritima, the very raro Osmia xanthomelana, an immense number of Fe-
nus assectator, and one specimen of a Dasypoda, probably a new species.

Mr. Smith stated that from the stem of dock exhibited by Mr. Douglas at the
March meeting, containing larve then supposed to belong to Cemonus or Pemphre-
don, he had reared three specimens of Hyleus, of which two (males) were H. planta-
ris, Smith (Trans. Ent. Soc. iv. 32), and one (female) was H. cornuta, Kirby, MSS.
(Smith, 1. c.); thus leaving no doubt that these were but sexes of one species.

Mr. S. Stevens exhibited a quantity of insects, of all orders, part of a great mass
he had brought from below Gravesend on the preceding day, when from 7 to 8, p. M.,
there were myriads on the grass, although at 5 o’clock scarcely any were visible.
Among them he had already discovered a number of a species of Haltica new to him.

Mr. Waring exhibited two specimens of Plusia orichalcea, recently taken by Mr.
Harding near Folkstone.

Mr. Augustus Sheppard exhibited specimens of Tortrix transitana from Fulham,
T. cinnamomeana and Dichelia Grotiana from Weybridge, and two strongly-marked
Demas Coryli, reared from larve.

Mr. Meade exhibited some cocoons of a Coccus found in May, from which a num-
ber of very minute insects, all alike, had escaped, and a sketch of which he exhibited.

The President said he thought the holes visible in the cocoons were not made by
the Cocci, but by a parasite thereon, — Coccophagus; and he believed he perceived
some of them among the Cocci.

_ Mr. Stainton exhibited the new species of Lithocolletis, recently described in the
‘Entomologische Zeitung’ by Herr Nicelli, under the name of L. Coryli; also the
larve and pupz in leaves of hazel.

Mr. Douglas exhibited Gelechia Walkeriella, from Dartford Heath; Peronea as-
persana, with its pupa-skin, and Sericoris conchana, both reared from larve which fed
on the leaves of Spirea Filipendula; and a species of Coleophora, apparently unde-
scribed, for which, if such should prove to be the case, he proposed the name of Inule,
the larva having fed on leaves of Inula dysenterica.

The President read the following extracts from a letter he had received from I. P.
Kirtland, Esq., M.D., Cleveland, Ohio, dated July 15, 1851 : —

“Tn the ‘ Arcana Entomologica’ it is stated, on the authority of Mr. Doubleday,
that ‘ Papilio Ajax is found chiefly in the lower country of the Southern States, east
of the Alleghanies ; its range is, I believe, from Virginia to Florida.’ But this spe-
cies has a more extensive range. At my residence on the south shore of Lake Erie,
five miles west of Cleveland, it is not uncommon, and I have found it still more abun-
dant at Columbus, near the centre of the State of Ohio. With us the larva feeds upon
the foliage of the Anona triloba. This insect, in its various stages of metamorphosis
is correctly figured in Leconte’s Boisduval’s ‘ History of Lepidoptera.’

3240 Society of British Entomologists.

“The P. Marcellus is still more common in the same northern localities, and feeds —

upon the same shrub. It is also well figured in the work to which I have referred,
The pupa-case is occasionally of a pea-green colour, and remains unchanged during
the winter. In their perfect state these two species are readily recognized by their
peculiar modes of flight, as well as difference in size and markings.

“P. Asterias in the larva state feeds on all species of Umbellifere, not excepting —

Cicuta virosa, the most virulent of our vegetable poisons.

“ P. Philenor, in the same state, eonfines itself to the several species of Aristolo- :
chia; A. Serpentaria, in this vicinity, constituting its principal food. It is badly co- —
loured in Say’s ‘ American Entomology;’ in Boisduval it is better, but far short of the —

original while living.

“You will perhaps be surprised to learn thut P. Cresphorites, Herbst., described —

and figured as P. Thoas in Leconte’s Boisduval, has found its way as far north as my —

locality. In the August of last year I captured four beautiful specimens in my lawn.
The present season two have already been seen here, and I have received one from the
Scioto valley near Columbus. At the south it feeds on the orange trees; what its food

is here I have not yet discovered. Ido not think it has visited this section of the —

country till very recently.
* Among the most rare species which I have nei are Vanessa Milberti, Melitea
Phaeton, Xanthidia Nicippe, and Limenitis Arthemis.

‘It may interest you to learn the fact that three species of your English butterflies —

have become naturalized in this vicinity; viz., Vanessa Antiopa, V. Atalanta, and —

Lycena Phileas. All are now abundant. It is perhaps doubtful whether the last is
specifically identical.”

The President announced that Herr Herrich-Scheffer, having come into posses-_
sion of the works of Hubner and Panzer, would dispose of copies, including the con- —

tinuations, at greatly reduced prices ; and that he would receive in exchange English —

entomological books and English and Foreign Lepidoptera. Also that he had for sale
or exchange small colleetions of European Lepidoptera. He intended to terminate,
during the ensuing winter, his works on the Lepidoptera of Europe ; and for illustra-
tion therein, he begged the loan of new species, especially of extraordinary genera of
Nocturnes ; and promised to return them in good condition as soon as possible, and
free of expense.

A MS. list of a collection of Lepidoptera and books for sale by Herr Koch, of Frank-

fort, was on the table—J. W. D.

Proceedings of the Society of British Entomologists.

August 5, 1851.—At this meeting the following insects, among many others, were
exhibited : —

Heliothis Dipsacea, Plusia orichalcea, Lozopera alternana, Cnephasia conspersana
and Pterephorus monodactylus, all taken on the Kentish coast, near Dover. Xantho-

setia Inopiana and Emmelesia heparata, taken at Darenth. Plinthus caliginosus, _

near Dover.—J. 7’. Norman.

——————o— EE ee eee

Insects. 3241

Note on the Sphinx Convolvuli.—About noon on Saturday, the 19th of July last,
a Sphinx Convolvuli was given tome. It had just emerged from the chrysalis. For
a few minutes it was very uneasy, until it had found a situation where it could hang
vertically ; and having attained that position it remained still. The wings, when first
caught, were very short and rudimentary, measuring about three quarters of an inch ;
they exhibited no appearance of being folded, thick, or bulky. After it had been sus-
pended for about half an hour, the wings had increased to the surprizing size of
about an inch and a half in length, and in width proportionally. They appeared then
flimsy and uneven or puckered, their plane making with the plane of the body, that
is, with the upper surface of it, an angle of about 30°. From the markings near the
scapular joints and costal regions, it would appear that a considerable growing action
had taken place in those parts, for they had become considerably altered. About two
hours afterwards the wings became more firm and rigid, and had taken their proper
position. The body had become much less in size, that is the abdominal portion. It
remained very still throughout the day, until about half past eight o’clock, when it be-
gan to make use of its newly acquired organs ; this habit it practised daily, during the
short period I kept it alive. The mysterious rapidity with which the wings of this
insect became developed, forms a wonderful and interesting passage in its history.—
Edwd. L. King ; Lynn, August 18, 1851.

Descriptions of Larve of Sphingide, with Occasional Notes on some of the Rarer
European Species —Deilephila Tithymali, D. Zygophylli, D. Epilobii and D. Vesper-
tilioides, are all very scarce; I have only seen two of them as yet. D. Vespertilio I
have never reared from the larva. There now remains one more of the Deilephile
for me to describe, and that is D. Hippophaés. — Caterpillar elongated. Head glo-
bular and small. Horn small. The ground colour is dull glaucous sea-green, or
_ grayish green, and covered with small round white spots, narrowly encircled with
olive-green ; a broad milk-white lateral line, along the upper edge of which are the
stigmata; two longitudinal pale whitish yellow lines down the back, marked near each
incision by a pale yellow spot, and terminating with the 10th segment at two long,
oval-shaped patches, which join the base of the horn, the colour of these patches is
light yellow-ochre, slightly bordered by brown. Horn slightly granulated, black above
and light yellow-ochre beneath ; a rather darker dorsal line. Stigmata yellow-ochre,
bordered by dark brown. Abdomen very pale greenish white, and not spotted as the
body. Thoracic legs very pale yellowish white, with the tip brown. Prolegs pale
greenish white, and spotted as the rest of the body. Head and escutcheon pale gray-
ish green; the two last segments not so much spotted as the others. Found near La-
vey, in Switzerland, July 8, 1844, upon Hippophaé rhamnoides. Having now gone
through the larve of the genus Deilephila, the next genus is Sphinx. To this belong
the three species S. Pinastri, S. Ligustri, and S. Convolvuli ; all of which I shall now
describe. Sphinx Pinastri.—Caterpillar smooth and elongated. Anal horn slightly
curved. Head round. Ground colour fine sap-green, wrinkled transversely with dark
brown ; a very broad pinkish gray dorsal line, somewhat dilated towards the posterior
part of each segment, bordered by an interrupted whitish line, on either side of which
is another whitish and rather interrupted Jongitudinal line ; also an interrupted, pale
yellow, lateral line, just below the stigmata, between which and the longitudinal
whitish line above mentioned, is another irregular and macular ill-defined line. Ab-
domen green, wrinkled with black, and a patch of dull pinkish yellow in the middle
of each segment ; the stigmata orange-red, bordered by black. Head pale yellowish

Tx. 2 Ek

3242 Insects.

brown, with two short and thick black dashes above, and streaked on the sides with
brown, more or less dark. Mandibles shining brown. Horn black, and slightly gra-
nulated. Thoracic legs very pale straw-colour, and slightly tipped with light brown.
Prolegs dull pinkish yellow, with two gray patches on each. Escutcheon dark shin-
ing brown, traversed by the four dorsal and longitudinal lines, which appear of a pale
buff colour. Found in August and September on Abies excelsa and Pinus sylvestris.
Sphinx Ligustri.—Caterpillar elongated, smooth, of a brightly transparent green co-
lour; seven oblique stripes on either side, from the 4th to the 10th segment, of which
the anterior half is of a fine lilach, and the posterior half pure white, at the lower ex-
tremity of each of which is a succession of four or five small white spots. Horn light
amber or grayish yellow, with a brown streak above, and slightly tipped with the same
colour; sometimes it is of a light amber colour, with a deep black streak above, ex-
tending to the top, and having below a similar streak meeting it at the tip, but nar-
rower. Stigmata pale orange. Head green, with a broad stripe on either side thereof,
generally of a dark brown colour, but sometimes pale brown. Mandibles brown. Tho-
racic legs very pale flesh-colour, tipped with brown or black, and sometimes ringed
with the same colour. Prolegs green, tipped with gray, and a small violet patch on
each. Abdomen green. When in a state of repose, the larva generally contracts the
three anterior segments and draws in its head, and at the same time they are raised
in a singular position ; the thoracic legs are then drawn together under the head. In
the months of July, August and September, on Ligustrum vulgare, Syringa Persica,
S. vulgaris, Viburnum Opulus and V. Opulus rosewm. Sphinx Convolvuli. — Cater-
pillar elongated. Head round. Anal horn curved backwards. Body wrinkled trans-
versely. Colour extremely variable. Thoracic legs shining black. Stigmata black,
with the interior orange-red, (lined with orange-red). The head has generally six
broad, black, transversal stripes, three on either side, of which four only are generally
visible, the other two are only to be seen when the head is stretched out; and two
other black lines in the middle, meeting above so as to form a triangle. Mandibles
black. Palpi whitish. The colour of the abdomen and membranous legs varies ac-
cording to that of the body. The horn, in the dark individuals, is black and shining,
but in the green ones it is generally reddish brown striped with black. Escutcheon
smal], and shining brown or green. In the colourand markings they vary very much,
some are green, others gray, brown, &c. Some with oblique lateral stripes, others with
longitudinal series of spots or patches, &c. Found during the months of July and
August and beginning of September, on bindweeds, as Convolvulus sepium and arven-
sis. Dusky varieties. — Dark olive-brown, more or less speckled with buff; a broad
milk-white lateral line streaked with brown; two series of brownish yellow spots down
the back, and two brownish yellow stripes on the anterior segment, in a line with them,
more or less spotted with brownish yellow down the middle of the back. Green varie-
ties.—These are generally of a light yellowish green ground colour, some however are
of a dark green. Generally with two series of black spots down the back, varying in
size in different individuals ; sometimes almost obsolete, sometimes joining one ano-
ther, and thus forming two lines down the back, which sometimes are so broad as to
join one another, then forming a very broad dorsal line; there are nearly always seven
oblique pale yellowish green stripes on either side, and sometimes one or two lateral
rows of black spots, more or less distinct. Sometimes the oblique lateral stripes are
more or less bordered by black. To the genus Acherontia belongs alone the well-
known A. Atropos. The caterpillar is so well known in Europe that I scarcely need

Insects. 3243

describe it, but as I have gone through all the Sphingidz, I subjoin it also. I may
mention that the dark variety of this caterpillar feeds on Jasminum officinale, whereas
the green or common variety of the caterpillar is invariably found on Solanum tubero-
sum. Acherontia Atropos.— Caterpillar smooth, elongated and subcylindrical. The
three anterior segments are of a fine green, dark green, yellow and yellowish green ;
rather variable and transversely wrinkled: the ground colour of the nine posterior
segments varies from yellow to dark green, with seven oblique stripes on either side,
meeting along the middle of the back, the last of which join at the base of the horn ;
the oblique stripes are half blue inclining to purple, and the posterior half yellow or
yellowish white ; the whole of the back between the oblique stripes is spotted with
black or dark purple. Horn yellow, granulated, directed backwards, and with the tip
thereof curved forwards. Stigmata black, bordered by white. Head green or yellow-
ish green, with a broad black stripe on either side. Mandibles black. Thoracic legs
shining black, spotted with light gray. Prolegs green, tipped with brown. Abdomen
greenish yellow. Found during the months of August, September and October, upon
the common potato, (Solanum tuberosum). When young, the colours are more vivid
and the stripes &c. more distinctly marked. The horn is very long in proportion to
the general size. The whole of the body, the thoracic legs &c., are covered with small
whitish tubercular spots or asperities, those of the three anterior segments being much
longer than the rest. Head green, with a pale stripe on either side. Thoracic legs
pale brown and granulated ; the rest remaining as before mentioned. Dark varieties.
—These differ from the green ones as follows: —The anterior segments are of a pink-
ish white colour, with a broad black dorsal line, dilated in its middle, and with the
‘sides more or less speckled with dark brown ; the ground colour of the nine posterior
segments is of a yellowish brown colour, with seven oblique dusky stripes meeting
along the back, the last of which join at the base of the horn. The back is more or
less spotted and speckled with dark brown; the whole body is covered with small whit-
ish tuberculous spots or asperities. The horn is of a pale yellowish brown colour.
Head pinkish white, and having directly over it, at the anterior part of the first seg-
ment, a broad transversal band of light brown. Prolegs dark brown, tipped with black.
Abdomen paler than the body. Found in September, 1845, near Cour sous Lausanne.
The last genus belonging to the Sphingide is the genus Smerinthus, which contains
five species; two of which, S. Tremule and S. Quercitis, are scarce, and unknown to
me in the larva state. I subjoin here the descriptions I have made of the three others.
Smerinthus Tiliz.—Caterpillar attenuated anteriorly. Head triangular. Horn curved.
Body covered with minute tuberculous spots. Ground colour pale bluish green, spec-
kled with minute yellowish tuberculous spots. A lateral series of seven oblique streaks
of a pale yellowish white colour, darker on the side next the head, and of which the
last terminates at the horn. Horn covered with minute, pale, tuberculous dots, with
the base of a fine blue above and pinkish beneath, tipped with green, and then again
with dark brown. Behind the horn is a patch of yellowish orange, bordered by yel-
low. Head triangular, spotted with small yellow spots, green, with two. yellow lines
meeting at the top. Stigmata pale flesh-colour, surrounded by purplish brown. Tho-
racic legs pale flesh-colour. Prolegs of the same colour as the body, tipped with light
brown. Abdomen pale green. Found in July and August, on Tilia platyphylla and
T. microphylla. Smerinthus ocellata.—Caterpillar rather attenuated anteriorly. Head
triangular. Horn curved. Body covered with minute tuberculous spots. Ground co-
lour fine green, generally with a rather bluish tinge, speckled with pale yellowish

3244 Insects.

minute tuberculous spots. Two longitudinal lines of pale yellowish white, extend-
ing over the three anterior segments. A lateral series of seven oblique stripes of pale _
yellowish white, bordered on the side next the head by green, of which the last ter-
minates at the horn. Horn covered with minute, pale, tuberculous spots, of alight —
blue above and greenish beneath, and sometimes tipped with dark olive-green. The —
head triangular, speckled with pale yellowish spots, green or glaucous green, with two
oblique yellow lines, meeting at the top. Stigmata very pale flesh-colour, bordered
by deep purplish crimson. Thoracic legs pale flesh-colour, slightly tipped with red-
dish brown. Prolegs same colour as the body, tipped with brownish violet. Abdomen
green. On poplars, willows and fruit-trees. Smerinthus Populi.—Caterpillar slightly
attenuated anteriorly. Head triangular. Horn small and but slightly curved. Bo-
dy covered with minute, pale, tuberculous spots. Ground éolour bright yellowish
green, or green, speckled with pale yellowish ; seven oblique yellowish lines on either
side (rather narrow), of which the last terminates at the base of the horn; also faint
traces of two pale yellow longitudinal lines on the three first segments; there are also
faint traces of sinuous pale yellowish and indistinct lines on either side, just above the
legs. Horn yellowish green, tinged with bluish above. Head green and shagreened,
with two oblique bright yellow lines, nearly meeting at the apex. Thoracic legs pale
flesh-colour, tinged with pink. Prolegs the same green as the rest of the body, with a
patch of bright yellow on each, marked with an orange-red dash, excepting the anal
pair, which are bordered by a yellow line, as well as the sides of the anus. Stigmata
orange-red or light scarlet, very oblong, and with a yellow streak in the centre. Ab-
domen pale green, with a rather indistinct whitish ventral line. This bears a great
resemblance to the caterpillar of Smerinthus ocellata in some respects. Mandibles a
deep red brown. Feeds on poplars and willows. September 1st, 1844, at Cour sous
Lausanne.—H. L. de la Chaumette ; Church Street, Sioke Newington, August 22, 1851.

Notice respecting Gastropacha Ilicifolia.—“ It never rains but it pours,’ is a
common adage, sometimes as applicable to entomology as to meteorology. The ink
recording the discovery of the above-named insect was scarcely dry, ere it was an-
nounced to me, not that a specimen had been caught, but that two larve had been
found, a few miles from Sheffield, by Mr. Wm. Green, one of which underwent its
change, and produced the imago on the 20th of April last. I have not seen either of
the specimens, having unfortunately been prevented by severe illness from attending
the meeting of the Entomological Society on the evening that Mr. Atkinson’s speci-
men was exhibited, and Mr. Green, an intelligent member of the Sheffield Entomo-
logical Society, not having brought his to London; but he called here on Wednesday
evening last, and requested me to show him my “ lappet” moths — the small one in
particular. I told him I possessed but one indigenous species, but that I had conti-
nental specimens of some reputed ones, which I would show him, and instantly upon
seeing them he pronounced his to be Llicifolia; therefore I venture on his assertion,
and subsequent information respecting the larve, to record its second capture in this
country.—J. F’. Stephens; Eltham Cottage, Foxley Road, Kennington, August 13, 1851.

Capture of Hypenodes humidalis.—This is indeed a very common insect here, and
it only surprises me how it has been so long overlooked. From the middle of July up |
to this date, it might be seen any fine evening between the hours of 6 and 8, flying on
most of our swamps in great plenty. ‘To give you an idea of its numbers, I may state |
that I took forty specimens in less than one hour, and might have taken as many do-
zens, could I have boxed them fast enough. On one occasion I took nine specimens

Insects. 3245

without moving from the spot where I stood. I am quite convinced that upon one
swamp here, as many might be taken as would fill the void of all the cabinets in Eng-
land. To give anything of its habits seems quite unnecessary, as it has been so well
described before. Suffice it to say that its mode of flight is that of a true Crambus;
its capture is the most easy imaginable, seldom rising from the bottom of the net, and
when boxed, seems quite content in its new situation.—John Harrison, jun.; Keswick,
Cumberland, August 8, 1851.

Notes on various Microlepidoptera.—I have not seen it mentioned that the larva of
Tinea cloacella is insectivorous; yet I had two or three small moths eaten out of the
setting-board by it some time since, and I fed it in a glass with similar diet, until it
changed to the pupa. Depressaria Hypericella, (Sta. Cat.) — I have again bred this,
and freely, from the little, black, agile larve found in the tops of Hypericum perfora-
_ tum, about the 4th of June, changing to pupe about the 20th, and developing on the
6th of July. But, though the plant is plentiful here in the limestone district, yet the
spot whence I obtain my supply is single; it forms about half an acre of open ground
in the centre of a gorse-cover, under a grove of ash-trees: on searching the plant in
other localities, I did not obtain half a dozen larve. It is certainly the most elegant
species we have, I think, and its fine crest gives it a great pre-eminence. In one of
my specimens the usual luteous costal and discoidal marks are of a beautiful rose-co-
lour. It is very easily bred ; but not so Depressaria Angelicella, which I have also
reared, but more sparingly, owing partly to its absolute scarcity, and partly to the ten-
derness of the larve, of which several died without changing to pupa. The larve of
the latter insect I take on the top leaves of Angelica sylvestris (a common plant in our
damp woods and lanes), which it clusters together, about the same time as Hyperi-
cella, and taking the same periods in its changes. D. pallorella, tog, I have reared (a
solitary specimen) from the same plant; at least it came out with the Angelicelle, in
the same breeding-glass. I was grievously disappointed about Xanthosetia inopidna,
having taken a great number of larve from the tops of Inula Dysenterica, at Midsum-
mer, but all of these produced that common pest, Ebulea crocealis. In the first week
of July, however, I fortunately met with the “real thing,” but in the imago state, and
almost invariably worn. I attribute this to the fact which I noticed, that they show
themselves from cracks in the earth a little before sunset, and where they must be ex-
posed occasionally to abrasion from particles of loose earth. This circumstance, too,
induces me to doubt whether the larve may not feed on the roots instead of the leaves
of the Inula: I shall try to ascertain this next year. I am sure it has some connexion
_ with the Inula, for wherever I find the plant I can, almost certainly, reckon on taking
the insect. It puzzles me to think why this moth should have been hitherto consi-
dered scarce, as here it is decidedly common ; that is, in damp spots, where the Inula
abounds. I could have taken fifty any evening in the beginning of July, and, even
now, I find lots of worn specimens. Tortrix spectrana.—This I have bred freely from
larve taken at Midsummer on the tops of Epilobium hirsutum, in an obsolete fish-
pond, where Carex paludosa grows abundantly. I searched the same plant in the ad-
joining brovks, and other localities, however, without finding a single larva. The
larve are rich brown and very active ; they draw together the leaves and form a slight
web in which the pupa forms; the latter is a very pretty object through a lens. Eu-
pecilia notulana (vel wdana ?). — I met with this, as usual, in this old pool. I shall
be happy to send the larve of Achroea grisella to any amateur who would like them.
—J. Allen Hill; Almondsbury House, near Bristol, August 10, 1851.

3246 Insects.

Entomological Localities. By J. W. Douetas, Esq.
(Continued from page 3219).
BircH Woop.

“ The wood,
The covert of old trees with trunks all hoar,
But light leaves young as joy. # % *
A populous solitude of bees and birds,
And fairy-form’d and many-coloured things.”
Byron.— Childe Harold.

Fourteen miles on the road from London to Maidstone, in an iron
frame on the top of a post, the portrait of a Bull — not by Morland or
Landseer — swings blistering in the summer’s sun, or creaking in the
winter’s wind. From all extremes of weather it is intended to an-
nounce to the traveller, that at the inn over the way he may obtain
shelter, and such other means and appliances as may be needful.
Many a time and oft, in past years, have I proved what a hive of good

<>

things this house was, not the less disposed to praise the sweets set ©

before me on account of a walk from town before breakfast. Here it
is that the oldest of our entomological associations—the Entomologi-
cat Club—holds its annual field-day ; on which, if it is evident, that
like all old things it is very different to what it was when young, it is
still apparent that it has lost none of the feelings of good fellowship
and fun by which it has ever been distinguished. Close by is Birch
Wood, of an extent that appears boundless, with paths that seem to
be cut through a solidity of foliage ; — such a glorious place to spend
a summer's day in, and revel among

“ The wild odour of the forest flowers,
The music of the living grass and air,
Aid emerald light of leaf-entangled beams.”

The soil is loam, in some parts sandy, and besides most of the kinds
of trees and shrubs found at Darenth Wood, there are larch and
Scotch fir. For the same reason as that before given (Zool. 3218), I
am unable to say much of the smaller moths of this wood ; but for all
the larger Lepidoptera it is unrivalled near London. I enumerate
the more uncommon species.

Endromis versicolor. April, flying; (Ent. Mag. vol. iv.)

Stauropus Fagi. Larva on oaks and birches; August.

Insects. 2347

_ Ptilophora plumigera. Larve on maple; August.
Notodonta Carmelita. ‘Trunks of trees ; April and May.
Es Chaonia and Dodonea. Larve on oaks.
Acronycta Alni. Larvz on birch ; September.
Tryphena fimbria. Larve on dwarf birches ; April.
Hadena lutulenta. At sugar; August.
5 Geniste and contigua. Larve upon dwarf birches ; Sep-
tember.
Aplecta tincta. Larvez on dwarf birches; April and October.
Cucullia Asteris and Gnaphalii. Larve on Solidago Virgaurea ;
August.
Ennomos illustraria. April and July; the larve feed on birch in
October and June.
Speranza conspicuaria. Once plentiful on broom, but now extinct.
Tephrosia consonaria. Fir-trees, rare; May.
Eupithecia indigata. Firs; April and May.
Acidalia subsericeata. Underwood; May.
Madopa Salicalis. Underwood, rare; May.

P. S.—Perhaps the following New Method of Pinning Micro-Le-
pidoptera may be acceptable to some readers of the ‘ Zoologist.’

“First catch your hare,” is the famous culinary maxim, introduc-
tory to the directions how to dress it. “ First catch your moth” is a
primary motto for the entomologist ; and as regards Tineidz it is no
unnecessary advice, for many collectors are deterred from capturing
them by the difficulty of pinning them when caught. ‘There is no
denying that it does require some patience and dexterity to pin an in-
sect with a thorax scarcely larger than the pin you seek to put into
it; but having accidentally discovered a method of pinning such
small moths, which obviates some portion of the difficulty, I hasten
to make it known. The moth being killed, either by laurel-leaves or
brimstone, I turn it out on a piece of baize or woollen cloth, and
having placed it with its back uppermost and its head towards me, I
insert the pin in the thorax, and pushing it just through, remove the
insect to a piece of smooth cork and press the pin through as far as
required. The roughness of the woollen material catches the legs of
the moth, and prevents its sliding backwards, which was always the
greatest difficulty before. The pin — one of the finest of course —is
held by a pair of narrow spring pliers, which are preferable for this
purpose to the fingers, because they hold the pin tighter, and a better
view of the thorax can be obtained than when the finger-ends are close

3248 Insects.

to it, as was always the case with a short pin. The operation may —
be performed by candle-light if a condenser be used, and it is accom-
plished with more certainty if the insect be viewed through a lens.

I am not prepared to say that this plan is perfection ; but I think it —
better than any other I yet know, and shall be glad to hear of an ©
improvement.

J. W. DouG.as.
2, Eton Grove, Lee, Kent,
September 6, 1851.

Notes on the Hymenoptera of the Undercliff, Isle of Wight. By
FREDERICK SMITH, Esq., Assistant in the Zoological Department,
British Museum.

I HAVE at length had an opportunity of investigating, entomologi-
cally, a portion of the most beautiful part of the Isle of Wight — the
Undercliff. My preconceived opinion was, that if one locality could
be found to surpass all others in this country for its richness in
hymenopterous treasures, in all probability it would prove to be the
Undercliff ; and this I think I shall show to be pretty nearly the fact.
Judging from the success with which I met, during a week in the
month of July, a month not usually the most prolific in Hymenoptera,
and taking into consideration the undisturbed and sheltered situation
of the Undercliff, its variety of soil, and the countless wild flowers
which completely carpet its lovely slopes and undulations, —all these
combine in forming one of the most rich and prolific localities I ever
had the good fortune to explore.

I commenced my campaign on the 14th of July, and prosecuted it
daily up to the 21st, devoting usually from five to six hours a-day; a
little after 2 o’clock the sun begins to cast the shadows of the cliffs
over the slopes at their base, and then the objects of my pursuit are
no longer on the wing. I shall draw up a complete list of the species
that I met with, as it will in all probability furnish an approximation
to the actual number to be met with on the whole line of coast, be-
tween Sandown Bay and Blackgang Chine, during the month of July.
My investigations on the present excursion only extend from Sandown
to Ventnor; I hope to complete the remainder of the Undercliff on a
future occasion. I made a most careful examination of all the sand-
banks and cliffs, and judging from the unmistakable evidences which
they bore of insect labour, I conclude that at an earlier period of the

Insects. 3249

season, the numerical amount of species must be something which I
will not venture to state as even probable, lest your readers should at
once set me down as a wild enthusiast, instead of the plain matter-of-
- fact entomologist they may have previously considered me. But let
a careful examination be made of the situations alluded to, and it will
be found that the slopes and cliffs are completely riddled with the
burrows of various species of insects ; in fact I should expect to see
in Sandown Bay, as I have done at Northfleet in Kent, in the begin-
ning of May, such countless myriads of Anthophora retusa, that a
flickering shadow would be cast by them on the beach beneath. I
think it very probable that Anthophora is the bee alluded to by White
in his ‘Natural History of Selborne,’ where he says that on a hill near
Lewes “there haunts a species of wild bee, making its nest in the
chalky soil; when people approach the place, these insects begin to
be alarmed, and with a sharp and hostile sound dash and strike round
the faces of intruders.”

It must be borne in mind that all the species enumerated occur be-
tween Culver Cliff and Shanklin Chine, unless otherwise indicated.

Formica rufa, F. fusca, F. nigra, F. cunicularia, F. flava.

Myrmica rubra, M. ruginodis, Nylander, M. levinodis, Nylander,
M. fuscula, Nylander.

Mutilla ephippium. Of the male seventeen specimens, and seven-
teen females. I found this usually rare insect on the slopes at the
foot of the cliffs in Sandown Bay. The male I never captured be-
fore ; it is an insect of rapid flight, and extremely difficult to capture,
and it is only by becoming acquainted with its mode of flight, that
you can recognize and capture it. The female is plentiful, but my
attention was directed to the capture of the male. It differs much in
size, my specimens varying from 44+ to 23 lines; one specimen is
entirely black, no trace of the red thorax being perceptible. I also
_ saw, but failed to capture, a magnificent male of Mutilla europza.

Pompilus plumbeus, P. rufipes, P. gibbus, P. exaltatus, and P.
fuscus. |

Ammophila sabulosa, A. lutaria.

Larra pompiliformis. Very plentiful, furnishing its nest with lepi-
dopterous larve.

» Uunicolor. This rare species J met with both at Sandown
and Luccombe Chine. TI captured five specimens.

Oxybelus uniglumis. This species occurs in utter profusion.

Crabro cribrarius, C. lapidarius, C. spinipectus, C. albilabris.

Diodontus minutus.

IX. 2M

3250 Inseets.

Passaloecus gracilis.

Cerceris arenaria, C. ornata.

Philanthus triangulum. It will be recollected that Mr. Curtis was
the first who captured this insect in England, at the back of the Isle
of Wight, some years ago, and since that time only three or four spe-
cimens have to my knowledge been met with: but, says Shuckard, in
his ‘ Fossorial Hymenoptera, “I suspect it is extremely local; but
when its metropolis shall be discovered, it will be taken in abun-
dance.” Its metropolis zs found, it is situated in Sandown Bay, and
I have to the fullest extent verified his prediction. Any account of
this hitherto extremely rare insect must prove interesting. | The first
sight of it on the wing was to me a most eventful and interesting oc-
currence. I had, however, formed an incorrect opinion of this fine
insect ; its appearance is calculated to mislead one into the belief of
its being, as Shuckard remarks, “a very bold insect: ” its appearance
is quite deceptive. I found both sexes equally abundant about the
slopes, principally on the flowers of the common bramble, and upon
these I caught numbers with my fingers. They are easily captured
without the aid of anet; and if disturbed, they only fly to a short dis-
tance and are easily taken. All my efforts to provoke the insect to
sting were fruitless. The males are by far the most active, and occa-
sionally in the hottest sunshine take rapid flights, returning to the same
spot, somewhat after the manner of Astata boops; but when settled
on flowers they are easily secured: in fact, instead of the fine, bold,
and active insect which I had pictured to myself, they are rather stu-
pid and inactive creatures; or possibly their inertness arose from that
want of hereditary fear which animals acquire from experience, and
which descends to their race, as we are told in Lord Brougham’s ‘ Dia-
logues on Instinct.’ The progenitors of these unsuspecting creatures
had acquired no sense of fear from the intrusion of man into their
domains ; and, like the birds in the Falkland Islands, which when.
man first appeared amongst them settled on his shoulders, so in
like manner perhaps may the apparent stupidity of these insects be
accounted for. Having so favourable an opportunity of observing the
habits of Philanthus, it was not to be missed. In several instances I
saw them burrowing, but, strange to say, it was always the male that
was so employed. I could not be mistaken, as 1 captured all the in-
sects so engaged, and in no instance did I observe the female thus oc-
cupied. | observed one or two of the latter sex conveying their prey,
which was in every instance either Halictus zonatus, or the female of
Andrena fulvicrus. By these observations I do not wish it to be

Insects. 3251

inferred that the female does not construct her own burrow; the males
which I observed might have been re-opening a burrow accidentally
closed: but every incident, “ meet it is I set it down.” This insect
was observed by Latreille to provision its nest with Apis mellifica ;
thus we see, that like other Hymenoptera, when one species is not at
hand, it selects some other which equally well answers its purpose.
Thus, Larra pompiliformis at one time chooses a lepidopterous larva,
and at another, as | have formerly shown, a grasshopper answers its
purpose,

Of the Diplopteryga I observed only the two following species : —

Odynerus parietum. This species was in great profusion, and the
majority of them were infested with the larve of Meloé; off one spe-
cimen I picked twenty-four larve ; they adhere to the coxe and me-
tathorax of the wasps. I captured a considerable number of these
wasps, and was astonished at the immense number of larve found on
them; indeed, most of the bees were infested with them, particularly
Nomade.

Odynerus spinipes. Very numerous, although rather late for the
insect.

Colletes fodiens and Daviesana. The latter in profusion.

Sphecodes gibbus and Geoffroyellus.

Prosopis hyalinatus. In the greatest profusion.

Halictus rubicundus (male), H. Smeathmanellus (very plentiful),
H. villosulus, H. minutus.

Andrena fulvicrus.

3 simillima, Smith. Of this new and beautiful species I cap-
tured a single female at Luccombe landslip ; since which Mr. Baly
has met with both sexes at Folkstone. I have described the species
in the ‘Museum Catalogue of British Aculeate Hymenoptera.’

y thoracica. This species was plentiful, and was the only
_ bee which I observed to frequent the everlasting pea (Lathyrus syl-
vestris), which grows at Shanklin, and also at Luccombe, in the most
wild and beautiful luxuriance.

3 chrysoceles, A. xanthura.

59 ———? New species; male.

Cilissa tricincta.

Panurgus calcaratus. This local little bee I found in plenty at Luc-
combe Chine.

Nomada varia. Very abundant. I was delighted to meet with this
beautiful little bee again ; I only once before met with it in any num-
bers, that was in a lane leading from Green-street-green to Betsome,

3252 Insects.

in Kent, fourteen or fifteen years ago. It is parasitic on Halictus ru-
bicundus, zonatus, &c.

Epeolus variegatus. Very plentiful.

Dasypoda hirta, male. 4

% ?> male. Of Dasypoda I only captured two speci-

mens, both males. One differs so greatly from all the males which I _
have seen of D. hirta, that I have little doubt it is the male of D. plu-
mipes, a species met with in France, but not hitherto in this country.
At some future period this, I trust, will be proved to be the fact, by
the capture of both sexes.

Ceelioxys rufescens (not uncommon), C. vectis (also pretty numer-
ous), C. umbrina (in abundance), C. herbescens, Nylander, C. 4-den-
tata (scarce).

Megachile Willughbiella.

3 maritima. Of this local insect I captured a fine series.
It very closely approaches the lagopoda of Linnzus, but having seen
Swedish specimens of that insect, I will point out the distinctive dif-
ferences: in the male of lagopoda the margin of the fringe of the an-
terior dilated tarsus is black within, and the apical joint of the antenne
is not compressed and dilated; the reverse obtains in maritima.

Melecta punctata.

Anthidium manicatum.

Osmia bicornis. The specimens worn, but much larger than usual.

» cerulescens.

» Xanthomelana. I met with two specimens of this rare bee,
but from their being slightly faded, I conclude I was too late for the
species.

», Spinulosa. Not uncommon at Luccombe landslip.

Eucera longicornis.

Saropoda bimaculata. In the greatest profusion.

Anthophora retusa. A few individuals of this species were still
about, poor solitary remnants of the mighty colony which I suspect
had preceded them.

Bombus muscorum, B. hortorum, B. terrestris, B. Raiellus, and B.
lapidarius.

Of Tenthredinide I only saw one species, Allantus arcuatus, and
that was to be picked off every flower.

Ichneumonidz. — Of this family [ captured but few species, one,
however, in abundance, which is not usually found in any numbers,—
Foenus assectator. This was very common on the flowers of the wild
carrot (Daucus Carola). I was much amused with a singular habit

Insects. - \§253

in this insect. I had strolled down to the beach on a rather doubtful-
looking morning, about 9 o’clock; not an insect was on the wing, so I

amused myself by turning over stones and rubbish in search of Coleo-

ptera. In so doing I caught sight of a queer-looking object hanging
from beneath the umbels of the wild carrot; this was my friend the
Foeenus. He has a fancy for taking his repose in comfort; so he lays
fast hold of the plant with his mandibles, and hangs suspended by
them; the flat coronal of flowers hiding him from observation. ‘There
is something ludicrous in his appearance, his neck seeming to be
stretched uncomfortably long, and his dilated posterior tibize and ab-
domen apparently aiding in the elongation. Here they hung in plen-
ty, and J had only to unhook them and help myself at pleasure.

This list of captures in the month of July, not the best, by any
means, for Hymenoptera, on the contrary one usually considered an

interregnum in the capture of that order, will I think prove satifacto-

rily that the Undercliff ranks somewhere about A. 1. as a locality.
Were this part of the Island well hunted over for these insects at all

seasons, I expect that it would not only yield most of the known

British species of Aculeata, but produce also a number not hitherto

captured in this country. Altogether I consider the collection which

I made in a week, as probably the finest yet made in the Island, and

an earnest of the rich stores which I feel confident future observation

will prove it to contain. FREDERICK SMITH.
August, 1851.

On the Habits of Osmia parietina. By FREDERIcK SmiTH, Esq.,
Assistant in the Zoological Department, British Museum.

TWENTY years ago Mr. Curtis, in company with Mr. Dale, captured

-a little bee at Ambleside, on the banks of Windermere, in Westmore-
land. At the time it does not appear to have been recognized asa

novelty. Mr. Dale informed me that the bee appeared to be plenti-

ful, and that it was flying about and settling upon a stone wall. Mr.

Curtis captured two or three in passing, and subsequently, on exami-
nation, it proved to be an undescribed species. ‘This little bee was
figured by Mr. Curtis in the fifth volume of his ‘ British Entomology,’

‘under the name of Osmia parietina.

A few months ago, Sir William Jardine forwarded two or three spe-

cimens of a bee to the British Museum, requesting to know the name;

these were males, and from a description in Zetterstedt, I concluded

j
‘a
4
”

3254 Insects. *

that they were males of Osmia parietina. I have subsequently learned
their history, and now forward it to the ‘ Zoologist,’ as the fitting re- —
ceptacle in which to chronicle more particularly the habits of our na- .
tive Fauna.

At Glen Almond, Perthshire, on the Grampians, about 800 feet |
above the level of the sea, in the month of November last, Mr. J oseph — :
Robertson was examining and admiring the natural productions scat-_
tered over the rocks of that locality. On turning up a piece of stone,
in size 10 inches by 6, which lay partly buried in the turf, he observ-_
ed a mass of cocoons attached to the under surface ; these he knew ~
to be the production of some bee, and therefore carefully took home —
the stone, and the following was the result. The number of cocoons
was about two hundred and thirty; about one third of them were
empty when found ; on a few of the others being opened, some were
found to contain perfect bees ; others, bees in the grub state ; and in
one or two was a parasite—Chrysis Austriaca? Nothing further took
place until the following March, when the males came out at inter-
vals, and subsequently the females ; occasionally a Chrysis appeared ;
only a single Chrysis inhabited the same cocoon. The bees or their
parasites continued to come out, more or less frequently, up to July.

At this time there were about thirty-five cocoons perfect, and I found
on Opening one or two that they contained active larve. I have no
doubt that this is the case with the rest, and that in this state they will
pass the winter, when, on the return of spring, they will change to the
pupa state, and quickly afterwards arrive at their perfect condition. I
have found that out of a number of the larve of Anthophora taken in
May, some quickly assumed the pupa state, and soon afterwards ar-
rived at maturity, and in this state passed the winter; others remained
in the larva state, and did not change until the following spring, when
they quickly arrived at their perfect condition; but a few did not
change to pupz until late in summer, and passed the following winter
in their perfect state. These remarkable differences in the develop-—
ment of bees, will account for the circumstances which will occur to
any one who will examine a colony of Anthophora at different sea-
sons of the year; they will find at the same time larvie, pupe, and
perfect insects in summer, and larve and perfect insects during the
winter months.

Mr. Robertson brought the stone to the Museum, and as it is now
in my possession, I am happy in having an opportunity of describing
it. It is a blue slate-stone, smooth on one side, and rough and fur-
rowed on the other; these ribs or furrows run in lines, exactly like

Insects. 3255

the graining of pine-wood. The cocoons are attached to the ridges
and roughnesses of the stone. . Taking these circumstances into con-
sideration, I arrive at the following conclusions : — This species lives
in communities, after the manner of Anthophora; and the empty co-
coons indicate the fact, that a number of these bees must have fre-
quented the same spot during a succession of seasons: the number of
closed cells, when found, being at least double that of the empty ones,
indicates that several bees deposited their eggs in close approxima-
tion. As no covering of any kind was constructed over the mass of
cocoons, the parent bees doubtless attached their little masses of pol-
len and honey to the roughnesses of the stone; these could not have
been more than three-eighths of an inch apart, or scarcely so much,
in order to allow for the number of cocoons in the space which they
occupied. The cocoons out of which the Chrysis emerged were pre-
cisely similar to those which contained the bees; and from this cir-
cumstance I am led to conclude that the larve of Chrysis fed on the
pupz of the bee after it had spun its cocoon: I have elsewhere shown
that this is the habit of a parasitic insect belonging to the Chalcidida,
Monodontomerus ? which feeds on the pupa of Anthophora,
and not on pollen.

Our Osmia is the bee described by Zetterstedt in the ‘Insecta Lap-
ponica, as Anthophora inermis. In a note added to the description,
it is stated that a nest was found under a stone, and that there were
twenty-two cells attached to it. On their being opened, some were
found to contain perfect bees, and others Chrysis Austriaca ?

The females of Osmia parietina, O. xanthomelana, O. fusciformis
and O. pilicornis, closely resemble each other, I therefore embrace the
opportunity of pointing out a few additional specific differences. OO.
xanthomelana is the largest species ; the pubescence on the face is
long, black, and dense; and the bee varies in being from 5 to 63 lines
In length. O. pilicornis most closely resembles xanthomelana; it has
Dlack hair on the face, which is thin, and the insect is only 4 lines in
length. O. parietina has fulvous pubescence on the face, and that on
the base of the abdomen is also fulvous, thin, and occupies only the
basal segment, or sometimes extends a little on the lateral margins of
the second. O. fusciformis is very like xanthomelana, and in size
‘Stands intermediate between that species and pilicornis; its abdomen
however differs from both species in being narrowed towards the base.
The characters whereby to distinguish the males are sufficiently given

in the descriptions of the species. FREDERICK SMITH.
September, 1851.

iam a A

3256 : Insects.

Notes on Observations in Natural History during a Tour in Norway. '
By the Rev. ALFRED CHaRLes Situ, M.A. |

(Concluded from page 3230).

=

Insecrs.—Having devoted several papers to the birds, quadrupeds,
and fishes of Norway, it would be invidious to omit all mention of the
insects, which abound toa great degree: and the entomologist would —
be delighted both by the beauty and number of the species of moths,
butterflies, and other insects which are to be met with in that coun-
try, and which must strike every indifferent observer; and when seen
collected together, as they may be seen at the botanical gardens of
Christiania (a collection formed by the iudefatigable exertions of the
Director’s son, Herr Siebke, jun.), one is surprized that species so nu-
merous, and forms so delicate, and colours so brilliant, should exist in’
a country where the winter has dominion for nine months in the year.

No one can journey through the forests one single day without be-
ing struck by the enormous ant-hills which abound there: though
certainly they become perfectly Lilliputian when compared with those’
described by Mr. Gordon Cumming, as existing along the Limfropo
and in the interior of Africa, and which he says are commonly seen
twenty feet in height and a hundred feet in circumference ; yet to one —
unaccustomed to such monstrous mountains of ants, the ant-hills of
Norway appear sufficiently enormous. ‘These hills vary from two to
three and a half and four feet in height; they resemble a pyramid of
dried fir-leaves, and are tenanted by myriads of black ants. I say
black ants, for that is their prevailing colour and general appearance
as you see them hurrying over the ground, although on examination
their bodies are seen to be red, their heads, legs and abdomen jet
black: they seem to cover the surface of the ground throughout the
forests ; indeed it is difficult to find a square yard where one of these _
busy diligent ants is not scampering along. If their heap is disturb-
ed, out they come in tens of thousands, and carry off their eggs which —
have been disarranged, and otherwise lose no time in repairing their —
habitations. If you sit on a fallen tree, or lie down for your mid-day |
bivouac, or take your siesta in the forest, you are certain on awaken- —
ing to find yourself overrun with these large black ants ; but notwith=
standing this happened to me almost every day, I was never stung or
in any way inconvenienced by them, as a good shake always dislodged
them at once. TI am told that the bears eat them and their eggs, —a

Insects. | J2I57

_ sorry meal for so large an animal: I am also told that when one of
their comrades is killed or wounded, others instantly come up and
bear him away: I know not what degree of truth attaches to these
_ Norwegian accounts.
| The use made of this little creature by the inhabitants is strange
enough, but I believe it is perfectly true. The common and almost
the only intoxicating liquor of the country is a species of corn brandy,
which the peasants distil for themselves, and which is denominated
“ Finkel;” this is very strong, and being at the same time very cheap
(the price we paid for a quart bottle of it being about fivepence Eng-
lish), causes intoxication among the Northmen to be very frequent ;
and the men who act as your guides, your boatmen, your attendants
in hunting, your provision-bearers on the fjeld, always expect fre-
quent drams of “schnapps,” or extra money (dvikke-penge) to procure
for themselves their accustomed potions. Some of the peasants, in
making this brandy, thinking to give it an agreeable, sharp, pungent
taste, flavour it with the squeezed ants of which | am writing. ‘The
idea is not a pleasing one to an English mind, but neither is the eat-
ing bread formed from the inner bark of the fir, as is done in some
parts of Scandinavia ; or the feasting on a dessert of the snails which
are exported so largely from some of the German villages, the inhabi-
tants of which gain their livelihood by the traffic ; neither does the
English palate relish the idea of the birds’-nest-soup from China, or
the ragout of puppy so much in vogue in the Celestial Empire; and
we know an Englishman will generally turn up his nose at the favour-
ite dish of frogs of the Parisian epicure. But “ chacun a son gott”
is a good motto: let the Frenchman enjoy his frogs, the German his
snails, the Norwegian his squeezed ants, the Chinese his birds’-nest,
the Englishman his roast beef, for which he is so renowned abroad ;
though to show how little this Anglican dish is understood on the
Continent, I was once asked, to my inexpressible amusement, by a
waiter ata German hotel, who was proud that his carte a manger con-
tained the English dish, whether Monsieur would prefer “rost beef de
veau, ou rost beef de mouton ? ”
But I am sadly digressing from the Finkel and the squeezed ants.
I cannot say whether 1 have ever tasted any Finkel so flavoured ; |
certainly never noticed any remarkably pungent sharp taste, so per-
haps it never came in my way; but I can affirm that all the Finkel I
drank (and I drank it every day) was extremely palatable: and in ho-
nour of it I gave the name of Finkel to my excellent poney, which,
after taking me for three months over Norway, a distance exceeding
IX. | 2N |

3258 Inseets.

1200 miles, I brought (together with my carriole) to England, and
which now luxuriates in this more genial climate, and in lieu of the
chopped straw, dried fish and leaves, with which in winter the Nor-
wegian peasant ekes out his scanty supply of provender for his cattle,
Finkel enjoys good hay and corn; and now reposes himself in a bed
of straw, whereas hitherto he was only used to the hard boards of a
Norwegian stable. Let not any one from this account think that the
Norwegian is careless of the comfort of his horse: on the contrary, he
loves him and pets him as the Irishman does his pig; and never once
did I see a poney ill-used in Norway, and as the natural consequence
of this kind treatment, never once did I see a vicious horse, and on
no one occasion did I ever see a horse kick or bite. They will follow
their masters like dogs, and so little are they sensible of fear, that they
will walk into the house, and I doubt not up-stairs, if necessary. They
never shy, and I never, in the whole course of my journey in Norway,
saw a horse driven with winkers over his eyes; indeed I think Finkel’s
patience would be sorely tried, were he to find his eyes covered in ;
for though so gentle and obedient, he is by no means sluggish or slow,
but will trot up and down the steepest hills in splendid style, and ne-
ver requires the whip.

This second digression about my good horse Finkel, will prepare
the way for me to say something of the forest-flies, which at times tor-
ment man and beast beyond endurance. So tormenting were the flies
to my poor horse, that after whisking about his long tail almost inces-
santly, and constantly getting the rope reins entangled in the most
awkward manner, a consequence quite impossible to be avoided by a
driver in a recumbent posture, when I stopped the carriole to re-ar-
range the reins, the soft sand in the road proved a temptation to poor
Finkel which he could not resist: and regardless of the carriole and
harness ; regardless of my wrath when standing close by ; forgetful of
his high peaked collar, which stood far above his hogged mane; for-
getful of his elegant brass pad, and careless of the long shafts of the
carriole ; down he would go deliberately into the sand, and roll him-
self about from side to side: and all my shouts and thumps and tugs
at his head proved quite unavailing to prevent him from carrying out
his intention, or to make him get up and resume his journey, until he
had rolled to his heart’s content, and relieved himself from that mad-
dening itching caused by the abominable forest-flies. I may add, that
as he never injured himself, or his harness, or the carriole, by these
rolls, and as he seemed to enjoy them so much, and as I could not

- General Observations on Norway. 3259

prevent them, I soon left off attempting to stop him, and patiently
_ awaited his pleasure to go on again.

Of all the creatures that in the vulgar but very expressive words of
Brother Jonathan, “ graze upon the human” (and in Norway all such
abound to a fearful extent), there is none so persecuting and annoying,
sO persevering in its attacks by day as well as by night, so poisonous
in its bite, so painful in its effects, as the mosquito. These horrid lhit-
tle gnats may be heard drumming away in the air at all hours. They
never leave one alone. Had I not protected my hands with gloves,
and my face with a veil by day, and had I not invariably slept under a
mosquito-net, which I took the precaution to carry with me, I should
have been driven wild at times: as it was, I was bitten often enough ;
they would dig through my gloves and socks, and attack my face with-
out mercy when the veil was laid aside, and I could not always live
under gauze: and especially when fishing was I subject to their at-
tacks ; they swarmed by the water-side, and many a time fairly drove
me away from their haunts by their persecution. I have been teazed
by them in Italy many a time, thought them very disagreeable at Na-
ples, and quite vexatious in the Pontine Marshes, but never until I
went to Norway had I an idea what a mosquito can do: now J am
fully aware of his powers, and am ready to acknowledge him the most
puissant of tyrants. As I said before, other nightly marauders on the
human body swarmed in multitudes in Norway, but I could defy all
their attacks, as I slept in sheets, made with a view to their discomfi-
ture before I left England, sewn round the sides and bottom like a sack,
and crowned with a large mosquito-net at the head; ensconced in
which I was secure from all their blood-thirsty attempts, and could
even smile at the droning of my enemies, the mosquitoes, who hum-
med outside my net during the livelong night.

What the forest-flies were to my poney, and the mosquitoes to me,
the gadflies are to the reindeer. They attack their horns, and nearly
drive them mad with pain and annoyance; and then the reindeer will
rush to the nearest water, and by plunging in their fevered horns try
to gain some respite from the agonizing and maddening assaults of
this diminutive but most bitter foe.

General Observations. —In concluding my Notes on the Natural
History of Norway, I wish to say a few words on the general character
of the country, because it is in my opinion the very best country in
Europe for a summer tour, whether the tourist be a sportsman, a fish-
erman, a naturalist or an artist; its forests, its fyelds and its fjords for

3260 General Observations on Norway.

the first, its rivers, streams and lakes for the second, and the whole
country for the two last: its forests almost boundless ; its fjelds and
fjords peculiar to itself, and containing points of exceeding beauty
as well as of majestic grandeur and savage wildness; its rivers and
streams leading the angler into the most bold and glorious scenery ;
its lakes deep, clear, and presenting every variety of landscape, from
the cold, silent, sequestered, ice-bound mountain tarn, to the sunny,
smiling, fertile lake of the valley, whose banks are clothed with ver-
dure to the water’s edge. And I purpose to enter into a somewhat
fuller account of these fjelds and fjords, forests and lakes, than per-
haps at first sight seems fitting in a journal devoted to the zoological
part of Natural History, (I say at first sight, for, on consideration, the
‘ Zoologist’ professes to record facts relating, among other things, to
the retreats of the animals of which it speaks) ; and I do so, because
it may serve to elucidate the notes I have written above, and to show
how well fitted by nature is Norway for offering a safe and undisturbed
retreat to many quadrupeds, which in all other parts of Europe have
been long since extinct, and also to those countless multitudes of birds
which resort thither annually to breed ; and I hope that a somewhat
detailed account of the country, thinly peopled as it is, and presenting
such attractions to the naturalist and sportsman, may induce others,
brother-naturalists, equally able to enjoy the delights, and better able
to note and relate their observations, to explore its little-known wilds,
and ramble amidst its most magnificent scenery.

Norway appears to be one vast rock, about one thousand miles in
length, and ranging from fifty to two hundred miles in breadth ; jut-
ting up in all directions in numberless peaks and in long ridges, and
so forming the strange, sharp mountains, and narrow, deep valleys, of
which it is composed. These ridges, where they do not abruptly ter-
minate in a gorge, run across the country for very many miles, forming
back-bones (as it were) to the long expanse of mountains stretching
on either side; and here are those immense tracts of wild, desert,
uninhabitable, uncultivated land, the famous /jelds, whose chief deni-
zens are the ptarmigan and the golden plover, the reindeer, the lem-
ming, and the ermine, This great rock is pierced in all directions on
its southern and western sides, by narrow but long arms of the sea,
which run into it, and split its edges into the most fantastic forms, and
some of these rents extend inland for a hundred miles. The walls of
rock which inclose these arms of the sea, frequently rise almost per-
pendicularly to a vast height, and in the event of a sudden squall (no
uncommon thing here), render it quite impossible for the hapless boat-

General Observations on Norway. 3261

men to land; in other fjords, the hills slope down gradually to the
water, and are cultivated to the extreme edge, or clothed with enor-
mous pine-forests: in all cases they are very picturesque, and afford
easy communication from the sea with the interior of the country.
Such are the arms of the sea, or fjords, one of the most remarkable
features in the country ; and these fjords, with the numerous rocky,
uninhabited islands in them and at their mouths, form a favourite re-
sort for a great variety as well as for immense numbers of water-fowl.
The forests, too, are very remarkable, from their immense extent, their
extreme silence, and the dark sombre character imparted to them by
the deep shade and dark colour of the pines and firs of which they are
chiefly composed. Many of these forests have little or no underwood,
but huge fragments of broken rock, carpeted with moss and flowers,
broken trunks, and many a giant of the forest uprooted by the winter’s
blast, and rotting in the ground, many a tree-top, broken short off un-
der an accumulated mass of snow; these, and numberless trees and
fragments of trees in every stage of decomposition, form the ground-
work of the primeval forests of Norway. In other parts, one meets
with an almost impervious underwood of shrubs and bushes; and
sometimes, again, the whole mountain will be covered with copses of
various trees, among which the birch, the alder, the aspen and the ash
are most conspicuous. Everywhere these forests are carpeted with the
most beautiful flowers, the abundance and variety and gay colouring
of which must strike every observer: the great majority of them were
entirely new to me; indeed, the botanist would find a grand field for
his labours in Norway: not only in the forests, but also by the banks
of streams, and on the wild fjelds, many rare and very beautiful plants
abound. ‘The forests, too, supply the people with an abundance of
berries of various kinds, some of which were most delicious, and nearly
all of them were till then unheard of by me ; among which the “ multe-

ber” stands pre-eminent. And here we used to pick the well-known

whortle-berry, the wild raspberry, and, above all, the strawberry, in
the greatest profusion. The latter delicious fruit cannot be enjoyed
in greater perfection than in Norway ; considerably larger than our
wood-strawberry, although not so large as that grown in our gardens,
ripened under an unsetting sun in the forests which clothe the moun-
tain, perfectly sweet and with the finest flavour, and eaten after a long
mountain journey, in a bow] of most excellent cream,—they prove the
greatest treat to the half-famished and wearied traveller. In speaking
of the Flora of Norway, I must not omit the heaths, so abundant on
some of the fjelds; nor the bog-plants to be found in the marshes in

3262 General Observations on Norway.

the midst of the forests; nor the very beautifully pencilled and deli- ;

cate-looking flowers, which we often found close to and even sur-
rounded by the snow.

These forests are the resort of the elk, the bear, the wolf, the caper- _

cailzie, the black-game, the hazel-grouse, besides a variety of smaller
birds, passed over by the sportsman but highly prized by the naturalist:
their immense extent, stretching over whole ranges of mountains, af-
fords a secure retreat to the most timid animals. I need only remark
that I drove through one such forest for nearly two hundred miles, and
that for the greater part of that distance it extended on my left hand
for fifty miles, without a single road for wheels through it, and on my
right it stretched in many parts for twenty or thirty miles over the
mountains ; and the extent, as well as the solitude of these dark som-
bre forests will at once appear.

The rivers of Norway, so well known by report to every angler, are
amongst the most picturesque features of the country. They are all
mountain torrents, varying in size and volume of water, according to
the distance from their source and the number of tributary streams
which have joined them in their progress towards the fjords ; still,
however large, they are essentially mountain torrents, having all the
character of those noisy, headlong, brawling waters, dashing down the
rocks, and hurrying among the huge stones that form their bed, while
here and there they form the most magnificent waterfalls in Europe,
and perhaps in the world. Though Niagara and Schaffhausen may
boast a greater volume of water than any fall in Norway, yet they
want. height to make them truly grand, indeed, their very width
detracts from their real altitude; but many of these falls in Norway
combine: the two. great essentials of a perfect waterfall, — height and
volume of water.- What can be more stupendous and more perfectly
majestic than the rush of a considerable river over a precipice, mak-
ing a clear plunge of 900 feet into the depths below, as at the Voring-
Foss? Or what more glorious than asimilar leap of 450 feet, as at the
Rjukan Foss, while the foam.rises up again far above the top of the fall,
and a beautiful iris plays upon the spray, and the roar may be heard
for miles? Or what. more elegant than the Feigum Foss, a direct
jump of a considerable torrent of between 300 and 400 feet, the water
descending in flakes like the most beautiful lace, something like the
Terni fall in Italy, not dissolving into mere mist, as the comparatively
insignificant fall of the Staubach, in the well-known vale of Lauterbrun-
nen in Switzerland? Orwhat can surpass the Fiskum Foss on the Nam-

sen; or, as a cataract, the Leerfoss near Trondhjem? Such as these,

General Observations on Norway. 3265

and a hundred others of every form and description, continually pre-
_ sent themselves to the lover of the picturesque: there is every variety
of fall, from the thundering cataract and the roaring rapid, to the si-
lent, thin, silver-like threads of foam which, falling from the precipi-
ces above, seem to lose themselves in mist in their descent, but which
regather their misty, floating, wandering waters below, and again rush
on as babbling torrents. These falls of every kind, so fascinating to
the eye of the artist, are often inwardly if not outwardly reviled by the
angler, for they form a barrier (perhaps at the very mouth of the river)
to the salmon, and compel him to content himself with some lower
pool, or to seek some more friendly river. But though he be disap-
pointed of salmon, the angler will find trout above and below the falls
in every stream, and in the lakes many other fish will give him sport.
These inland lakes are very numerous, and frequently form a perfect
chain through the valleys, connected together by the streams that feed
them. On their banks the peasant’s picturesque log-hut, or the richer
bonder’s farm-buildings, look out from amidst well-cultivated gardens
and orchards, and fields of rye, and closely-cut meadows. Indeed,
on the sloping banks of the inland lakes, some of the most fertile parts
of Norway are to be seen, as well as some of the most rich and beau-
tiful scenery, forming an excellent contrast to the stern, rugged, bar-
ren views found among the dark granite-bound fjords. So smiling
and sunny are the banks of some of these inland lakes, that they have
been compared to the lakes of Como and Maggiore, and indeed they
do bear some resemblance to them in the summer; but in winter,
when covered with thick ice and deep snow, and traversed by fur-clad
people in sledges, all similarity between them would quickly vanish.

Such then is Norway; such are its fjelds, its fjords, its forests, its
rivers and its lakes, whither so many of our water-fowl and some of
our land-birds retire at the approach of spring to breed, and whence
they return in such numbers every autumn and winter. To the natu-
ralist, there can be no greater treat than to follow them to their sum-
mer quarters, and with them enjoy for a time a retreat from the more
civilized world,

“ Far from the busy hum and haunts of man,”

among these wild and most picturesque mountains, valleys, and lakes.
The easy communication now opened with Norway by means of a
steamer from Hull; the extreme cheapness of living and moving about
in that country; the honest, open-hearted, character of the people,
which more than counterbalance their extreme mquisitiveness and
want of cleanliness; the beautiful, bright, and brilliant summers,

3264 General Observations on Norway.

where day perpetually reigns and darkness is unknown ; — these and
a thousand other charms to be found in a country so unique and
so glorious in its scenery, and amongst a people so primitive, surely
only require to be described to attract many a tourist to the shores of
Norway.

I cannot close my account of Norway, without bearing grateful
testimony to the kind reception we invariably met with from the in-
habitants. We never threw ourselves upon the hospitality of private
persons, if any kind of accommodation could be afforded at any sta-
tion, house, or inn; but occasionally, where none such existed, we
were obliged to avail ourselves of the kind and friendly custom of the
people, and beg hospitality of the Preesten, and in all such cases we
met with the greatest courtesy, and a pressing invitation to prolong
our stay.

On one occasion, the Preesten, who had lodged and fed us with all
his house could furnish, provided us on our departure with a circular
letter to the inhabitants of his extensive parish, bearing on the outside,
in most regal style, the inscription,— To the men of Hamerbéen and
Tufto ;” beginning in the most lordly tones, “ Men of Hamerbéen
and Tufto,” and desiring them to assist and furnish with all necessa-
ries and guide on their way, the two Englishmen who bore the letter :
and most kind, prompt, and cheerful was the obedience of the pari-
shioners to their pastor’s demand; and most useful indeed did the
letter prove for many days, when we were traversing a valley through
which there was no road, and were seeking to cross a fjeld by an
unfrequented route, a walk of about seventy miles, and of course we
could find no single individual who could understand a syllable of
ought save his mother-tongue, and we had not then been long enough
in the country to know much of that.

Undoubtedly, he who visits Norway must not expect the luxuries
of a more civilized country: he must be prepared for the roughest
fare and the roughest lodging; he must depend in a great measure on
his gun and his rod for the first; he must not object occasionally to
sleep al fresco, with the wild fjeld for the second: but if he can
accommodate himself to this, and can laugh at such drawbacks to
enjoyment as the want of many things he has hitherto considered ne-
cessaries of life, he cannot fail to be delighted. The artist will find
a most glorious subject for his pencil at every turn; the sportsman,
game such as he will not meet with elsewhere; the angler, fish of such
weight and quantity as to satisfy the most insatiable; the ornitholo-
gist, the entomologist, the botanist, the finest field for their researches,

_ a ng _ _—

Quadrupeds.— Reptiles. 3265

and the greatest profusion and variety of species ; and all will agree
that for really magnificent scenery, and bold, and wild, and grand
views, nothing can surpass the rocky mountains and waterfalls, the
fjelds and fjords of “ gamle Norge.”

ALFRED CHARLES SMITH.
Old Park, Devizes,
September 2, 1851.

-

Note on the Water-rat. — Here are a great number of water-rats, which are very
troublesome in destroying the banks. Some time ago I found some laurels, about 4
feet high, in a dying state, and on examining them, I found that the stem had been
gnawed through just above the roots, which must have been done by the rats, as the
marks of their teeth were perfectly evident. They have also destroyed some of the
white water-lilies, which I have been at some trouble to plant. They eat the leaves
as soon as they get near to the surface. My gardener told me such was the case, but
I did not believe it, until I found a piece of the leaf floating about, bearing evident
marks of teeth and claws.— Samuel Gurney, jun. ; Carshalton, August 4, 1851.

Toad found in a Flint.—The Académie des Sciences, in its last sitting, was occu-
pied with a grave question of what, in homely language, may be called a “toad ina
hole.” In digging a well at Blois, in June last, some workmen drew up from about
a yard beneath the surface, a large flint, weighing about 14 fbs., and on striking it a
blow with a pickaxe it split in two, and discovered, snugly ensconced in the very cen-
tre, a large toad. The toad seemed for a moment greatly astonished, but jumped out
and rather rapidly crawled away. He was seized and replaced in the hole, where he
settled himself down very quietly. The stone and toad, just as they were, were sent
to the Society of Sciences at Blois, and became immediately the subject of curious at-
tention. First of all, the flint, fitted together with the toad in the hole, was placed in
a cellar and embedded in moss. There it was left for some time. It is not known if
the toad ate, but it is certain that he made no discharge of any kind. It was found
that if the top of the stone were cautiously removed in a dark place he did not stir,
but that if the removal were effected in the light, he immediately got vut and ran
away. If he were placed on the edge of the flint, he would crawl into his hole and fix
himself comfortably in. He gathered his legs beneath his body, and it was observed
that he took especial care of one of his feet, which had been slightly hurt in one of
his removals. The hole is not one bit larger than the body, except a little where the
back is. There is a sort of ledge on which his mouth reposes, and the bones of the
jaw are slightly indented, as if from long resting ona hard substance. Not the slight-
est appearance of any communication whatsoever between the centre and the outside
of the stone can be discovered, so that there is no reason to suppose that he could have
drawn any nourishment from the outside. The committee, consisting of three emi-
nent naturalists, one of whom has made toads his peculiar study for years, made no
secret of their belief that the toad had been in that stone for hundreds, perhaps thou-
sands of years; but how he could have lived without air, or food, or water, or move-

IX. =O

3266 Reptiles—Insects.

\

ment, they made no attempt to explain. They accordingly contented themselves with }

proposing that the present should be considered another authentic case to be added to

the few hundreds already existing, of toads being found alive embedded in stone, leav-
ing it to some future savant to explain what now appears the wonderful miracle by —

which nature keeps them alive so long in such places. But the distinguished M. Ma-
gendie suggested that it was just possible that an attempt was being made to hoax the
Academy, by making it believe that the toad had been found in the hole, whereas it

might only have been put in by the mischievous workmen after the stone was broken. —

Terrified at the idea of becoming the laughing-stock of the public, the Academy de- —

clined to take any formal resolution about the toad, but thanked the committee for its

very interesting communication ; and so the subject dropped. One word, however :—
if the toad had really not been embedded in the flint, how comes it that after being
taken out, he always fixed himself exactly in the cavity, that the cavity fitted him to
a hair’s breadth, and that the hardness of the stone had made an impression on his
jaw ? — Times Newspaper.

Toads buried alive. — In the last number of the ‘ Zoologist’ the Editor requires
information respecting “ toads in stones.” I cannot say that I ever saw the reptile in
such a situation, but will relate two anecdotes, one of which came under my own ob-
servation, the other resulted from it. In the year 1821 I was residing in the country,
and in my court-yard was a set of stone steps for mounting on horseback. These be-
ing useless to me, I desired they might be removed. On taking them down, the low-
est step, a coarse red conglomerate, measuring about 3 feet in length, 10 inches in
depth, and about 14 in width, was raised by a heavy bar. It had been well bedded
in mortar, in which, while soft, a toad had been evidently placed, as there was no ap-
pearance of any way by which it could have found ingress or egress, the mould or cast
being as perfect as if taken in plaster. On the removal of the stone the toad remained
torpid for afew minutes, when it seemed to revive and then crept out. From the own-
ers of the property I ascertained that the steps had been placed there forty-five years
before, and, to the best of their knowledge, had never been moved. The second ac-
count is from a clergyman, and originated from my informing him of the above. He
caused a pit to be dug in his garden, six feet deep; at the bottom was laid a slate, on
which a full-sized toad was placed, with an inverted flower-pot over it. The hole and
edges were well luted with clay; the pit was then filled in, and on that day twelve
months re-opened, when the toad was found alive, and as well as when inclosed in its
living tomb. If, therefore, it could exist in such a state for twelve months, it is not
impossible that it might do so for a much longer period. — F. W. L. Ross ; Broad-
way House, Topsham, September 16, 1851.

Note on Mecinus collaris.—In my notice of the capture of Mecinus collaris (Zool.

3186), I unintentionally omitted to state that my friend Mr. Grant took a few speci- —
mens of this insect by sweeping, in April last; and in justice to him I think he ought —

to have the credit of finding the head-quarters for the insect. — Samuel Stevens; 24,
Bloomsbury Street, August 7, 1851.

———L_L Sa.

—~ eS Oe” 6 lm aoe

Zoological and Entomological Societies. 3267

Proceedings of the Zoological Society.

Monthly General Meeting, September 4, 1851.—E. J. Rupee, Esq., in the chair.

Richard Gibbons, Esq., was elected a Fellow.

H. E. Lord Harris, Governor of Trinidad, was elected an Honorary Member.

Professor E. Forbes and W. O. Lamond, Esq., were proposed as candidates for
the Fellowship.

The Report of the Council stated that at the previous Meeting Messrs. W. Gra-
ham, H. Wilson, F. H. Gabriel, J. Blyth, J. Lubbock, C. 8. Crowley, H. Heane, G.
Lenox-Conyngham, the Marquis d’'Azeglio, Lord Burghley, M.P., W. Milner, Esq.,
M.P., and Professor Percy, were elected Fellows; and the number of visitors to the
Gardens during the month of August was 145,025. The total number of visitors dur-
ing the year has been 489,679. Among the donations to the Menagerie during the
month of August, one of the most remarkable is a Syrian bear, presented by Mr. Al-
derman Finnis. But by far the most important are a male and female tiger, which
have just been received from Bombay, and are a gift from His Highness the Guicowar
of Baroda. The support of this prince, who is one of the most powerful of Western
India, is to be regarded as another most fortunate incident in the history of the Soci-
ety, and has already added one of the most considerable desiderata in the collection of
Carnivora. The Society are greatly indebted to Col. Outram, Resident at the Court
of Baroda, to Mr. Davis, and to Mr. A. N. Shaw, F.Z.S., for the valuable services
which they have rendered in conciliating the favour of His Highness.—D. W. M.

Proceedings of the Entomological Society.

September 1, 1851.—J. O. WEstwoop, Esq., President, in the chair.

Previous to the ordinary Meeting, a Special General Meeting was held, at which
a revision of the Bye-Laws was made. Oue of the alterations was, that a new class
of Members, called Associates, should be created, for the express purpose of admit-
ting working entomologists to the advantages offered by the Society’s Meetings, Li-
brary, and Collections.

The following donations were announced, and thanks ordered to be given to the

donors : —‘ Entomologische Zeitung’ for July and August; by the Entomological
Society of Stettin. ‘ Bulletin de la Société Impériale des Naturalistes de Moscou,

1849, No. 4, 1850, No. 1; by the Society. ‘ Abhandlungen der Mathemat.-Physika-
lischen Classe der Keenigliche Bayerischen Akademie der Wissenchaften,’ Band v.,

Abth. 1, and Band vi., Abth. 1; Munich, 1851: ‘ Bulletin’ ditto, 1847, Nos. 1—35:

by the Academy. ‘ Melitemata Entomologica, auctore Dre. Frederico A. Kolenati,
Fasc. 1; Petropoli, 1845; by the Author. ‘On the Hessian Fly, by Dr. A. Fitch;
by the Author. ‘The Atheneum’ for July; by the Editor. ‘The Zoologist’ for
September; by the Editor. A selection from the Hymenoptera collected at the Isle
of Wight and exhibited at the last meeting; by Mr. F. Smith. Four specimens of
Lobophora polycommata; by Mr. T. H. Allis. ‘Two specimens of Cecidomyia Tritici,
and two of a new species of Cecidomyia ; by Mr. Brown, Burton-on-Trent.

Alfred Beaumont, Esq., of Huddersfield, was balloted for and elected a Member
of the Society.

Mr. White exhibited a specimen of the spider-like crustacean, Nymphon gigan-
teum, Goodsir (Stromii? Kréyer), taken at a depth of twenty fathoms, in the sea on
the coast of Zetland.

3268 Entomological Society. ;
The President exhibited a moth reared from eggs received from Mr. Parker this ‘
year, and which came from the province of Cheetiang, in the North of China, where .
the fine kind of silk called “ Tsatlee” is produced by the caterpillars of this species. —
The moth, a Bombyx, apparently differed from the common B. Mori; the caterpillar, 4
however, fed on mulberry-leaves. i
The President also exhibited three specimens of a Nepticula, probably N. centifo-
liella, reared from leaves of a rose-tree. The larve, which apparently were without it
legs, mined the leaves in a tortuous manner, and when full-fed came out of the recep- —
tacle they had formed, and made flat, boat-shaped cocoons, each being placed between —
the foot-stalk and the bract of a leaf. :
Mr. Spence sent fur exhibition the eggs of some insect beautifully arranged round ~
the foliage of a species of Conifere. :

Mr. Grant exhibited a specimen of Gelechia Brizella, a new British species taken
by him at Southend, in July. He also exhibited Peronea permutana, Gelechia pic-
tella and Agrotis valligera, all taken by smoking bushes on Barnes Common, Surrey ;

a new and inland locality for these hitherto maritime species: and from the same —
place, smoked out of broom, Depressaria atomella.

Mr. Smith exhibited six specimens of a species of Pteromalus, reared from larve
found in pods of furze with Oxystoma Ulicis, on which he had no doubt they were
parasitic. He considered them identical with the example mentioned at the March
meeting, when the President had stated his belief that it was a parasite upon Oxy-
stoma.

Mr. Smith also exhibited a new British bee, Bombus arcticus, Dahlbom, taken by
Mr. A. White, in August, at Lerwick, where it was not uncommon in the gardens of
Mr. J. A. White, Union Bank, and Mr. Bruce, Sand Lodge.

Mr. Smith exhibited two living specimens of Lamia textor, female, taken by Mr.
Jacques, near Bristol. :

Mr. Douglas exhibited leaves of laburnum, showing how larve of Cemiostoma
Laburnella had fed between the cuticles, and when full grown had left their habita- _
tions and made their cocoons on the under side of the leaves. Also, a specimen of —
Mecinus collaris, the new British Curculio discovered by Mr. 8. Stevens at Graves-
end, at which place, in June, Mr. Douglas had gathered some flower-stems of Plantago
maritima, in which the larve of this beetle fed, causing a large swelling immediately
below the flower, and from one of these the example now exhibited was produced. He
also exhibited specimens of Depressaria atomella, reared from broom, Gracilaria Ono-
nidis, Dicrorampha acuminatana, Z. (caliginosana, Guen., Doub., non Tr.), and an
apparently new species of Stigmonota, all taken at Headley Lane, August 10.

Mr. Stainton exhibited a minute pupa-case, probably of a Nepticula, on oak. It
exactly resembled a caraway-seed, and was fastened to a twig by some exceedingly
fine filaments of silk.

Mr. Spence communicated the following extract of a letter from his son, R. H.
Spence, Esq., dated Cold Springs, near Baltimore.

“ As Dr. Smith predicted, the Cicade [C. septemdecim] came out of the ground
from May 25th to June 5th, in swarms, the ground being actually riddled with the
holes from which the pupe emerged. Every tree, and shrub, and fence, and stick,
and stone, in fact, everything, was covered with them. I have counted a hundred on
a small peach-tree planted last year. Their habits, in one respect, are different from
those of other Cicada, as they are excessively slow and lazy, and will allow themselves

-

Entomological Society. 3269

to be caught without the least attempt to get away. The black locust, as they call it
here, and all the South-of-Europe Cicade, are very active, and exceedingly difficult
to get hold of. The injury they do is this. The female with her ovipositor makes se-
veral incisions in the bark of the small branches of trees, and in each incision lays
about one hundred kidney-shaped white eggs. In about a week or ten days the branch
withers and falls to the ground, when the grubs, which are then hatched, penetrate
into the earth and remain there, as they say, seventeen years. The trees have suffered
so much, that the woods have quite an autumnal appearance.”

Mr. Spence also communicated the following extract of a letter from Signor Carlo
Passerini, of Florence, Honorary Foreign Member of the Society : —

(Translation). —“ This autumn I have had the fortune to find the habitat, where
it undergoes all its transformations, of the rare teredile Denops personatus, and soon I
shall publish its history with plates, which I believe will augment the known notices
(and they are very few) of the Terediles. I have collected several specimens of this
pretty Coleopterous insect, which I shall be able to impart to entomologists. In an-
nouncing this to English entomologists, you may say that I reserve a couple of this
Denops for each. Remember me particularly to Messrs. Capt. Parry, Thwaites, Cur-
tis, Westwood, and G. R. Gray, and I shall be well content if they ask from me Coleo-
ptera, Hymenoptera and Lepidoptera of Tuscany.”

Mr. Stainton read an extract of a letter from J. C. Bowring, Esq., Corespiiméine
Member of the Society, dated Hong Kong, June 9.

“T inclose a pair of a species of Cyclosomus I met with yesterday morning for the
first time. This beetle burrows to some depth in the sand by the sea-shore ; it is very
active in its movements, and when exposed on the surface disappears beneath the sand
with truly wonderful rapidity, diving down head foremost. I captured about twenty
specimens by turning up the sand for some distance to the depth of five or six inches.”

Mr. White read the following extracts of a letter from Mr. Bowring, dated Hong
Kong, June 2.

“Captain Champion tells me that you entomologists at home will not believe my
account of the parasite on Fulgora. Now yesterday I showed Mr. Harrington a spe-
cimen which I have just reared, the moth having come out a day or two ago — a fine
male, with beautifully pectinated antenne. The pupa-case with its cottony covering
is well preserved. This specimen I intend to send to the Entomological Society.
Among my most recent captures are my Cicindela speculifera, now out, and of which
I took fifteen specimens yesterday, also a few of the three other species of which I

sent specimens to the British Museum last year. The other day, when up at Can-

ton, I got no less than thirty-two specimens of C. Chinensis—magnificent fellows, as
perfect as can be. The insect is in every collection, but all the specimens are villan-
ous things, with great May-poles of needles stuck through them. I have also taken
some very beautiful Carabideous insects this spring; a fine Panageus, like P. quadri-
maculatus, one or two species like Pogonus, and some which I cannot make out, one
particularly, which belongs to the Truncatipennes, and has the labrum produced into
a long snout, like some of the Cistele. Another capture made this spring is one which
surprised me not a little ; viz., a fine Creophilus, quite as large as, and closely resem-
bling, our C. maxillosus. Are you aware of any other species from the tropics? Ca-
rabus Lafossei is another fine thing I have added to my cabinet lately; and I hope
this summer to get some good specimens of C. prodigus from the hilly country N. W.
of Canton.”

3270 Entomological Society.

The President, in exhibiting the Cecidomyie presented by Mr. Brown, read the
following extracts from letters received from that gentleman : —

“Last year, when examining the economy of Cecidomyia Tritici, I discovered
another species of the same genus, which appeared to me also to be attached to the
wheat, but I was not then able to verify my observations. I have, however, this year
been more fortunate, and have seen the dark-winged species in the act of depositing
its eggs in the ears of flowering wheat, exactly as is the habit of C. Tritici. All the
specimens sent are females, as I have only been able to find one male, and I cannot
at present tell to which species it belongs. The males appear to be excessively rare,
or appear very early. Curtis says he has never seen the male of C. Tritici. I have
swept at least two other species of Cecidomyia from the wheat, besides re-discovering
the spotted-winged species which Markham bred about sixty years ago from wheat.
I have however taken only two specimens of Markham’s apa and about the other
species I know at present too little to bring them under notice.”

“ T send herewith two preparations of the flea of the hen-roost, showing the insect
in its three stages. I find the larve in the dust on the floor of the hen-house, appa-
rently living on the fragments of feathers and scales from the quills of the fowls ; some
of them changed to chrysalids whilst in my possession, forming a slight cocoon of par-
ticles of dust.

“ Wilson’s article on Entomology in the ‘ Encyclopedia Britannica’ contains a
strange error respecting the habits of Echinomyia grossa. He states, on the autho-
rity of Reaumur !! that itis bred in cow-dung ; but it is really bred in the larva and
pupa of the egger moth, (Lastocampa Quercis). I always took Reaumutr'’s cow-dung
species to be the common orange-shouldered fly whose name I know well, but which
at this moment I forget.”

My. Douglas said that in the August number of the ‘ Entomologische Zeitung ’
was an account of the habits of some of the species of Pausside, which he had thought
sufficiently interesting to translate. The note was communicated by Herr Guenzius,
for some time and now resident at Port Natal, to Herr C. A. Dohrn, President of the
Stettin Entomological Society.

“ Port Natal is rich in species of Pausside peculiar to itself, for I have found here,
besides one species of Pentaplatarthrus and four species of Cerapterus, nine other spe-
cies of Paussus. All the species dwell parasitically with ants which make their nests
variously, underground, under stones, or in timber. The larger Pausside (Cerapterus
and Pentaplatarthrus) are supported by the larger ants, and the smaller by the smaller
ants. All the species are night-creatures, and fly during the spring, that is, from the
middle of October to December, especially in thundery weather, from 9 to 11 o'clock
in the evening. In February also I find Pausside, but only the smaller species. Like
almost all night-creatures they are dazzled and attracted by light, and I have taken
my rarest Pausside through open windows and doors on still warm nights. Their flight
is swift, and with a peculiar shrill sound, so that after hearing it I am sure to see a bee-
tle. All the species contain a caustic liquid, which they eject in an audible manner
from the abdomen upon being seized. This liquid from Pentaplatarthrus Natalensis
stains one’s fingers blood-red for several days; from the larger species of Cerapterus,
the purplish brown of iodine ; from the Pleuropterus alternans, Westwood, it burns the
epidermis, forming white spots. The odour of this liquid is extremely pungent, like
ammonia, and reminds one also of iodine. The explosion is repeated, as in the Bra-
chini, three or four times, each time weaker than before, when it becomes exhausted.

Entomological Society. 3271

Pentaplatarthus I searched for early in the morning in a more laborious manner in
the ants’ nests, until by accident an easier method was suggested. On one very hot
afternoon, between 4 and 5 o’clock, immediately before a thunder-storm, I saw in the
red sand of the roads, on a woody hill, a long train of ants busily running backwards
and forwards, and I remarked among them a Pentaplatarthrus gently led by its an-
tenn by several ants, which accompanied it in the common procession. My first idea
that it was forcibly held against its will I gave up, when, on this and following days,
I several times saw the same fact occur on the approach of a thunder-storm. I had
with me at the same times a young Kaffir, an ardent and dexterous collector, and
when I told him what I had observed and seen confirmed, he stared with astonish-
ment at the strange escort, and cried out —‘ By Tschaka (by the Great King)! the
ants have chiefs, and they lead them out to promenade.’ In this manner, with the
assistance of this and two other Kaffir boys, I obtained a good many specimens of
Pentaplatarthrus, and a pair of another species of Pausside.” Herr Dohrn adds : —

“So far Herr Guenzius. I have only to remark that among the collections of in-
sects received from him is a specimen of Pentaplatarthrus with an ant still attached
to it; two other specimens of the same ant lay in the wadding in which the Pausside
were packed, so it is probable that it is this species of ant with which Pentaplatarthrus
lives. It is red, with a silky shining body, and very much resembles our Formica ru-
fa, but is somewhat smaller.

“‘T have no doubt that the Paussus Natalensis of the Berlin Museum, and the spe-
cies described under this name in the ‘ Proceedings of the Linnean Society’ by Mr.
Westwood, are identical with P. 4-maculatus, Buquet, (in litt.) | Among a considera-
ble number of examples before me, some are simply red-brown, but by far the greater
number have a darker, nearly black, band across the middle of the elytra, which not
unfrequently extends along the suture so much that only four red-brown spots are left,
one at each angle of the elytra. I also agree with my friend Westwood (Proc. Linn.
Soc. June 19, 1849), that P. Natalensis is synonymous with P. Paussoides.”

Mr. Douglas read the following extracts from a letter he had received from Mr.
Weaver, dated Corrie, Rannoch, August 22nd.

“ The larve of the rose-beetle (Cetonia enea) I discovered here, live for three years
in ants’ nests, and feed on the ants’ eggs, of which they devour great quantities, which
I learned by keeping and feeding some therewith for several months. I have seen
them of all ages, and although exposed to thousands of ants, I never saw them mo-
lested. I have seen the beetle alight on a large ants’ nest, and dive into it without
_ fear to deposit its eggs. The larva changes to pupa within a cone of its own making,
but still within the ants’ nest.”

“ With respect to Tinea ochraceella, I believe that its larve feed in the ants’ nest, for
I always rout the insect out of the nest, and it has no disposition to fly away from it.”

Part 6 of the new volume of the Society's Transactions was announced as ready.

The following is a condensed account of the American currant-moth (Abraxas ?
Ribearia), from the pamphlet presented to the Society by the author, Dr. Asa Fitch.

‘We have in Eastern New York a moth, which will rank as the compeer of the
European Abraxas Grossulariata in destructiveness, though varying from it somewhat
in its habits, and in the characters which it presents, both in its larva and perfect
State.

“‘ Soon after the middle of May, when the currant and gooseberry bushes have be-
come well clothed with leaves, the larva appears upon them. It is of a lively light

3272 Society of British Entomologists.

yellow colour, and thickly covered with black dots of different sizes, most of which,

when closely examined, are discovered to be symmetrically arranged, and forming —
rows lengthwise of the insect. It continues to feed and to increase in size until near —

the middle of June, when, being fully grown, it is about % of an inch long and # of an
inch in diameter. It then descends to the ground, and burying itself slightly under
the surface, changes to a pupa of a shining black colour, about thrice as long as broad,
and measuring about $ an inch in length. The pupa is not inclosed in a cocoon, nor
surrounded with any other covering, but lies naked in contact with the earth ; in this
state it continues but a few days.”

“ For at least three years past the currant and gooseberry bushes of particular
gardens in this district have, in June, been stripped of their leaves by these worms so
completely, that they would be bare as in winter, but for the dead stems and blighted
fruit adhering to them. A second growth of leaves begins within a week after the
worm has disappeared, but no fruit is yielded, and this annual destruction of foliage
cannot but prove most pernicious to the shrubs.”

“ On first examining the larve of this insect, I felt confident that they would pro-
duce moths congeneric with the European gooseberry-moth. But an inspection of
the perfect insect rendered it apparent that they could not be included in the genus
Abraxas, as defined by its founder, Dr. Leach, without a modification of its charac-
ters, which must be made, or a new genus must be constructed to receive our insect.
This is also the opinion of Dr. Harris, but I decline availing myself of it, and have
therefore placed the insect doubtingly in the genus Abraxas.

“ Abraxas? Ribearia. Nankin-yellow ; body immaculate ; wings with two brown
bands, the outer composed of sub-confluent dots, whereof three in the midst of the an-
terior pair are more conspicuous and permanent. Wings expand slightly over 14 inch.”

A detailed description follows, illustrated by a coloured plate of the larva, pupa,
and imago.—J. W. D.

~

Proceedings of the Society of British Entomologists.

September 2, 1851.—Mr. HAropine, President, in the chair.

Mr. Sequerie exhibited a box of insects, some of them rare, taken at Darenth dur-
ing the past month.

Mr. Harding exhibited a most splendid box of Lepidopterous insects, amongst
which were Nonagria neurica, and the variety with the black spot, Eupithecia palus-
traria, Erastria uncana, Lobophora polycommata, and Lithosia flava.

Mr. Harding observed that the economy and localities of Lithosia flava were but
little known, and consequently it was but rarely captured. In all the entomological
works he had perused its habitats were erroneously given; and he strongly suspected
that two species were confounded together, but it would require another season to
prove if such were the fact.

Mr. Briant observed he had seen two specimens of Colias Hyale taken near Graves-
end, on the Ist instant.

Mr. Oxley informed the members that Mr. Shield had gone to Ireland, partly for
the purpose of making entomological collections ; and was in the hope of capturing
some rare or little-known species in a part of the British Isles hitherto neglected as
regards its Entomology.

Mr. Geo. Briant was admitted as a subscriber to this Society.—J. S. J.

Quadrupeds. 3273

Anecdote of a Weasel and a Frog.—About 4 o’clock on one of the bright sunny af-
ternoons of last week, I was passing along a lane near this town, on the south side of
which runs a rough stone wall, such as usually divides the fields upon the Cotswold
Hills, and on the opposite side of this lane runs a raised foot-way, bordered by a ditch,
a very low old wall covered by a hedge. I am thus minute, the more clearly to pic-
ture the scene where I witnessed an interesting illustration of that law of Nature by
which the death and destruction of one species ministers to the pleasure and life of
another. Some eighty ora hundred yards in advance of me, my attention was ar-
rested by some low object, moving along the ground and across the highway. Ina
moment the idea of a weasel entered my mind; and having a strong impression of its
predatory and hunting habits, I moved quickly towards the object in motion, to learn
what was going on, thinking, as they hunt by scent, it might be in pursuit. As I
advanced towards the moving body it quickened its pace, until I was too near to be
pleasant to the weasel, as it proved to be, which was dragging or carrying a large yel-
lowish frog by the neck, much in the manner we picture a fox carrying a goose, or as
a cat bundles along with an overgrown kitten. The short legs of the weasel obliged
it to do its best to meet this difficulty, by stiffening its back and neck, and thus raising
itself forwards and upwards, as much as possible, and so made a very decent waddle
or walk of it. By the time I reached the party, the weasel with its burden had
reached the path, and I was then too near for him to feel himself safe. He instantly
abandoned his captive treasure, and ran into the low wall under the hedge, when, as I
stood looking at the bleeding victimized frog, I could hear the weasel moving about
in the hedge and wall in observation on his prey and me, waiting for some fortunate
turn in the tide of his affairs to regain the golden prize of which my interference threat-
ened to rob him. Poor fellow! I could not tell why I should deprive him of the fruit
of his labour, or why I should have any pleasure in killing or wounding one who was
only following his “ lawful occupation,” as I was,

“The meanest things that are,

Are as free to live, and to enjoy that life,

As God was free to form them ; and he that hurts

Or harms them there, is guilty of a wrong—

Disturbs the economy of Nature’s realm,

Who, when she formed, designed them their abode.”
I retired to a considerable distance to watch events. After the lapse of about five
minutes, whether roused by the warmth of the sun or the absence of his destroyer, the

bleeding frog (not killed) began to move, and made several leaps along the path. The

weasel in its ambush had no doubt his eyes upon him, and thought it was time to be
doing ; so he cautiously ventured out of the hedge, and on to the middle of the path.
His low stature rendered his horizon very limited; so, to meet this difficulty, he raised
himself on his hind legs, after the manner of a squirrel, to extend his field of view. I
distinctly at the distance saw him thus expose the white of his breast and belly, when,
discovering no danger near, he dropped down on all fours, ran to his half-revived vic-
tim, seized him, and recommenced lugging him away into the ditch and up the low
wall aforesaid, along the top of which I saw him drag his bloated burden, when, drop-
ping with it off the wall into the next field, 1 left him to pursue his business, while I
pursued mine. I am not aware that there is anything very novel (to a naturalist) in
this anecdote, but I thought it might interest some of your readers ; indeed, it strikes
me, that the ready way in which the weasel met the difficulties of the case, shows that

1x. 2P

3274 Quadrupeds.— Birds.

it was not the first time that he had been thus engaged. — Robert Brewin ; Cirences- —

ter, September 23, 1851.

Anecdote of a Stoat and a Leveret.—One morning last autumn I chanced to fall in
with a stoat in pursuit of a leveret, evidently following the game by scent, for the hare
had disappeared before the stoat came in view. How long the chase had lasted I can-
not say, but when I discovered the hunt, the leveret was running languidly, whether
from the exhaustion of a long chase, or in ignorance of the deadly nature of its pur-
suer, I must leave to the learned in these matters. Guessing the line the chase would
take, I followed, and watched the stoat “‘ head” and turn the hare, and in a few mi-
nutes more overtook it and sprang on its neck, where he seized his prey by a deep
bite. The leveret uttered a shrill scream, and all was over! Iran up and was in at
the death ; saw its death-struggles, whilst the stoat was firmly fixed on the neck. On
my coming within a few feet the stoat ran off toa short distance, leaving the hare
mortally wounded on the ground, but on my departure I saw him quickly return, and
again fix himself on the dead hare, whether to suck the blood, or get at the brain, I
must leave others to determine.—d.

Occurrence of Sorex remifer in Hampshire-—As I am not aware that any mention
has been made of the occurrence of Sorex remifer in the southern part of Hampshire,
it may perhaps be not uninteresting to some of the readers of your Journal, to know
that two specimens were obtained in this neighbourhood about three weeks since, one
by myself, and another by a gentleman residing in this place.—Charles Barron; Royal
Naval Hospital, Haslar, September 5, 1851.

On the Habits and Instincts of Birds.—In my last letter (Zool. 3232) I mentioned
the social feelings which certain birds display towards man: instance the swallows and
martins, how invariably they attach themselves to our houses and outhouses ; they vi-
sit, as Horace says,

* Pauperum tabernas
Regumque turres.”
The holy Psalmist says “ The swallow has built her a nest, even in thy courts.” Al-
though the boys in England are almost proverbially cruel, [ admire their forbearance
towards the swallow and martin. How often do we see the nests of these birds at-
tached to low houses, within the reach of a short stick, and yet they are generally suf-
fered to hatch and fly away in safety! Some writers have asserted that they destroy
hive-bees, but I am certain this is untrue. I have been cruel enough to shoot them
when a youth, and have always found them crammed with small flies. The following
extract from a description of the habits of the swallow from the pen of Sir H. Davy is
grand : —

“He is the joyous prophet of the year, the harbinger of the best season. Winter

is unknown to him, and he leaves the green meadows of England in autumn for the

myrtle and orange groves of Italy and for the palms of Africa. He is the constant —

destroyer of insects ; the friend of man; and with the stork and the ibis may be re-
garded as a sacred bird: his instinct may be looked upon as flowing from a Divine
Source.”

The missel-thrush, or “‘ storm-cock” as he is termed, is the largest singing-bird. He
is well described in White’s Selborne, and mentioned particularly by my late worthy

Birds. 3275

friend the author of the ‘Journal of a Naturalist.’ This bird, in the absence of all
the other divinely inspired little choristers of the woods, often sings and puts forth a
_ beautiful, short, wild and plaintive chant, a little like one of the notes of the black-
bird, and it sounds doubly beautiful, although with little variation, because he is often
quite unaccompanied by any other birds, and in very cold changeable weather. Last
winter, one or two sang in December and January close to my house every day for
many weeks. I admire Mr. Knapp’s work excessively; it is in my opinion alike credit-
able to the heart and head of the author: in fact, I read it with delight. But in
describing this bird he strangely says, “‘ He seems to have no song, except a harsh pre-
dictive note.” He also hazards another opinion on the song-thrush, and says they all
sing differently. I believe firmly that the only difference is between young and old
birds — the same routine of notes, but in young birds differently placed. I fear my
late worthy friend and neighbour had not a good ear for music. The song-thrush has
eleven variations, the nightingale fifteen. The late Dr. Jenner, the inventor of vac-
- eination, and author of the first good natural history of the cuckoo, in a conversation
with me many years ago, told me he amused himself with changing the eggs of sing-
ing birds in his garden and shrubberies, and seeing the young brought up by their
strange parents. Knowing from experience that the redstart was a very wild and shy
bird, I asked if he ever tried the experiment with it; his reply was that he had tried
and failed: they will forsake their nest immediately if their eggs have been moved.
The starling is a bird which seems indued with less of the common instinct of other
birds. I have had their nests destroyed from my water-shoots and other places, and,
strange to say, in a few hours after the old birds were occupied in rebuilding in the
same place. Probably from their great numbers they find a difficulty in getting pla-
ces to build in, but I know of no other bird that displays such a want of cunning; yet
their congregating with rooks, which they do constantly, and, I have no doubt, for
safety, shows that they do not want instinct of another sort.— H. W. Newman ; New
House, Stroud, September 4, 1851.

Note on Birds entrapped at a Magpie’s Nest. — One of our keepers, in July, disco-
vered a magpie’s nest, with five young ones; he destroyed the hen bird and her young
ones, leaving one in the nest, and setting a trap for the male bird. The next day a
hawk (I am afraid the harmless kestrel), which he calls a sparrow-hawk, was in the
trap, and so on, till seven hawks of some sort or other were caught in about the space
of ten days. The keeper's lad, on going up one Sunday morning, discovered to his
astonishment a fine long-eared owl (Stria Otus) alive, which he kept for me some time,
_-but it at length died of swelling in the injured leg. After this a squirrel, a wood-pi-
geon, and a starling were trapped in the same nest. The above strikes me as very
singular, particularly as the long-eared owl, although formerly common in our large
woods, has been of late years, by the free use of keepers’ eyes, cunning, guns and traps,
become very rare. — 7. L. Powys ; Lilford Hall, Oundle, Northamptonshire, October

1, 1851.

Occurrence of the Iceland Falcon in Ross-shire.— My friend Mr. Thurnall has
‘lately received a fine specimen of the Iceland falcon, killed at Inverbroome, Ross-shire,
in May last, by Mr. Grant, gamekeeper to A. K. George, Esq. It is a young bird;
weight, 3 Ibs. 15 0z.: length, 21 inches: extent of wings, 3 ft.9 inches. The fol-
lowing is a short extract from the Inverness paper : — ‘‘ When first noticed, the hawk
was hunting about on a hill-top, and when shot he had blood on the feet and legs, as

if he had just killed some bird. Seeing him take notice of a terrier dog he had with

3276 Birds.

him, Mr. Grant took advantage of the shade of a rock until the hawk came round it,
seemingly threatening the terrier and driving him onwards, circling in the air, and

uttering a wild and peculiar cackling noise; when in front of the rock a shot ended —

his hunting career."—/’. Bond ; Whitilesford, Cambridge, September 8, 1851.

The Hobby (Falco subbuteo) and Sparrow-hawk (Accipiter Nisus) breeding toge-
ther.—About the end of last May, a male hobby and female sparrow-hawk paired to-
gether at Witchingham, in this county, and enlarged a ring-dove’s nest, which was in
a fir-tree about nine or ten yards from the ground. Five eggs were laid in it, one of
which was taken by the gamekeeper, whom I had previously told to keep for me any
hawks’ eggs he might take. As soon as the other eggs were hatched, he shot both the
hobby and the sparrow-hawk, leaving the young birds to starve. Fortunately I was
able to get the hobby preserved, although it had been hung up more than a month.
The egg which the gamekeeper kept for me has rather more red about it than is usual
for a sparrow-hawk’s egg to have, and not so much as that of the hobby usually has:
but the hobby’s egg sometimes very much resembles the sparrow-hawk’s. I have
heard of another instance, also in this county, of the hobby and sparrow-hawk pairing
together in a wild state, but the birds were both shot before any eggs were produced.
—L. H. Irby; Poringland, near Norwich, September 25, 1851.

Occurrence of a White Sparrow-hawk in Norfolk.—A young male sparrow-hawk,
which was perfectly white, with the exception of a few feathers on the back of the
usual colour, was killed at Riddlesworth this summer. The beak was also white, but
the irides and legs were as usual. — Edward Newton; Elveden, Thetford, September
16, 1851.

Piebald Varieties of the Hedge-sparrow, (Sylvia modularis). — On Wednesday last
I saw a beautifully marked variety of the hedge-sparrow at Weston-super-Mare, the
head, wings and tail were white, the back and breast being white mottled with brown.
The bird was quite close to me, but unfortunately I had no gun at hand. <A few years
ago a whole nest of piebald hedge-sparrows were hatched and reared in this neigh-
bourhood.— A. M. Norman; Eglesfield House, Yatton, Somerset, September 19, 1851.

Occurrence of the Whinchat at Scilly. — This bird, which is of rare occurrence in
most parts of this county, was observed and killed at Scilly, no doubt in its southern
migratory course.—Hdward Hearle Rodd ; Penzance, October 10, 1851.

Further Notes on the Dartford Warbler.—T1I have on three previous occasions no-
ticed the occurrence of this pretty little warbler on the Downs in the vicinity of this
town; and as it appears to be very local, shy, and difficult of observation, I cannot re-
frain from writing a few more words about it. It was on the 12th of October last year
that I first had the pleasure of hearing the note of a warbler new to me, and a mo-
ment’s reflection told me that the only six warblers I have ever seen so late in the year
never made such an extraordinary noise, and therefore the noise must come from the
throat of a Dartford warbler. Having obtained the bird, and found my supposition
correct, I searched diligently day by day, but unsuccessfully, until the 7th of Novem-
ber, when I obtained a male in autumnal plumage, in the same place, the first was a
female: both birds said “ tscha, tscha.” On the 12th of February Mr. Swaysland, of
Brighton, killed a third, being attracted by the note, and on the 15th and 2Ist of Febru-
ary I saw a pair whose movements were fully described in a former number of the ‘ Zoo-
logist.’ These birds were in full summer plumage. On the 19th of March I saw ano-
ther pair. These were male and female, but they uttered no note. Week after week
from that time have I watched their haunts for hours, and roamed the triangle of

;
:
;

Birds. 3277

Downs between Lewes, Brighton and Ditchling, in the hope of seeing them, and find-
_ ing their nest and young, but all was in vain, until the 15th of July, when Sir Henry
Shiffner’s head gamekeeper brought me two young birds, with the down still on them.
He had shot them on the tops of the furze. They uttered no note. My efforts were
still unsuccessful until the 8th of September, when I shot a female, an old bird in au-
tumnal plumage ; since that day I have seen several, all near the same locality, and
the first time I heard their note again was on the 27th ult. I can now hear them (but
never more than two in one place) on any sunny day, uttering their double angry note,
and skipping about from furze to whitethorn, but never remaining more than ten se-
conds in sight in the same place. Rusticus says they are very difficult to obtain, but
this applies in this district only to lame, fat, and gouty uld gentlemen, as, if a person
is active, he can easily run them down, which I have done on three different occasions.
I never saw one fly more than 50 yards without resting: their little, short, round wings
are not formed for long flights. The position of the bird is not good either in Yarrell
or Rusticus, as I have always observed them with the head turned half round when
they are uttering their note, and both these engravings are intended to represent the
bird when “ singing,” if I may so call it. The sexes are easily distinguished on the
wing, the male is so much darker-breasted, particularly in spring. In autumn, the
throat, in both old and young birds, is mottled with white, and the chestnut-red extends
- further down the breast in the male than in the female. In February they are in the
best plumage, the throat and breast of the male being then bright chestnut-red, free
from all white speckles, and the back slightly tinged with lead-colour. The back of
the female is more brown, and the sexes are at this time better distinguished. Though
Yarrell mentions so many localities for this bird, I suspect it is very local, as I have
never found it change its place, although quite as promising cover was near at hand.
They are very fond of whitethorns, and I have invariably seen them enter at the bot-
tom and come out at the top. I have seen them catch flies on the wing, and hover
over the furze like a whitethroat.—J. B. Ellman ; Lewes, October 8, 1851.

Occurrence of the American Waxwing or Cedar Bird (Bombycilla Carolinensis), in
Great Britain.—I am told that Mr. Batson, of Horseheath, near Linton, Cambridge-
shire, has in his possession a specimen of the cedar-bird of North America, which was
killed in this country. The particulars of the time and place of capture of this bird,
I will endeavour to obtain as soon as possible, and I should be much obliged to any
one who will send me any further information on the subject, as I believe this is the
first recorded instance of the occurrence of this species, not only in Great Britain, but

‘in Europe.—Alfred Newton; September 4, 1851.

Occurrence of the Ortolan Bunting (Emberiza hortulana) at Scilly.—A bird of this
species, apparently having assumed its autumnal plumage, was killed upon Trescoe
Island a day or two since. The resemblance of this bird to the female of the cirl and
yellow buntings is very great, and it would pass as such if the peculiar colour of the
orbits, beak, and belly, which is mottled with chestnut and yellowish white, did not
point out the difference.—Edward Hearle Rodd; Penzance, October 10, 1851.

Occurrence of the Rose-coloured Pastor (Pastor roseus) at Redcar. — A fine speci-
men of the rose-coloured pastor was shot yesterday in Coatham Marsh, near this place.
—T.S. Rudd; Redcar, August 29, 1851.

Occurrence of the Mocking Bird of America (Turdus polyglottus) in the County of
Kent. — About the 19th of August,.a fine specimen of this bird was killed on a farm
near Ashford.—W. H. Cordeaux ; Canterbury, September 15, 1851.

3278 Birds.

Curiously coloured Rook in Suffolk. — A rook, a nestling, but perfectly feathered,
was killed near Bury St. Edmund’s this spring, of a dingy purplish brown or maroon
colour all over, suffused with a darker shade; the legs were light brown, and the beak
flesh-colour.—Edward Newton ; Elveden, Thetford.

Occurrence of the Great Black Woodpecker (Picus martius) in Hssew.— As you

some time ago begged that any occurrence of the black woodpecker in England, not

hitherto recorded, might be made known to you, and as this bird still occupies a dis-
tinguished place in controversial ornithology, I am induced to tell you of the follow-

ing instance: and although the example in question was not obtained, yet I have no

doubt, from the knowledge of birds possessed by my informant, that no mistake was
made as to the species. One was seen in the park at Audley End, near Saffron Wal-
den, June 5, 1847. It was put up first from off the ground, where it appeared to have

been feeding, and flew into a high tree, uttering a note like that of the green wood- —
pecker, but hoarser and louder. My informant was at the time walking with two —

other persons, one of whom had a single-barrelled gun ; they went round to the other
side to drive the bird out, and it flew, passing first behind another tree, and then came
round almost over my friend’s head, affording him a full view of it. His chance was,
however, by that time gone, for he fired at the bird through the tree the moment it
appeared, fearing that it would be his only opportunity of doing so. It then entered
a plantation ; and although no efforts were spared to obtain it, and a large reward was
offered for it, it was not even so much as seen again. I am sure that in this case no
mistake respecting the bird was made; and the observer related the occurrence as he
was showing me the collection at Audley End, remarking how nearly it had been en-
riched by the substitution, for a foreign skin, of that of a bond fide British-killed spe-
cimen of this rare bird: and my friend, only a day or twoago, showed me a note of the
occurrence which he made at the time.—Alfred Newton ; Cambridge, Sept. 18, 1851.

Occurrence of Black Grouse and Quails in Northamptonshire. — It may interest
some readers of the ‘ Zoologist’ to know that the black grouse (Tetrao Tetrix) has oc-
curred in this county. A gray hen was observed in September, 1849, in a wheat-stub-
ble near Cranford, the seat of Sir G. Robinson, and was afterwards seen three or four
times in that neighbourhood, and in Grafton Park: and in May and June, 1850, a
labourer at Cranford, in clearing out a ditch, disturbed her from her nest containing
ten eggs, which were put under a hen, but all proved rotten. I never heard of this
bird in this county before, and the nearest place that I am aware of in which they are
indigenous is Sherwood Forest, in Nottinghamshire. I may also mention the occur-
rence of several quails (Coturnix dactylisonans) in the neighbourhood of Aldwinkle
and ‘Titchmarsh ; these birds having hitherto been rare, at all events, in these parish-
es.—T. L. Powys ; Lilford, Northamptonshire, September 25, 1851.

Occurrence of the Spoonbill (Platalea leucorodia) in Yorkshire. — On Friday, the
2nd of August, Charles Vaux, servant to Mr. George Milner Farmer, observed a sin-
gular looking bird among the ducks. He got his gun and shot it, when it proved to
be a fine adult female of the spoonbill. He brought it, scarcely cold, to Mr. Graham,
of York, by whom it has been set up, and it is now in my collection. The place of its

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capture was Wilberfoss, near Pocklington, about eight miles from York.— W. M. &. —

Milner ; Nunappleton, September, 1851.
Occurrence of the Spoonbill at Hailsham, Sussex. — On the 3rd instant a man ob-
served six spoonbills feeding together in a field near the above place, and succeeded in

Birds. 3279

shooting three at one shot, which are now in my possession. — J. B. Ellman; Lewes,
October 8, 1851.

Occurrence of the Spotted Redshank in Suffolk. — An adult male example of this
species was shot at Cavenham in the first week of September.—Hdward Newton.

Captures of Rare Birds at and near Wisbech.—The following rare specimens have
recently been obtained in this neighbourhood, and, except where otherwise stated, are
now in my possession.

Knot, (Tringa Canutus). Four specimens in summer plumage shot near Wisbech,
July 29.

Bar-tailed Godwit, (Zimosa rufa). In summer plumage at Guyhim Wash, July
31: for the Wisbech Museum.

Temminck’s Stint, (Tringa Temminckii). Two specimens on the banks of the
Nene, Wisbech, September 3.

Pigmy Curlew (7. swbarquata). Two specimens at Guyhirn Wash, September 6:
for the Wisbech Museum.

Green Sandpiper, (TYotanus ochropus). Banks of the Nene, Wisbech, Septemb. 11.

Greenshank, (7. Glottis). Two specimens, banks of the Nene, September 10 and
11: one for the Wisbech Museum.

Dusky Sandpiper, (7. fuscus). Seven specimens, five caught in a plover-net at
Guyhirn Wash, September 3 and 6: one for the Wisbech Museum. One shot near
Ely, September 11: for the Ely Museum. One shot at Clenchwarton, September 11,
for the Lynn Museum.

Sandwich Tern, (Sterna Cantiaca), Shot at Hunstanton, September 6: for the
Wisbech Museum.

Greater Shearwater, (Puffinus cinereus). Caught near Lynn; for Lynn Museum.
—T. W. Foster, Curator of the Museum; Wisbech, September 12, 1851.

Note on Autumnal Migrants.—The little stint, wood sandpiper, curlew Tringa, and
bar-tailed godwit, have all made their appearance in this district. — Hdward Hearle
Rodd; Penzance, September 7, 1851.

Occurrence of the Little Stint (Tringa minuta) at Scilly. — Two specimens of this
pretty little sea-shore bird were obtained from Scilly within the last week.—Id. ; Sep-
tember 15, 1851.

Occurrence of the Little Stint at Pevensey, Sussex.—I obtained a pair of these mi-
nute sandpipers from the above place a few days since. — J. B. Ellman ; Lewes, Oc-
tober 1, 1851.

Occurrence of the Little Ringed Plover at Shoreham, Sussex—I obtained a specimen
of this scarce bird from the above place a few days since.—Jd.

Occurrence of the Wood Sandpiper at Newhaven, Sussex. — I shot a mature speci-
men of the wood sandpiper at the above place on the 9th ultimo. It was in company
with some dunlins, and did not fly away when they rose, which attracted my atten-
tion. By my glass I could see that it was not the common sandpiper ; and I was en-
bled to get sufficiently near to shoot it with No. 9 shot, which did not hurt it.—Jd.

Occurrence of the Spotted Redshank at Eastbourne, Sussex.—I received a very fine
adult male specimen of the spotted redshank, in autumnal plumage, on the 9th in-
stant, which was killed at the above place on the 6th.—Id.

Occurrence of Temminch’s Stint at Newhaven, Sussex.—I shot a specimen of Tem-
minck’s stint among the mud-fells at the above place, on the 5th ultimo.—ZJd.

3230 Birds.-—Fishes.

Occurrence of the Whiskered Tern at Scilly.—A bird was submitted to my inspec- —
tion which was shot near Trescoe Abbey, on one of the Scilly Islands, a few days since,
and which I have no doubt is an immature specimen of the whiskered tern (Sterna leu-
copareia). It is larger and more bulky in appearance than the black tern, with the
remarkable distinction of a prominent angle on the lower mandible, giving the bird
quite a gull-billed appearance. The feet are semipalmated, and the tail three quar- —
ters of an inch deep in the fork. Unfortunately I cannot well get at some of the lead-
ing dimensions, as the bird is set up. The length from the carpal joint to the end of
the first quill-feather is about 9 inches less 4; from the bottom of the neck to the end
of the longest tail-feather, 7 inches. The whole under parts pure white; the upper
part of the back dark brown, with the edges of the feathers lighter ; scapulars dark
brown, with broad margins of yellowish white; top of the head, occiput and nape ~
black, with a powdered mixture of gray and rufous ; forehead to crown white; a few
light bluish gray feathers, apparently newly moulted, are interspersed on the upper
region of the plumage; greater and lesser wing-coverts light bluish ash, some of the
feathers having the extremities brown ; tail with a gradually deeper tone of slate-gray
towards the point of each feather, which terminates in a brown spot edged with yel-
lowish white ; the collar of the neck above is bluish ash; the ear-coverts are grayish
black, exhibiting a large patch. The under parts being of a uniform pure white, the
whisker is not developed. The bird appears to be in a state of active moult, and ra-
pidly assuming the winter plumage, as described by Mr. Yarrell, in his ‘ British
Birds, iii. 406.— Edward Hearle Rodd ; Penzance, September 2, 1851.

Occurrence of the Pomarine Skua in Adult Plumage near Penzance.—An adult ex-
ample of this species occurred this week about a mile from Penzance, in Mount’s Bay.
The autumnal moult appears to be nearly completed. The middle tail-feathers extend
about 14 inch beyond the tail, and are of equal breadth to the end: the sides of the
neck exhibit a set of disconnected subulated feathers of a pale primrose-yellow: the top
of the head and back dark brown: the abdomen and vent ash-brown: the upper part
and sides of the breast blotched and sparingly spotted with indistinct brocoli-brown.
Length from tip of the beak to lateral tail-feathers 173 inches; breadth 46 inches. —
Id.; October 10, 1851.

Note on the Short Sun-fish, (Orthagoriscus Mola). — 1n the January number for
the present year (Zool 3001) I mention that a large specimen of this fish was brought
ashore at Pennan in the course of the summer of 1850. I had not such an opportu-
nity of examining that specimen as I could have desired, and the only palpable dispa-
rity, as it occurred to me, between it and the written descriptions of the species to
which my attention had been directed, lay in the scalloped configuration of the cau-
dal fin, which also appeared uniform with the rest of the body, or, as the fisher-
men observed, “ it seemed to have no tail at all.” I am happy in being able to say
that a most favourable opportunity of more minutely examining this species has just
been given me, which confirms former observations, as well as puts it in my power to
enlarge upon them. On the 19th ultimo, a crew of fishermen belonging to Gardens-
ton captured a noble specimen of the species in question off Troup Head, the most
northerly point of this line of the Moray Firth. When first seen, it was slowly float-
ing along on the surface of the water, having its dorsal fin and shoulder exposed.

Fishes. 328]

Offering little resistance, they soon succeeded in fastening a rope round the base of the
projecting dorsal, and by this was it dragged onwards until landed in the harbour.
Notice of the achievement was speedily sent to me, but being from home—to the cre-
dit of our fishers be it spoken— they moored the prize in the spot, and preserved it in-
tact for nearly three days to await my return. On going down to the harbour, before
I was aware, a dozen sturdy fellows were by my side, and getting them fixed in the
rope attached to the captive, we made out, after no slight effort, to haul him up on the
beach. He was then found to measure 5 feet 9 inches in length, and 3 feet 6 inches
in depth of body. The depth of the pectoral fin was 10 inches, that of the dorsal and
anal fins 1 foot and 10 inches respectively. Upon the inferior surface of his body was a
cluster of parasites, which, from Yarrell’s ‘ Fishes’ (ii. 353) I conjecture to have been
Tristoma coccinenm. I had no convenient means of ascertaining the weight of the
carcass ; but after being lightened of the internal viscera, it was found to be quite suf-
ficient load for an ordinary work-horse. The points, however, to which I particularly
desire attention, are the tail and skin, as these, in the two examples I have met with,
differ considerably from every figure, as well as from all the descriptions I have pe-
rused. In the figures, the outline of the caudal fin is by much too regular, and its
rays far too distinctly marked, which may perhaps be accounted for, as in the case of
Mr. Yarrell’s figure, by the likenesses having been taken from young specimens. In
the examples referred to, the tail-fin was cut into seven ample rounded scallops, the
three in the middle being the largest ; while the structure of the fin was completely
concealed, being so deeply overlaid by the common integuments, that there was no
indication of either ray or joint, until, on laying hold of it with the hand, it was found
to move freely backwards and forwards, showing a length of about ten inches. The
base of the middle scallop measured 23 inches. A perpendicular from the middle of
this base-line to the most prominent point in the curve of the scallop, measured about
13 inch ; the others gradually decreased in size, each however corresponding in every
way to its opposite in position. Both Mr. Yarrell and Dr. Parnell describe the skin
as rough, but “without spines;” in these specimens the contrary was the case. I
send with this a shred of the skin, which you will see is very thickly set with spines of
a peculiar type. They may be readily detached from the skin, when they show the ra-
diated base, as in the spine of the spinous shark, and they are also recurved, the point
of the spine being directed to the tail. But, what does not appear in the case of the
shark referred to, they are compressed longitudinally with respect to the body of the
animal, and serrated on the top, reminding one of the jagged cutting edge of one form
of the honey-combed variety of the human incisor. They are besides furnished with
lateral tufts of hair, imparting to the whole a rough bristly aspect. Some of the spines
will be observed to be regular ; but I consider the prevailing form will be found to be
as I have said. The smell of the skin when recent, and indeed of the body generally,
resembles that of Goniaster equestris. — George Harris ; Gamrie, Banffshire, Septem-
ber 23, 1851.

Note on the Spinous Shark, (Acanthias horridus). — Since I have mentioned the
spinous shark, allow me a remark on the specimen referred to by Mr. Smith of Mon-
quhitter, (Zool. 3057). I have little doubt of the specimen being as he describes it,
and a female too, as it contained a mass of eggs, in size from that of a filbert to that
of the egg of a common hen, which were entangled in a membranous-looking viscus.
I am puzzled, however, as regards the dentition, and the more so after looking into
the Supplement to Yarrell’s most valuable ‘ History of British Fishes,’ where at page

Ix 2Q

3282 Fishes.

59, that author gives two cuts of the teeth, as opposed to each other in the jaws, and
from two specimens. The teeth of the upper jaw of the specimen that came under
my observation correspond—quite correspond I would say—with those of the superior
maxillary represented in the first figure just referred to; but the teeth in the inferior
maxillary were wholly dissimilar. So far from having anything of the lancet set side-
ways appearance of those in the upper jaw, they were flat, tapering, conical, pointed,
recurved teeth ; and in place of suggesting the idea of a cutting intent in their struc-
ture, looked like an apparatus simply intended for keeping a hold of the prey. Hav-
ing lodged the jaws of this specimen, along with a fragment of the spiny skin, in the
Edinburgh University Museum, it might certainly be worth the while of a competent
ichthyologist to examine them, should opportunity serve.—Jd.

Occurrence of the Striped Red Mullet (Mullus surmuletus, L.), at Gamrie.— One
of the fishermen of the village of Gardenston sent me a very beautiful example of this
fish about the middle of August. Its length is 10 inches. When brought to me, the
bearer faithfully delivered the message that “the oldest man in Gamrie had never
seen the like of it ;” which may be explained by a reference to Mr. Yarrell, who says
it “is of frequent occurrence along the extended line of our southern coast, from Corn-
wall to Sussex, but becomes more rare in proceeding from thence northward by the
eastern coast.” —‘ Brit. Fishes,’ i. 28. Happening to be from home when it arrived,
the fish was within an ace of being cast forth as worthless! Alas, for the days of the
Emperors ! — Id.

The Variegated Sole on the Sussex Coast.— A few days ago a fish-vender from
Brighton offered some soles, which proved to belong to the above-named species, al-
though unluckily my attention was not attracted to the subject until too late for a full
examination. Yarrell’s account (Brit. Fishes, ii. 262) is, that this is “a rare species,”
and he mentions one of “nine inches in length,” as if the known specimens were small.
I apprehend, however, that further acquaintance with this variety will modify such
opinions. Of those which I saw, the basket contained an enormous pair, stated to
weigh upwards of 6 fbs.! and there were others of different sizes. I have not yet suc-
ceeded in procuring any more for comparison, but have been informed that the fish is
occasionally taken by the Brighton fishermen, when, during a westerly wind (as they
usually sail out against the wind, thereby ensuring a speedy return) they direct their
boats to that part of the coast nearly opposite to Worthing, which is familiarly known
as the Grass Banks. I remarked that the black patches on the back had a longitudi-
nal, not, as in Yarrell’s figure, a transverse direction, but am told that those marks va-
ry, running sometimes from head to tail, sometimes across the body. From experience
of the two which I had dressed, I consider the variegated sole not worth eating. Ihave
just learned that this fish is known at Lowestoffe, in Suffolk, where it is caught in par-
ticular localities, and deemed good. This is an object for the inquiries of the natu-
ralists of Norfolk and Suffolk. It has been stated to me that the lemon sole (British
Fishes, ii. 260) is occasionally brought for sale, but hitherto I have not noticed it. —
Arthur Hussey ; Rottingdean, October 11, 1851.

Insects. 3283

Entomological Localities. By J. W. Dovuctas, Esq.
(Continued from page 3248).
DarTFORD HEATH.

“The heath with all its varied bloom
And the close lanes.”

Crabbe’s Tales.

“ Sublime Tobacco! which from East to West

Cheers the tar’s labour or the Turkman’s rest;

* *
* * * *

Magnificent in Stamboul, but less grand

Though not less loved, in Wapping or the Strand;

Divine in hookas, glorious in a pipe

When tipped with amber, mellow, rich, and ripe :

Like other charmers, wooing the caress

More dazzlingly when daring in full dress ;

Yet thy true lovers more admire by far

Thy naked beauties — Give me a Cigar!”
Byron.— The Island, Canto ii.

The uncertain appearance of moths is notorious; one day swarming
and the next scarcely any to be seen. This variableness is doubtless
attributable to atmospheric influences, of which our less fine organs of
sense are not susceptible; but it is also certain that moths shrink from
some things as much as we do, and experience has taught that it is of
very little use to go out for Micro-Lepidoptera by day, or for Noctue
by night, if the wind blow coldly from the east. That is the wind,
par excellence, that blows nobody good, concerning which it may em-
phatically be said, “ de gustibus non est disputandum:” truly the col-
lector may sing with Burns,

“ Of a the airts the wind can blaw,
I dearly love the west.”
But all strong winds are unfavourable for taking Lepidoptera, whether
on the wing or when beaten out of their retreats. At such times we
cannot do better than search closely the sheltered side of palings, es-
pecially such as have trees to the windward, for out of these the moths
will be driven to take shelter on the fence, and they will sit so still
that they may easily be taken. Very many Tortrices and Tinez may
be found in this way, as well as Noctuz and Geometre.

I confess an east wind is my horror — either cutting one up altoge-

ther, or shrivelling one side while the other perhaps is roasting under

3284 Tnsects.

a burning sun. As few moths can be found when it blows, the col-
lector may employ his leisure in searching for the larve of Tortrices
and Tinez, of which, it may be an encouragement for him to learn, that
the greater part is quite unknown. Or he may vary his employment
by squatting under the shelter of a hedge or wood, and try the effect
of a counter-blast, as James I. might have called it, of his pipe or ci-
gar on the hiding-places of the full-grown objects of his search, who,
unaccustomed to such fragrance, will, like a suspicious father in a
farce, rush out to see what is the matter. And thus, combining the
“utile et dulce,” he may, with the glowing embers of the fragrant
weed, shed a new light upon Entomology, and show how necessary it
is for an entomologist to be a smoker.

Dartford Heath is a sandy, elevated plain, intermediate between
Darenth and Birch Woods, and easily accessible by the North Kent
Railway via Dartford. It is covered with heath (Hrica cinerea), and
not a very promising place for a lepidopterist; but, like some men,
the true character does not lie on the surface, or become apparent at
first sight, but the more you see of it the better you like it. The lanes
leading to it from Birch Wood, Bexley and Dartford, afford very good
collecting, but the great harvest is to be reaped from the paling of
Mrs. Menett’s park, which bounds the western side, always provided
the wind is not from the east. Fortunately, the best side of this fence
is outwards—not invariably the case with fences—and there is there-
fore no chance of being interrupted by any tenacious preserver of a
feudal right, hes thinks more of his gs goon Set than his ety kei -
here, ours is “ untaxed and undisputed game.”

Some of the gipsy race, over whom we may chance to tumble when
intent upon the paling, may request to tell our fortune; but whether
the question refers to our present occupation or to things in general,
it is better to think we know more than these wanderers, and decline
their services accordingly.

The following Lepidoptera have been found here. When not other-
wise mentioned, the insect has been taken on the fence. Hosts of
other species may be found at different times throughout the summer,
but I have not deemed it necessary to mention the commoner ones.

Argynuis Lathonia. In the lane from The Bull, Birch Wood (Ent.
Mag. iii. 313).

Lithosia complana. July.

Hadena lutulenta. September.

Catocala Fraxini. (Ent. Mag. iii. 314),

Kllopia fasciaria. June.

—s *

Insects. 3285

Aspilates citraria. Flying; end of May.

Thera firmaria. July and August.

Acasis viretata. May.

Zerene rubiginata. June.

Aleucis pictaria. Where this insect comes from is a mystery. It
is found, but very rarely, in the month of April, sitting on the paling.
Search has been made for it by beating the over-hanging fir-trees, and
it has also been looked for with a light at night, but without success.
Nothing is known of its early states, or the food of the larva. The
only other known locality for this species is near Colchester, where
several once came to a light in a room.

Eupithecia coronata. May.
4 pumilaria.
Chesias obliquata. May.
Spilodes sticticalis. August; on the Heath.
Stigmonota floricolana. In the lanes from Erith, on maple.
Tinea Crategella. Hedges; July.
Ochsenheimeria Vacculella. Among fern, (Péeris aquilina); July.
Depressaria atomella. Larvz on broom; July.
Gelechia maculiferella. Flying; July.
0 Walkeriella. Among fern, (Pteris aquilina) ; July.

95 Artemisiella. Among broom; July.
Aichmia equitella. On Sedum acre? growing on a barn at Bexley ;
July.
Coleophora , new species? On Artemisia vulgaris; July.

Gracilaria omissella. Bred from leaves of Artemisia vulgaris, grow-
ing in the lane from Bexley; July.
Coriscium Cuculipennellum. Flying; May.
Nepticula gratiosella. May.
Lithocolletis Scopariella. Broom; June, (Zool. 2896).
a Ulicicolella. Furze; June.
J. W. Douctas.

2, Eton Grove, Lee,
October 9, 1851.

On the Impalement of Insects on Thorns.—I cannot quite agree with the suggestions
(Zool. 2962, 2971) that the impalement of insects on thorns is the effect of accident ;
in some cases, it doubtless is so, but in the majority of instances, I am almost convin-
ced that such is not the fact. I have always understood that the red-backed shrike
(Lanius Collurio) transfixes insects in that way ; and though I certainly have not had
quite positive proof of this, I once met with an instance which was almost convincing.

3286 Inseets.

I had shot a female red-backed shrike in a low hedge at Peckham. The bird had at-
tracted my attention by its unsettled and jerking movements on the upper branches,
It did not fall to the ground, but rested on the hedge, and on removing it, I disco-
vered, close to the spot where it had been standing, a humble-bee empaled on one of
the thorns, and alive, as if it had just been placed there. I do not remember now at

——

what part the thorn had entered, but I perfectly recollect that my full impression at —

the time was, that the shrike had so placed it. I have three or four times since met
with bees impaled on thorns, and once with a specimen of the silver Y moth (Plusia
Gamma) thus transfixed. These were all single insects; but in the summer of 1849
(I think the beginning of June), on a low whitethorn bush on Shirley Common, near
Croydon, I found no fewer than three humble-bees impaled, and the remains of four
more on the ground at the bottom of the bush ; the impaled ones were within a space
of eighteen inches. I brought them home in boxes, but they have been mislaid, and
on looking for them after reading the remarks in the ‘ Zoologist, I could find only the
three specimens sent with this. With the larger one, it is quite impossible that its si-
tuation could be accidental; the thickness of the thorn, and its perpendicular growth,
would render it an impossibility for the insect to get thus placed by any movement of
its own (the thorn having entered the upper part of the thorax), if so, the insect must
have been flying directly downwards, with its legs uppermost, which I believe is rather
contrary to iis usual mode of flight. Besides, the remains of the others on the ground
would at once remove such an idea. The question is, how came they there? I still
think it was the work of the shrikes. I know they were about the place, as a few days
afterwards I procured four eggs, which were taken from a nest found near the spot in
question. Is it likely that the bird does not eat all the insect, but pulls it to pieces
merely to procure the honey-bag? It may find the fixing them favourable for such an
operation; and this may account for the parts found on the ground, as it is scarcely

_ likely that the bird would be so clumsy as to drop them while taking them off, or, if —

such had been the case, to allow them to lie there. Although I have dissected several
shrikes at different times, I do not recollect, in any instance, finding any portions of
bees ; the remains generally consisted of parts of beetles, and in one or two instances
the wing-cases of lady-birds. Believing, as I do, that in the majority of instances the
insects so found have been thus placed by the red-backed shrike, candour however
obliges me to confess that I cannot quite understand the circumstance of the three
perfect bees. Had there been but one, and the remains of the others, the case would
have been pretty clear, as that one might have been so left from the bird having been

disturbed. ‘The spines of the furze being very sharp and thin, it is quite possible that _

a caterpillar falling from an upper shoot, or a soft full-bodied moth carried by a strong
gust of wind, might be impaled on them ; but all that I have found (and I think the

majority of instances in which they have been discovered) have been on the white and _

black thorns, the spines of which are in general not sufficiently sharp to make an open-

ing in an insect so tough as the humble-bee, without some little violence being used. |

If those correspondents of the ‘Zoologist’ who have found insects (and especially bees)
thus transfixed, would send their observations, stating on what thorn discovered, and
whether shrikes breed in the locality, possibly something certain may be elucidated
respecting this subject, which now seems rather involved in obscurity. At present,
without attaching much value to the cases I have mentioned, I think the balance of
evidence is in favour of the act being that of the red-backed shrike-—Geo. Ingall; 81,
High Street, Borough.

Insects. 3287

Captures of Lepidoptera in Buckinghamshire. —I observed several specimens of
Apatura Iris flying about the tops of the oaks in the woods here last month, but though
I procured a pole about twenty feet long for my net, I was unable to take any. Has
this insect been observed in Bucks before? Thecla Querciis is abundant here, and I
was fortunate enough to take two specimens of Thecla Betule, flying over the low un-
derwood. In June and July I took about a dozen specimens of Leucophasia Sinapis,
one of Cherocampa Porcellus, and two of Sesia Bombyliformis, the latter hovering
over the flowers of Lychnis Flos-Cuculi. The larve of Cherocampa Elpenor and Ma-
croglossa Stellatarum have been unusually abundant this year; in August I took about
sixty of the former, on Galium uliginosum, and more than twenty of the latter on G.
verum. I have also taken the larve of Acronycta Ligustri plentifully on ash during
the last few weeks, in company with that of Sphinx Ligustri.— H. Harpur Crewe ;
Claydon, Bucks, September 17, 1851.

Captures of Micro-Lepidopiera near Bristol, in 1851.—The following list of a few
of this year’s captures may perhaps interest some of the readers of the ‘ Zoologist.’

Eupecilia dubitana, Hub., June 2—28; August 7—20. This is the species re-
corded (Zool. 2933) as Simplana? Captured by the railway at the bottom of Dr.
Fox’s woods, Brislington ; where I also took: —

Catoptria Albersana, June 2—16.

Eupecilia humidana, June 19—28.

Eidophasia Messingiella, June 23, July 1.

Elachista adscitella, Sta., June 25, one. Nearly of the size and appearance of a
somewhat faded Messingiella.

Eupithecia tenuiata, June 25—28.

Anacampsis Gerronella, June 25 to July 1. This species flies very late in the
evening, sometimes near the ground, but more frequently at a moderate height among
sallows.

Coleophora Alcyonipennella, June 28.

Eupeecilia notulana, July 5, 7.

The following I met with among broom nearer Keynsham : —
Lithocolletis Scopariella, July 5—August 18. On the wing.
Anacampsis distinctella, July 5—7.

oH cinerella, July 7, August 8.

a rufescens, July 7, August 8.
(Ecophora Lambdella, July 7—23.
Depressaria atomella, July 23, August 20.
Anacampsis Mulinella, August 7—18.

Elachista Regificella, August 12—20. In Mr. Stainton’s ‘ Supplementary Cata-
logue,’ this is said to be “ taken also by Mr. Vaughan,” —(p. 9). This may mislead
some into the idea of a third locality. Mr. Vaughan took his specimens in company
with me at Brislington.

Pseudotomia senectana, August 20,21. This was flying in tolerable abundance
on the 21st, among grass at the bottom of Dr. Fox’s woods, but wasted.

In a small plantation at the foot of St. Vincent’s Rocks, and near the road that
leads to the Clifton turnpike, I obtained the following : —

3288 Insects.

Eupithecia ? unnamed, June 30—July 3.
Emmelesia holosericearia, June 30—July 3.
Ephippiphora trigeminana, June 30—July 3.
Anacampsis subocellea, June 30—July 3.
Lithocolletis Alnifoliella, June 30—July 3.
Elachista propinquella, Sta., June 30.
Pterophorus baliodactylus, June 30.

~ ee

To these may be added Opostega crepusculella, two on July 4th at Tockington, —

Gloucestershire, and one on the 23rd at Brislington. — John Sircom, jun. ; Brisling-

ton, September 16, 1851.

Notes on Depressarie.—Depressaria nervosa, Sta. Cat.—I have bred this sparingly,
from larve found in the umbels of Cicuta virosa, in the beginning of July, going into
pup at the end of the month, and emerging in the first week of August. The larva,
both in appearance and habits, approximates closely to that of Depressaria Heraclea-
na, but it is more slender, its leaden and yellow-buff colours are much richer and more
distinct, and, more particularly, the black tubercles are annulated with white. I have
found the moth also, on sugar, within these few days. Depressaria ciliella, Sta. Cat.
—This, too, I have been breeding from the larve, which I took from Angelica sylves-
tris, and rather to my surprise, feeding on both the leaf and the umbel, convoluting
a portion of the side of the former for a retreat, and burying itself in triturated flow-
ers of the latter, for the same purpose. The leaf-feeders, however, appeared in the
beginning of July, whereas the denizens of the umbels were not found until the end
of the month, and necessarily so, as the plant was not sooner in blossom. I should
observe, that although the Angelica grows profusely here, yet the locality wherein I
found the insect was confined to a radius of about a quarter of a mile, nor could I meet
with one specimen elsewhere. Of all the larve I know, this is by far the most agile ;
you can scarcely touch his abode before he rushes (“ creeps” would be an inadequate
term) out of it at railway speed. In fact, I, at first, lost many owing to this circum-
stance, and fancied the leaves had been empty, but on discovering my error I resorted
to the plan of holding my net under the spray or flower before I began to search it,
and I soon found the good effect of this mode, as they generally dropped into the net,
and I had them safe. It is a pretty, very slender, rather bright green caterpillar, with
darker duskyish stripes down the back and sides, and its tubercles are not blackened.
I was so unlucky as to lose all but seven or eight of my larve, the others having es-
caped through a crevice in the feeding-glass. They remain about a month in the pu-
pa state. I should never have thought them distinct from Depressaria applana, had
not Mr. Stainton’s Monograph enlightened me; and it is really a matter of difficulty

with me now, to perceive any difference, except, perhaps, in size. My pursuit of game |

of a larger kind since the Ist inst., has interfered with my attention to the Lepidoptera,

but by the time I shall have got through the thick of my sport in that way, the ivy —

will be in bloom, and I shal) hope to reap therefrom a harvest for the benefit of my
correspondents.—J. Allen Hill ; Almondsbury House, September 16, 1851.

Occurrence of Sesia fuciformis, Macroglossa Stellatarum, and Sphina Convolvuli —
in Scotland.—In the descriptions of British moths by Mr. Duncan, in the 4th volume |
of Jardine’s ‘ Naturalists’ Library,’ it it stated that the broad-bordered bee hawk-moth —

(Sesia Fuciformis) has not been discovered further North than York, (p. 169). I beg
to inform you that in the month of July, 1826, I caught in my garden a few speci-
mens of this moth, two of which I still have in a state of excellent preservation. As

¥ Insects. 3289

at the least motion they darted away with the rapidity of an arrow, it was after much
labour and caution that I succeeded in capturing these rare Sphingides. I likewise
caught at the same time two specimens of Macroglossa Stellatarum. During the
month of September, in the same year, I captured the rare and beautiful Sphinx Con-
volvuli.— Thomas Durham Weir ; Boghead, by Bathgate, Linlithgowshire, August 26,
1851.

Occurrence of Trochilium Chrysidiforme in Hampshire. — About a month since a
specimen of Trochilium Chrysidiforme was taken in this neighbourhood. —Chas. Bar-
ron; Haslar, September 29, 1851.

Alydrecia Petasitis—My friend, Mr. Noah Greening, of Warrington, has taken
several fine specimens of this species near that place; and as it may be interesting to
some readers of the ‘ Zoologist’ to know something of the habits of this recently dis-
covered species, I send a few particulars from his letters. ‘‘ The larve feed on the roots
of the butter-bur (Tussilago Petasites), and when full-grown leave the plant and change
to pupe in the earth. The perfect insects appear early in September, and begin to fly
about half-past 7 o’clock in the evening. Their flight is heavy and slow, and they are
easily taken when they fly above the leaves, but as they usually fly under the leaves
near the ground, they are soon lost sight of. Their time of flight is only about half an
hour.’—Henry Doubleday ; Epping.

Occurrence of Melitea Cinzia &c. near Dover.— During a short tour along the
South coast in June last, I had the good fortune to find, near Dover, Melitea Cinxia
and Setina irrorella, in some plenty, both in the same locality. I have still some spe-
cimens of both species, which I shall be happy to send in exchange to any collector
who may still want them. — F. M. Spilsbury ; Sommershall, Uttoxeter, October, 1851.

Capture of Heliophobus hispida, Tr. — Some six or seven years back, T. Lighton,
Esq., captured two specimens of this beautiful species in the Isle of Portland, it being
then new to England. I have long had a desire to search after it myself, but until
this autumn had no opportunity of doing so; however, on the 21st of last month, I vi-
sited the Island expressly for the purpose, and in three days and nights, with the as-
sistance of two men, succeeded in finding fifteen fing specimens sitting on the rocks.
IT hope to get a few more, having offered a liberal price for all that can be procured ;
so if they arrive, I shall have them to exchange. I also captured Epunda lichenia
and Aporophila australis, the latter at sugar. — Samuel Stevens ; 24, Bloomsbury St.,
October 14, 1851.

Capture of Bembidium Schuppelii in the North of England. ~— When in Cumber-
land in June, 1849, I took on the banks of the river Irthing, a single specimen of a
small Bembidium unknown to me, and which I transmitted to M. Duval, of Paris,
who pronounces it to be B. Schuppelii, Dej., a species not recorded as British.— Thos.
Jno. Bold, Angus’ Court, Bigg Market, Newcastle-on-Tyne, Oct. 19, 1851.

Importation of Bruchus rufimanus into Newcastle-on-Tyne. — In the latter part of
September, 1850, a cargo of 1000 qrs. of large beans, imported here from Sicily, was
found to be much infested with Bruchus rufimanus, Sch., in the stages of larva, pupa,
and imago. Many of the beans had from three to five tenants. The perfect insects
are very active: when set free, they would simulate death for a second, then nimbly
regain their legs, running with a great deal of agility, taking wing quickly from any
slight prominence, and flying with the rapidity and ease of a Cicindela. They walked
on the glass of windows, much the same as Diptera, running up, down, or across with
equal readiness. I kept some of the beans ina glass vase for some months during the

IX. ; QR

3290 Insects. — Zoological Society.

winter, but found that the insects only survived for a few weeks after development, and _

in no case did I see them attempt to feed upon the beans. A gentleman of my ac-
quaintance planted a number of the beans, and found their vegetative powers but lit-
tle impaired by the drilling they had undergone. Some of the millers’ men were
much astonished to find the meal, after passing through the stones, apparently alive,
and the “‘ queer flies,” as they termed them, taking wing and flying about the mill in
thousands.—Id.

Tenacity of Life in Calandra granaria. — Having been often told by the loft-men
that it was impossible to drown the corn-weevil (Calandra granaria) I procured a large
supply, determined to submit them to a watery ordeal. The result showed me that

they are able to resist the action of water long enough for transportation to other coun- —

tries by ocean currents, should we be at a loss to account for their dispersion by other
means. On the 16th of December last, I put the whole of the weevils into a glass,
and covered them with water. When I took them out, the weather being cold, I pla-
ced them on a warm mantel-piece. After sixteen hours’ immersion I took out fourteen
weevils: ina very short time six were moving, the remainder having been swept down.
On the 18th I took out twenty-two, after forty-five hours’ immersion : in an hour the
whole were quite active. On the 19th, of eighteen taken out, after being seventy hours
under water ; five walked off in two hours, eight showed symptoms of life, the others
being apparently dead. On the 20th nineteen were taken out, after being ninety-two
hours in the water ; of these, five revived in an hour, and at the end of two hours the
whole were quite active. I did not take out any more until the 23rd, when, towards
evening, I took out eleven, which had then been a hundred and sixty-four hours in the
water; of these, four were moving in three hours, and the following morning I found
the whole alive, although not very active. On the 26th, after ten days’ steeping, ten
were taken out, but only three of them revived, and those not till the following morn-
ing. On the 31st, seventeen were taken out after fifteen days’ immersion; six of them
revived, but were forty-eight hours in doing so, and then were exceedingly languid,
moving about as if intoxicated. The remainder I allowed to remain in the water until
the 7th and 8th of January, but those, when taken out, appeared to be all dead. — Jd.

Capture of Astynomus Avdilis at Newcastle.-—On the 29th of September last, I had
a living recently developed specimen (a female) of Astynomus Aidilis, Linn., brought
to me, which had been taken on board a grain-laden ship, discharging in our port
from Stettin. ‘Two others were seen, but allowed to escape. This is so far interest-
ing, as it plainly shows how our Fauna is increased by our mercantile intercourse.—Ld.

Proceedings of the Zoological Society.

Monthly General Meeting, October 2, 1851. — Joun E. Gray, Esq., V-.P., in the
chair.

Prof. E. Forbes and W. O. Lamond, Esq. were elected Fellows.

The Rev. B. Winthrop, F. I. Bladon, Esq., and W. R. Crawford, Esq., were pro-
posed as candidates for the Fellowship.

The Report of the Council stated that several interesting animals had been added
to the Menagerie, and that a new building was in progress for the reception of the

Entomological Society. 3291

Elands bequeathed by the late Earl of Derby. Mr. R. Hill, Corresponding Member,
had forwarded some reptiles from Jamaica, of which one serpent was entirely new to

_the collection. Capt. Fulton, R.N., and Mr. H. Manifold, had also presented valua-

ble additions to the reptile room, which has been greatly improved during the present
summer. The increasing interest with which this branch of the garden establishment
is visited, has determined the Council to provide for its extension in another building,
which will be completed in the course of the winter.

The number of visitors in September exceeded those of the corresponding period
of 1850, by 74,217—D. W. M.

Proceedings of the Entomological Society.

October 6, 1851.—J. O. Westwoop, Esq., President, in the chair.

Monsr. Victor Signoret and J. McGillivray, Esq. were present as visitors.

The following donations were announced, and thanks ordered to be given to the
donors : —‘ Proceedings of the Literary.and Philosophical Society of Liverpool, No.
6, 1849—51; by the Society. ‘Catalogus Systematicus ad Cramerum, auctore Hen-
rici Verloren;’ by the Author. ‘ Mémoires de la Société de Physique et d'Histoire
Naturelle de Genéve,’ tome xii. 2nde partie; by the Society. ‘ Journal of the Royal
Agricultural Society of England,’ vol. xii. part 1; by the Society. ‘ Memorias de la
Real Academia de Ciencias de Madrid, tomo i. parte 1: and ‘Resumen de las Actas,’
ditto, 1849-50 ; both presented by the Academy. ‘ Degli Insetti Carnivori adoperati
a distruggere le specie dannose all Agricultura di Antonio Villa, Milano, 1845: ‘ Os-
servazioni Entomologique durante |’Eclisse del 9 Octobre, 1847, di Antonio Villa ;’
both by the Author. ‘ Entomologische Zeitung, for September; by the Entomologi-
cal Society of Stettin. ‘The Zoologist’ for October; by the Editor. ‘ Philosophical
Transactions of the Royal Society, 1850, part 2, 1851, part 1: ‘ Proceedings,’ ditto,
No. 75: ‘ List of Members, ditto, 1850: all by the Society. ‘ Annales de la Société
Entomologique de France, tome viii. 1850; by the Society. ‘ Bericht iber die Ar-
beiten der Entomologischen Sektion (of the Silesian Society of Natural History),’
1850 ; by the Society. ‘ Catalogue of the Mammalia in the Museum of the East In-
dia Company ;’ by the Hon. Court of Directors of the Company. ‘'The Atheneum,
for August and September; by the Editor. A number of insects, chiefly Coleoptera,
collected in Renfrewshire ; by Mr. Young, Paisley. A fine series of varieties of Or-

_ thosia instabilis; by Mr. Barlow.

John Curtis, Esq., F.L.S., and Captain H. Lodder, 47th Infantry, were balloted
for and elected Members of the Society.

Mr. 8. Stevens exhibited a fine series of the hitherto very rare Heliophobus his-
pida, taken sitting on rocks in the Isle of Portland, between the 20th and 27th of Sep-
tember; Aporophila australis, from the same locality ; Eupithecia ultimaria, Ramb.,
Boisd., Dup., a new British species taken at Dover in the middle of September; a spe-
cimen of Deiopeia pulchella, taken in Somersetshire in 1847 ; and a specimen of Cla-
viger foveolatus, taken near Dorking in September.

Mr. Edwin Shepherd exhibited a new species of Peronea, reared from larve found
on Spirea Ulmaria.

Mr. Augustus Sheppard exhibited a pupa of Saturnia Carpini in its cocoon, which
latter was rounded internally and externally, instead of being of the usual egg-shape ;

3292 Entomological Society.

one side, that by which it had been affixed to the breeding-cage, being open and
showing the pupa.

Mr. F. Smith exhibited a mass of cocoons of Aphomia sociella, found on the coast —

of the Isle of Wight.

My. Weir exhibited many species of Depressaria, lately captured, and a specimen
of Gelechia lentiginosella, reared from a caterpillar which fed on Genista tinctoria.

Mr. W. Thomson sent for exhibition a box of Coleoptera, collected at Morocco by
Mr. Drummond Hay, containing, among other interesting insects, a specimen of the
British species, Nebria complanata.

Mr. Janson exhibited a box of fine Coleoptera from Himalaya.

Mr. Adam White exhibited a copy of a manuscript on spiders, by Mr. Joseph Dan-
dridge, or Daindridge, an apothecary, who lived in Moorfields in the days of Petiver
and Sloane. He was a keen collector of British spiders, and wrote descriptions of
them, which were subsequently published by Albin in 1736. He found “above a hun-
dred and forty kinds of them in England only,” (see Bradley’s ‘ Works of Nature,’ p.
131, 1721). Myr. W. mentioned a New Zealand genus, and a curious species of New
Zealand spider, named after this indefatigable collector; he also pointed out the clear
manner in which Lister and Dandridge had described the habits and markings of the
British spiders, directed the attention of the entomologists present to this interesting
group, and requested them to collect specimens. _ He mentioned that Mr. Blackwall
had commenced in the ‘ Annals and Magazine of Natural History’ a series of papers
on British spiders, and said that the arachnologist of Denbighshire had undertaken
for the Ray Society a volume on the subject, which would include the descriptions
and figures so admirably detailed and drawn by his friend Mr. Templeton, when re-
siding near Belfast, a manuscript which Mr. W. some years ago urged the Zoological
Society to publish. He alluded to the labours of Dr. George Johnston, of Berwick,
on the mites of Berwick, published in the ‘ Proceedings of the Berwickshire Natural-
ists’ Club ;’ and concluded by reading an extract from a MSS. journal of his own,
written in France in 1841: this extract referred to Walckenaer, Fabricius, and La-
treille, and their labours in Arachnology.

The following communication from Mr. H. W. Newman, of Stroud, was read: —

“In the ‘ Proceedings’ (p. 93) I find my friend and brother member of the Soci-
ety, Mr. Smith, has criticised my paper on the Bombinatrices, and seems to doubt the
veracity of the statements respecting the drones; and I do not wonder at this, for any
casual observer may come to the same conclusion. This very summer I have a fine
nest of Apis lapidaria in my kitchen-garden, at the foot of the wall, which, for the last
six weeks, I have watched at nearly all hours; and though they have had a traflic of
the average of three per minute entering, I have never seen one male go in.

“ The wild bees are of an inoffensive character, and not in sufficient numbers (like
the hive-bees) to expel the males ; and the Creator has ordained that they shall leave
the nest voluntarily and never return, they not having the same ‘organ of locality’ as
the workers, for they make no observation like the workers: and yet they know their
way to flowers, and have certain haunts. I watched one of the Apis hortorum a few
days ago come exactly every three minutes and a half, for two hours, to two spots
within view, hover about them as if going to settle, and then move on somewhere
else. [can assure Mr. Smith that it cost me many months’ observation, for a dozen
summers at least, before I could fathom their pastime, but at last I found it out, as I
believe firmly when the males of the different species leave their nests, the ‘Great

Entomological Society. 3293

Architect’ has ordained their round of visits as an occupation. Each species has a
different flight, but Apis hortorum is by far the easiest to discover going its rounds to
the different haunts, as it flies very near the ground, and may be traced to some five
or six places, where it appears to stop. The other species vary their flight through
trees and bushes, but invariably keep the same track, generally from 10 or 11 o'clock
till about 3 or 4, in fine sunny weather.

“The whole of the Bombinatrices, about the beginning of September, begin to
get feeble and slow ; they lose their wings in many instances, and the females, many
of which leave the nest, look out for dry and convenient holes in the ground and else-
where to pass the winter in a torpid state.

** Now of the moving habit of the drones Mr. Smith took no notice, and yet this is
one of the things I thought worthy of remark. I have pointed it out to several of my
friends many times, and I certainly think this eccentricity of the male a curious addi-
tion to their true history.

“* T can assure Mr. Smith that I shall be most happy next summer to meet him or
any other lover of the genus, and prove the whole of this. I will only add that I have
made the history of these insects my study for fifty years, and have taken at least 500
of their nests. I have also watched their nests in the fields for days and weeks, and
had my observations confirmed over and over again.

“The great Mr. Kirby has himself said ‘ that the Bombinatrices are in many in-
stances so unlike (the males and females), that they may be mistaken for another
species, and that unless by intense application it is quite impossible for any one per-
son to be perfect in the history of more than one species.’ And again, ‘I am by no
means certain that I have not, in more instances than one, described the sexes under
different names ; until all can be traced to their nidi this is not easy to be avoided.’ *

“ Mr. Smith’s ‘ crowning remark’ on Mr. Kirby, I cannot find in his work.”

Mr. Smith then made the following observations : —

“ When, at the June Meeting of this Society, a paper by Mr. H. W. Newman on
some species of humble-bees was read, I, having paid some attention to their specific
differences, and alsu to their economy, felt it incumbent on me to offer to the Society
a few remarks as the results of my experience. In differing from Mr. Newman re-
specting the habits of the drones, or males, I gave but the result of my observations,
which induced me to adopt a contrary opinion ; this opinion, as I stated at the time,
was drawn from circumstantial evidence, and admitted even of the possibility of error ;
but I felt an additional persuasion to its adoption from having the support of Mr.
Kirby, who, in his ‘ Monographia Apum Angliez’ (ii. 367) says, ‘I have myself seen
this insect entering the nidus of Apis lapidaria ; and what appears to do away with all
doubt upon the subject’ (of its being the male), ‘I saw this insect in the collection of
the celebrated Peter Collinson, with a memorandum affixed to it, that he had seen it
connected with A. lapidaria.’ Mr. Newman now objects to my observations, at which
I am surprised ; because in making observations, it should be the sole object of the
naturalist to elicit truth, and he should always bear in mind that ‘ Nature is commu-
nicative at intervals only, and she must consequently be assiduously watched ;’ still
it is only to few that she raises the veil.

“ Since making the remarks alluded to, I have had the good fortune to have my

* Kirby’s ‘ Monographia Apum Angliz, 208.

3294 Entomological Society.

opinion confirmed by direct observation: the particulars are embodied in my notes
on the nest of Bombus Derhamellus, which, with permission, I will read to the Soci-
ety. Before doing so, however, I will make one or two remarks on other points con-
nected with the history of humble-bees as recorded by Mr. Newman. I cannot bring
myself to coincide in the opinion that males have prescribed rounds, from which they
never deviate, keeping in the same track ; because I have always found these, as well
as insects generally, influenced by the direction of the wind, the sun, and the situation
of such flowers as they most frequent ; and Mr. Newman’s theory would tell against
his remark, that the males have not the organ of locality developed as in the females
and workers.

“ With regard to the localities of Bombus lapidarius, which Mr. Newman never
saw in Scotland, I made it a point to inquire of residents in that part of the kingdom.
From Mr. Little I received the whole of his black-and-red humble-bees captured in
various parts of Scotland, and all but two were B. lapidarius.

“Mr. Newman limits the number of species of Bombus to four, considering all
others as mere varieties: this is certainly incorrect; I am acquainted with twenty-two
distinct species found in Great Britain. In differing from the author of the paper on
the habits of the Bombinatrices in some particulars, I should be sorry indeed if he
should suppose that I doubted the veracity of his statements ; so far from that, I fully
appreciate the value of his remarks on their general history, and also on the various
particulars of numbers of the different species inhabiting the same nest, their modes of
construction, times of appearance, &c.: but I differ from him in the conclusions which
he draws from his observations, and can see nothing to uphold the assertion that ‘ Di-
vine Wisdom has deprived them (the males) entirely of the power or faculty of return-
ing to, or finding the nest.’

“ The following notes, in connexion with the observations of Mr. W. H. 8. Wal-
cott, will, I think, prove conclusive on that point. ;

“ Nores ON THE NEsT oF BomBus DERHAMELLUS,

“On the 2nd of August, whilst walking at the side of a wood at Hampstead, my
attention was attracted by a male humble-bee which was skimming over a bank. It
suddenly alighted and disappeared: on examining the spot where I lost sight of it, I
found a track of moss, about nine inches long ; this was the covered way to the nest,
which, together with its contents, I carefully secured for examination. The species
was Bombus Derhamellus. The nest was about eight inches long and six broad. At
this period of the year the labours of the community were over ; with the exception of
about half a dozen females, all the bees had quitted the cocoons ; in six cells I found
a small portion of honey. The total number of cocoons was 187; judging from the
differences in the sizes of these, I consider 107 as being those of workers, 44 those of
males, and 36 those of females. In the nest I found thirteen females (six others were
subsequently developed), fourteen males and two workers. The mass of comb was of
an irregular form, the cocoons being spun one over the other, that is to say, the fe-
males had spun a layer of cocoons on the top of some of those of the workers, those of
the males being intermixed with them. Reaumur says the pupa is placed with its
head downwards, and makes its way out at the bottom of the cocoon ; in my nest the
ease was exactly the reverse. The females were all in fresh and beautiful condition,
the mother bee, or founder, having probably perished some time previously, when the
process of depositing her eggs was completed.

a a eee eee ee

Entomological Society. 3295

“The nest swarmed with the Acarus with which humble-bees are so much infest-
ed; the larve of Volucella hombylans were also very numerous, and in all stages of
growth, and I reared two or three perfect insects from them. I also found the larve,
pupz, and perfect insects of Cryptophagus Lycoperdi in considerable numbers. The
larve of a Tinea (7. Sarcitella) were also very numerous; from these I obtained the
perfect insect. I also found three or four specimens of Antherophagus glaber.

“The immature larve of Volucella were plentiful, but on what they would feed I
cannot determine, there being neither larve nor pupe remaining. I observed them
to frequent those cells which contained honey, and I think, notwithstanding they are
said to be insectivorous, that they feed also on the honey and wax: on the latter, the
Acari undoubtedly partly subsist. The larva of Tinea Sarcitella feeds on the cocoons
themselves: a number of these moths appeared in a perfect state at intervals, and I
observed the larve in the empty cocoons of the bees in all stages of growth. The
larve of Cryptophagus I found also in the honey and wax ; when full fed, they bury
themselves in the ground, and soon appear in the perfect state.

“‘ Since writing the above notes, I have received a letter from Mr. Walcott, of
Bristol, a gentleman who has made the bees a particular study, and is well acquainted
with the genus Bombus. He says, ‘ In the last week in August, I found a nest of
Bombus Derhamellus on our Downs ; it was at least a hundred and fifty strong. In
watching the nest, the males re-entered it with the neuters ; but, I should observe, that
the females had not appeared, this strengthens what I have lately supposed, that the
males continue to re-enter the nest until the females are out, after which they forsake
the nest. The bees invariably make their exit from the top of the cocoon; their mode
of proceeding is this: a note or hum being heard from the encased bees, both males
and neuters hasten in a body, clustering themselves as close as possible on and about
the cell, either to soften the wax on the cocoon, or to give encouragement to the en-
cased bee to make the great effort of delivering itself; and immediately on the bee
making its exit from the cell, it hastens to the old cocoons containing honey to feed,
it appearing much exhausted by its late effort. All the masses of cells that I have
seen have been placed upwards, but should a bee select a hole somewhat circular and
confined, there I think the bee would make her cells not only on the ground surface,
but as they increased would go on until some were placed downwards; but this would
be an extreme case, and form an exception to the general rule.’ ”

Mr. Stainton exhibited a species of Lithocolletis, which he had hitherto confounded
with the true L. Frolichiella, but which was yet quite distinct; and read the follow-
ing note : —

““ Mr. Allis suggested to me last December, that it was not improbable we had
two species under the name of Frolichiella, and a further examination of more speci-
mens has convinced me of the correctness of his suggestion. Naturally, on first hear-
ing of L. Nicellii, my idea was that it would prove to be our other species, but in this
I was mistaken. Both are indeed smaller than Frdlichiella ; but whereas Nicellii is
paler than Frolichiella, our new species is darker.

*“‘ For this species I have much pleasure in proposing the name of Dunningiella,
in honour of Mr. J. W. Dunning, of Leeds, whose extreme quickness and perseverance
give promise of great doings in that branch of science called Micro-Lepidopterology.

“ L. Dunningiella is smaller and darker than Frolichiella (yet not so small as Ni-
cellii), the anterior wings are narrower, especially above the anal angle, where in Fro-
lichiella they are very broad ; the black scales of the apex of the wing are also more

3296 Society of British Entomologists.

collected, thus resembling Nicellii, and the hinder marginal line is much more distinct
and darker than in Frolichiella, where it is barely perceptible.

“ From Nicellii, fine specimens of Dunningiella may be readily distinguished by
their dark colour; worn specimens are less easily separated, but the longer and nar-
rower anterior wings, less brilliant markings, and the clouded appearance of the ground
colour, are sufficient characters to enable one eventually to separate them.

“ Dunningiella was the species I described in the ‘ Zoologist’ (2088), under the
name of Frolichiella, and is in most collections under that name. It probably is at-
tached to hazel or oak.

“Of the true Frolichiella I have a specimen taken ‘among alders on Ockham
Bog, near York, May 31, 1849,’ (Zool. 2897).”

Mx. Stainton read a translation from the Silesian ‘ Bericht uber die Arbeiten der
Entomologischen Sektion’ for 1850, of Professor Siebold’s “ Remarks on the Psychide.”
In this paper, Siebold alludes to a former suspicion of his that “alternation of genera-
tion” did not occur among the Aphides only ; and affirms that he is now certain the
same phenomenon occurs among the Psychida, he having discovered it in the Talepo-
rie. He had particularly investigated the history of T. Lichenella, Zell., and found
that for several generations fertile eggs were produced by the females (or nurses as un-
der these circumstances they are called), without male intercourse.

It had also been observed that from some spiral cases found in Germany and Italy,
apparently belonging to a Psyche, nothing but vermiform females were produced,
which again laid fertile eggs without male intercourse ; and indeed the male of this
species was not hitherto known.

Mr. J. E. Gray expressed his dissent from the theory of “alternation of genera-
tion,” and cautioned young entomologists against believing in such a doctrine because
it was advocated by a physiologist of so great a reputation as Siebold.

The President observed that M. Guérin had known an example of a female Bom-
byx Mori having produced fertile eggs without male intercourse; and it was recorded
that a similar circumstance had occurred among the Sphingide.—J. W. D.

Proceedings of the Society of British Entomologists.

October 7, 1851.—Mr. HaArorne, President, in the chair.

The only novelties exhibited as having been taken during the past month were
Hadena lutulenta and Aplecta occulta, taken by sugar at Darenth; Hadena Athiops
from the Fens, exhibited by Mr Harding ; Aglossa cuprealis, taken on a house-top in
the City.

It was remarked in the course of a conversation, that out of a hundred specimens
of Colias Edusa taken during the present season, not more than nine were females, or
in the proportion of ten males to one of the other sex. The remarkable number of
Vanessa Cardui was noticed by several members, as well as the variety of places in
which they were seen. ‘Two specimens were observed flying in the enclosure in Lin-
coln’s Inn Fields, and great numbers in the fields near Highgate; and at the latter
place the larve were most abundant.—J. 7. Norman.

Zoology of California. 3297

Notes on the Zoology of California.
Communicated by Joun Henry Gurney, Esq.

HAvING just received the following notes on the animals of Cali-
fornia, from a friend of mine who is resident at Monterey, in that
country, I beg to forward them for insertion in the ‘ Zoologist.’

J. H. GURNEY.
Easton, Norfolk, October 24, 1851.

The elk is found in great numbers in the San Joaquim and Sacra-
mento Valleys. Itis a beautiful animal. A gentleman informed me
the other day, that when he first came into the country six years ago,
he saw one of the grandest sights that a man’s eyes could light upon.
About 3 o’clock of a summet’s afternoon, he came in view of the plains
of the Joaquim, as you travel from the ocean. The view from hills
1000 feet high, and the plains (flat lands), as far as the eye could see,
were covered with immense herds of the noble elk. This animal has
immense antlers, and you can imagine the effect of two thousand of
them at one view, and entirely in a state of nature, that is, undis-
turbed by the hunter.

There are three or four kinds of deer, also antelopes.

In the neighbourhood of the Tula lakes, immense bands (sometimes
said to contain a thousand) of wild horses roam without a master.
They are considered by the Californians as stock escaped from the
settlers since the settlement of the country in 1770.

Hares and rabbits are very plentiful, as well as innumerable ground
squirrels, which are exceedingly annoying to the farmer.

Since the discovery of gold, immense numbers of the common rat
have been imported in the ships arriving, and they have now become
_ exceedingly numerous and annoying, and will, I have no doubt, at no
distant day, be destructive to the crops.

Beavers are sometimes found. In former days they used to be very
numerous in the Joaquim and Sacramento Valleys.

Black and grisly bears are abundant in the hills and mountains
_ throughout the state, and are very destructive to young stock.

The wild cat and a kind of panther are also found in the mountains.

The Coyote or fox is very numerous, and, with the common gray
wolf, is very destructive to young cattle and horses.

We have also a mole, with fur finer and softer than the best Genoa
velvet: also the Gopher, a kind of mole or earth-rat.

Ix 258

3298 Zoology of California.

The kangaroo rat is found in the Sacramento Valley, but I have
never seen it.

The fur-seal and river-seal are found.

The common sea-seal or elephant is very numerous on our coast ;
also the fin-backed and other species of whale.

Eagles of two or three kinds are found.

Many kinds of owls are known, a small one burrows in the ground.

The red-headed buzzard is found in every part of California.

A great variety of hawks are found ; the blue jay also occurs.

Magpies of a different kind from those of England and the Atlantic
States abound ; the beak is yellow and their wings are tipped with
white.

The common crow is found in every part of California.

The sociable blackbird (Chenate) is very common, and is very bold.
It is found in all parts of the State, sometimes in large flocks of 2000
and 3000.

The ‘fitnitayubaiow is very common from April to August, and
builds its nest of earth under the eaves of the houses.

A red-breasted linnet with a pretty note is known.

The migratory swallow builds under the eaves of houses.

The humming-bird is sometimes found but is not very common.

The dove is found ; and it is said that this year is the first appear-
ance of the wild pigeon in California: they came into our neighbour-
ing woods this month.

There is a bird here which lives in the squirrel-holes in the ground,
and cannot fly, but runs as fast asadog. It is about the size and
colour of a partridge, but not so stout ; it is called the Cotoke.

A small species of pheasant or partridge, with a tuft, is very com-
mon in the under-bush : its Spanish name is Coronice.

The sand-hill or blue crane, in Spanish, Gruyares, is also found.

From the month of November to April millions of wild geese abound.

The water-duck abounds in all wet and swampy places; and the
waters of California swarm with all kinds of sea-fowl, in greater num-
bers than I have seen elsewhere. The pelican is found here; and
there are twenty different kinds of sea-birds on our immediate coast
around Monterey.

The rattle-snake is very common in some parts of our State.

The horned frog is found in all dry and sandy districts.

Several species of butterfly are known.

Grasshoppers are very common on the Bay of San Francisco, and
very troublesome and destructive.

Quadrupeds. 3299

The honey-bee is not yet known in California, although the abun-
dance of flowers would seem to indicate their necessity.

A species of tarantula is known, as well as a kind of wasp, its an-
tagonist.

The shark and dog-fish are found in the coast waters.

In the spring of the year millions upon millions of salmon ascend
every river in the country, and furnish abundance of food to the peo-
ple, particularly the Indians.

Sardines are found in immense numbers on this coast in the spring,
and afford an abundant and delicate article of food.

Fish are said to be abundant in the Tula lakes.

The shores of California furnish an immense variety of shell-fish of
the most delicious kinds: the Almecas or mussel, the Avelone, the
date-fish, &c. &c., as well as the star-fish, are very abundant.

There are five distinct varieties of shell-fish found in the soft clay-
stone of Monterey ; and fossil shells and other remains are very com-
mon in California.

Wolves suckling Children in the Romulus and Remus style—Colonel Sleeman told
me one of the strangest stories I ever heard, relative to some children, natives of this
country (Oude), carried away and brought up by wolves. He is acquainted with five
instances of this, in two of which he has both seen the children and knows the circum-
stances connected with their recapture from the animals. It seems that wolves are
very numerous about Cawnpore and Lucknow, and that children are constantly being
carried off by them. Most of these have of course served as dinners for their captors,
but some have been brought up and educated after their own fashion by them. Some
time ago, two of the King of Oude’s sowars (mounted gens d’armes), riding along the
banks of the Goomptje, saw three animals come down to drink. Two were evidently
young wolves, but the third was as evidently some other animal. The sowars rushed
in upon them and captured the three, and to their great surprise found that one was a
_ small naked boy. He was on all fours like his companions, had callosities on his
knees and elbows, evidently caused by the attitude used in moving about, and bit and
scratched violently in resisting the capture. The boy was brought up in Lucknow,
where he lived some time, and may, for aught I know, be living still. Ile was quite
unable to articulate words, but had a dog-like intellect, quick at understanding signs,
andsoon. Another enfant trouvé under the same circumstances lived with two Eng-
lish people for some time. He learned at last to pronounce the name of a lady who
was kind to him, and for whom he showed some affection, but his intellect was always
clouded, and more like the instinct of a dog than the mind of a human being. There
was another more wonderful but hardly so well authenticated story of a boy who never
could get rid of a strong wolfish smell, and who was seen not long after his capture to
be visited by three wolves, which came evidently with hostile intentions, but which,
after closely examining him, he seeming not the least alarmed, played with him, and

3300 Birds.

some nights afterwards brought their relations, making the number of visitors amount —
to five, the number of cubs the litter he had been taken from was composed of. —
T think Col. Sleeman believed this story to be perfectly true, although he could not
vouch for it. There is no account of any grown-up person having been found among
the wolves. Probably after a certain time they may have got into a set of less scru-
pulous wolves, not acquainted with the family: the result is obvious— Sir R. I. Mur- —
chison in Ann. Nat. Hist.

Occurrence of the Osprey (Falco Halizetos) at the Land’s End.—A very fine young
bird of the year of this species was killed during the present week from this locality.
All the feathers on the back are deeply edged with yellowish white.— Edward Hearle
Rodd ; Penzance, November 6, 1851.

Occurrence of the Great Gray Shrike (Lanius Excubitor) and the Reed-wren (Sa-
licaria arundinacea) at Scilly—A female specimen of the great gray shrike was killed
during the present week at St. Mary’s, Scilly ; and the reed-wren was also obtained.
These birds are of rare occurrence in this county, and the latter bird was only included
in our Fauna a year or two since, when several were obtained from the Scilly Isles.
—Id.

Occurrence of the Fire-crested Regulus (Regulus ignicapillus) at Scilly. — I have
reported to you from time to time the occurrence of this species in several localities in
the West of Cornwall, but never I believe from the Scilly Isles. I can now, however,
do so, having examined an interesting specimen of an adult male bird, which was
shot a few days since by Augustus Pechell, Esq., a relative of the Lord Proprietor of
the Islands, to whom we are also indebted for the opportunity of recording the ortolan
bunting and whiskered tern as addenda to our Cornish Fauna. The specimen of the
fire-crest now under notice, exhibits all the characteristic markings of the species, and
if I should notice any one thing in its general appearance, it would be the remarkable
yellowish green colour which particularly pervades the sides of the neck, and which,
as you may be aware, is wanting in its congener, the gold-crest. I cannot detect any
difference in the comparative lengths of the tail in the two species; and I mention
this merely as the point has been given as one of distinction between the two species,
that of the fire-crest being represented as longer than that of the gold-crest. — Id. ;
November 16, 1851.

Occurrence of Richard’s Pipit (Anthus Richardi) at the Scilly Isles.— A specimen
of this pipit was shot a few days since at St. Mary’s, which I have examined in the
flesh. It was flushed from a swampy piece of ground, and resembled in flight and
manners as much those characters in the wagtails as in the pipits. It is now some
years since any have been noticed here.—Id. ; October 28, 1851.

Flight of Woodcocks at the Land’s End.—We have had several days’ continuance
of the wind from the East, which yesterday brought a large flight of woodcocks in the
Land’s End district.—JZd.

Occurrence of the Yellow-backed Whidah Finch (Vidua Chrysonotus, Swainson), —
in England.—I am enabled, through the kindness of the Rev. W. 8S. Hore, to inform
you of the capture of an example of one of the Whidah finches in this country. The
bird, a female, was shot in the month of September upon Otmoor, in this county, and
exposed for sale, together with other small birds, in a poulterer’s stall in the market-

Fishes. 3301

‘place at Oxford, where it was purchased by Mr. Hore. It is in an intermediate state
of plumage, not having thoroughly acquired its adult dress, and is supposed to be the
yellow-backed Whidah finch, the Vidua Chrysonotus of Swainson. I will shortly send
you a more detailed account of this addition to the “ Birds of Oxfordshire,’ and trust
that the above imperfect notice may be in time for insertion in the present volume of
the ‘ Zoologist.—A. Matthews ; Weston-on-the-Green, November 19, 1851.

Note on the Autumnal Moult of the Red-throated Diver. — On the 24th of October
I obtained a specimen of the red-throated diver at Lowestoft, an adult male, in the
height of the autumnal moult, and showing very clearly that the red throat, with the
lead-coloured margin to the red, is peculiar to the summer dress, and that the throat
is white in winter after the occurrence of the autumnal moult, as I have before stated,
(Zool. 2775). In the specimen in question the slate-coloured plumage on the cheeks,
the chin, and the sides of the neck, and also the red plumage running down the front
of the throat, was extensively varied by the pure white colour of the new feathers,
which were coming among the old ones, and which were entirely white upon all the
above-mentioned parts of the bird. On the back and wings, the old feathers were of
a dull brownish gray colour, a little shaded, but not spotted: while the new feathers
which were coming up among them were of a blackish gray colour, with a distinet
white oblong spot on each side of the top of the feather —J. H. Gurney ; Easton,
Norfolk, November 7, 1851.

Occurrence of Ray's Bream (Brama Raii, Cuv.) at Gamrie.—On the 24th instant,
an example of this fish, measuring 223 inches in length, was caught in the harbour of
Gardenston, in this parish. When first discovered, it was pushing its way inward
against a receding tide, and was secured by one of the fishermen, who, by jumping
into the water, succeeded in throwing it ashore with his hands. It contained a large
roe. Dr. Parnell describes the teeth on the outer row as being “ longer than those
behind ;” while Mr. Couch, in his description of this species, quoted by Mr. Yarrell
(British Fishes, i. 119), says “the inner row of the lower jaw longest.” In the pre-
sent example the inner row of teeth on the lower jaw are the longer; but in the up-
per jaw the reverse is the case, the teeth in the outer row being much longer than
those within. Those in the patch on the back palate equal the largest in size, and
havea patch of smaller size placed behind the root of the tongue, and opposed to them.
Mr. Couch describes the ventral fins “ with a long pointed scale in the axilla,” which
is the case in the present instance ; but the pectorals are also furnished with a corre-
sponding appendage similarly situated, which, however, is broader and more rounded
towards the point. He further says, “the nostril single,” this I take to be double in
the example before me, z. e., there are two apertures on each side of the snout, which
communicate, and are about two-eighths of an inch apart, the first being circular, the
second rather longitudinal. I extracted from the pharynx two worms, about an inch
and a half long; another from the larger intestines fully two inches long, but rather
more slender in the body; and there was also found, embedded in the flesh of the fish,
a ganglionic looking creature, three quarters of an inch in length, and of proportional
thickness, having a pointed proboscis: these creatures I presume to be of the kind
pointed out by Rudolphi as infesting the flesh and intestines of this fish. The worms
taken from the throat were possessed of great vitality, and have a membranous border

3302 Mollusks.

or fin throughout nearly their whole length, attached to the back and belly. As an

article of food the flesh of this fish is esteemed, and by those who partook of it in com- __

mon with myself, it is considered, in point of flavour, to be intermediate between the
sole and turbot. Some of our older fishermen inform me that another of this species
was caught here about twenty-five years ago, having been left by the tide in a pot or
hollow in the rocks at the back of the present key.— George Harris ; Gamrie, Banff-
shire, October 29, 1851.

Land and Fresh-water Mollusca in the Neighbourhood of Norwich.
By W. K. Brinemay, Esq.

SINCE the publication of my list in your number for March, 1850
(Zool. 2741), we have succeeded in making the following additions.

Limax carinatus. Catton and Thorpe. Plentiful on the stone banks
late in the evening.

Helix aspersa, var. alba. Thorpe. Along the banks from the Ro-
sary to the Asylum ; about thirty specimens.

Helix aspersa, var. reversa. A fine specimen of this singular and
odd-looking lusus nature was found by wy eldest son a few weeks
since in the above locality, and is now being fed upon Convolvulus-
leaves, as the lip is not quite completed.

Achatina acicula. On a sunny bank near the Thorpe toll-bar. They
are found, but rather sparingly, in the loose earth between the stones,
and i to the roots of grass.

Planorbis imbricatus. About a table-spoonful of this shell was ob-
tained last autumn by bringing home a handful of dead Potamogeton,
found floating in a ditch, and washing it in warm water, when the
animals, relinquishing their hold, fell to the bottom of the vessel, and
were easily separated by straining the water away. Segmentina li-
neata I have procured in a similar way in equal abundance, by wash-
ing the weeds thrown out from the ditches about this time of the year.

Carocolla lapicida, as predicted, has been found alive in two widely
distant localities, in great abundance. I first found several dead shells
on a bank at Thorpe, in the spring of last year, and soon afterwards
they were found alive in the adjoining hedges. This summer it was
found by one of my sons, in great plenty, at Dunston, about three
miles from Norwich ; during a slight shower they were espied crawl-
ing on the grass, and along the lower branches of the whitethorn, by
the road-side. This appears to be their favourite habitat, for in both
instances they were found mostly at the bottom of the hedge and on

Mollusks. 3303

the stems, although in one spot there is a stone bank literally swarm-
ing with Helix aspersa, yet they were seldom found among the stones.
The name being evidently a misnomer, is calculated to mislead as to
their habits and place of resort.

I am glad to find the study of this interesting branch of Zoology
becoming more general, and I hope, ere long, we shall have lists given
for most of the principal counties in England. Our knowledge of the
range and distribution of the species here is extremely defective, and
the publication of these from carefully worked districts would be of
infinite service ; not a mere catalogue of such as protrude themselves
to the notice of every stroller, or may even be found in the course of a
morning’s ramble, but the result of an attentive and diligent search in
every probable spot within reach of one’s residence. For many are
only to be found at certain seasons of the year, and then only for a li-
mited period, and this, too, often within a very circumscribed space,
although at such times they may be taken in the greatest abundance.
Planorbis nitidus, until quite lately, I had only found sparingly, ad-
hering to aquatic plants; but on taking out masses of Conferve to
search for the smaller Pisidia, they were discovered to be literally
teeming with this Planorbis, in company with Valvata crilata. This
abundance, however, lasted only for about two or three weeks, when
they seemed to have come to maturity, and rapidly disappeared ; whe-
ther they migrated, or buried themselves in the mud, yet remaining to
be discovered. I could mention many other similar cases; and the
disappointment expressed by a correspondent who has lately visited a
celebrated dredging Jocality without finding even a trace of the trea-
sures it was said to contain, leads one to infer that a similar proceed-
ing takes place among the marine Mollusca, and that a table of the
‘dates of appearance” may be even more of a desideratum than the
knowledge of localities.

The collecting and study of the land and freshwater Mollusca affords
by far the readiest and most convenient stepping-stone for any one
desirous of becoming acquainted with the several branches of Natural
History, and more especially for the younger class; because the haunts
to be visited, and the means to be adopted for obtaining them, are
quite in accordance with the habits and pursuits usually followed, not
quite so enticing perhaps at first as birds’-nesting, but after a begin-
ning had been fairly made, I have little doubt, judging from what I
have witnessed in my own family, it would ultimately become equally
fascinating. Besides the easy accessibility and general abundance of
its specimens, some of which may be found during nine or ten months

3304 Insects.

of the year, the close attention required in their examination for de-
tecting the species in all their varieties, tends materially to sharpen
the powers of observation and discrimination, while the arraying and
preserving the collection is calculated to foster a habit of neatness and
order ; and when such a collection has been once formed, it requires
no unusual degree of care for its preservation. A nicely mounted col-
lection on cards, or in card-board trays, may be made to occupy but a
small space, and in addition to its being highly instructive and valua-
ble, may be both portable and “ pretty in appearance.” Another ad-
vantage is that the series contains but a comparatively small number
of species, nearly all of which are to be had, either directly, by finding
them alive, or indirectly, by exchange.

For the latter purpose, and for gratuitous distribution, we have been
in the habit of taking great quantities, and have been thus enabled not
only to form a nearly complete series of this class, but also to obtain
a large portion of the marine series as well. Several of those said to
be plentiful in the vicinity of London, we have found the greatest dif-
ficulty in procuring, such as Assiminea Grayana, from the Greenwich
marshes; Clausilia biplicata, from Kensington and Battersea marshes;
and Cyclas rivicola, from the Thames, &c. We shall be very glad to
open a communication with any of your correspondents who may be
able to furnish us with them, or whose lists of desiderata contain any
we may have to offer for their acceptance.

W. K. Bripeman.
69, St. Giles’s Street, Norwich,
September 20, 1851.

Remarkable Aberration in the Colouring of a Specimen of Cynthia Cardui. — The
specimen from which the following brief description is drawn up, was taken by Mr.
George Ingall, at St. Lawrence, in the Isle of Wight, on the 8th of September in
the present year, and has been very obligingly placed by that gentleman in my hands
for description. Upper side : fore wings.—Iu examples of Cynthia Cardui in its nor-
mal state, the entire apical area is of a deep brown colour, approaching to black, and
adorned with certain white markings, the chief of which is a large oblong white blotch,
situated at about two-thirds of the costal margin, to which its upper extremity is closely
approximate ; beyond this are four subrotund white spots disposed in an irregular se-
ries, the first and fourth being considerably larger than those which are intermediate,
and again, beyond these, and still nearer the apex of the wing, is a sinuous series of
five slender white lunules: in the aberrant example the large white mark, as well as
the lunules, are entirely absent; the four subrotund spots are present, but altered in
form, and having indistinct and suffused limits: the lowest of the four is increased to
treble its normal dimensions, and united to an equally large and similarly shaped white —

Radiata. 3305

spot in the adjoining areolet, and again, in the next areolet, 2. e., the one still nearer
the anal angle of the wing, is still another smaller round white spot: in normal speci-
mens the fulvous discoidal area is blotched with very dark amorphous patches, in the
aberrant example these are entirely absent, the discoidal area being uninterruptedly
fulvous: in the normal state the black border of the anal portion of the external mar-
gin is of an intense dark brown, in the aberrant example it is much paler, and increased
to double its usual width. Upper side: hind wings.—In normal examples of this spe-
cies, there is an interrupted band of dark brown markings across the discoidal area ;
nearer the exterior margin is a series of five round black spots, one in each of the open
areolets, with the exception of that nearest the anus; again, beyond this, is a series of
six elongate black lunules, one in each open areolet: in the abnormal example, all
these markings are absent, but nearly on the site of the five round black spots are five
round pure white spots, of which that nearest the anal angle has an indistinct brown
ocellus. The black marginal markings which, in the normal state, have been described
as hastate, are in the aberrant example suffused and considerably altered in appear-
ance. Under side.—This partakes in a great degree of all the remarkable aberratious
noticeable on the upper side, but in addition the entire under surface has a washed or
suffused appearance, all the distinctness or sharpness, so to speak, of the usual exqui-
sitely beautiful marbled markings being obliterated —Edward Newman.

Note on Leucania littoralis.— This species, once considered rare, has turned out
one of our more common Leucanias. Last autumn I found the larve feeding on the
star-grass, on the most-exposed pvints of our sand-hills ; they were then about half an
inch long. I looked the same locality early in May, and found them nearly full
grown. I took a great many, and by feeding them in the open air bred upwards of a
hundred.—C. Nelson, M.D. ; Lytham.

Notes on the Asteriade inhabiting the Moray Firth.
By the Rev. GrorcEe Harris.

THE part of the coast referred to in the following Notes is indicated
by the northern boundary-line of the parish of Gamrie, in sega
which may be stated at about twelve miles.

Our most abundant star is the common cross-fish (Uraster rubens),
which usually attains the size of ten or eleven inches. The other
variety, with the leathery purple skin and short spines, is also very
frequent upon our coast. I cannot however say that I have met
with many examples of the variety characterized by the large develop-
ment of the dorsal spines, so common in the Firth of Forth.

The Little Cross-fish (Uraster hispida), distinguished by its four
short, broad, puffy-looking rays, is only now and then to be met with,
and I have never seen a specimen possessed of very bright colours.

The Rosy Cribella (Cribella rosea), known by its hard, tubular
arms, covered with triangular patches of spines arranged longitudi-
nally, is by no means an uncommon species on this coast. On casu-

IX. 2T

3306 Radiata.

ally passing the harbour of Gardenston one morning last spring, [

found not fewer than a dozen specimens dangling from a fisherman’s
line. Of these I secured the one half, which I have by me at present
in a dried state. Some of them had lost arms, and show substitutes
of tiny dimensions, a defect which I also observe in the reproduced
leg of a spinous crab in my possession. The brittle part of this fish
is just where the arm connects with the disk. Their general colour is
a bright red, though many are of a dull orange. 1 observe by Forbes’s
‘ British Star-fishes’ (p. 108) that this species was added to the Scot-
tish Fauna in 1839, and that only two British habitats are named, the
one on the Irish coast, the other off Ayrshire. Allow me also to add
that all my specimens exceed the size mentioned by the above autho-
rity, the largest being about one foot in diameter, and the smallest
from eight to nine inches.

Purple Sun-star, (Solaster endeca). In Mr. Forbes’s article on this
species, under the heading “ specific character,” the rays are stated to
be “nine to eleven,” and the same is repeated in the text (p. 110). Ac-
cording to my observation the general number is nine, but I have met
with examples, regularly formed, in which the number was eight, and
in one case, | think I counted as many as thirteen.

The Common Sun-star, (Solaster papposa). We have many very

gorgeous examples of this species; I must, however, make a remark
similar to that just made respecting the last-named species. Mr.
Forbes states the number of rays to be from twelve to fifteen (p. 112);
I frequently find them with not more than ten. A very fine specimen
before me measures almost a foot in diameter, which is nearly an inch
larger than the largest mentioned by Mr. F., and I am satisfied that I
have seen them considerably exceed that measurement. It is a sor-
rowful fact, that many, if not most, of the finer specimens of our na-
tive star-fishes never come under the eyes of competent observers at
all, it being a regular habit with the fishermen taking up monstrous
examples, to break them in pieces and cast them back again into the
sea, in order that they “ may never be plagued with them again.”
This doctrine I have been endeavouring to combat, and on obvious
grounds ; and by seeking to establish the conviction that the hitherto
approved method of destruction, practised with a view to extermina-
tion, is the only certain one to aggravate the hated abundance a hun-
dred-fold, have been trying to inculcate the propriety of landing all
such volunteers safely on the beach. But since revolutions in human
sentiment are not generally produced in a day, and as the fishers
are a body proverbially attached to the sayings and doings of their

:
.
|
|

Radiata. 3307

fathers, we dare not be too sanguine of immediate success. We shall
be more than pleased, however, should a single future observer benefit
in the smallest degree from our humble inculcation of sound doctrine
touching a very interesting branch of natural science. Is it generally
admitted, or rather known, that this fish has the power of giving out a
considerable degree of caloric-immediately when taken from the wa-
ter? This is best made sensible by placing it at once on the back of
the hand. This quality, if admitted, gives additional propriety to the
name that has been attached to the species.

The Bird’s-foot Sun-star, (Palinipes membranaceus). This, observes
Mr. Forbes, at p. 118, “is generally accounted very rare ;” and he
gives the coast of Ayrshire as the only place in Scotland where it has
been known to occur. It is by no means unfrequent upon this coast.
During the past twelve months I have procured many examples, and
a whole half-dozen at present glare upon me in the brick-red of their
integuments, almost as freshly as when just taken from their native
element. This colour is nearly uniform over the whole of the upper
surface. Not one of these specimens shows anything approaching to
white on their dorsal parts, which was the case in those examined
by Mr. Forbes, (p. 117). Their size ranges from three and a half to
nearly six inches.

The Knotty Cushion-star (Goniaster equestris) is rather more abun-
dant than the preceding, and in general closely corresponds in its tints,
though it loses them more readily in drying.

The But-thorn, (Asterias aurantiaca). This star-fish is plentiful
in deep water having a sandy bottom. All my specimens are of ave-
rage size, and show a deep ground of purplish pink.

The Ling-thorn, (Luidia fragilissima). We have both forms of
this species, the five- as well as the seven-armed ; the latter, however,
is the more common. Their usual colour is a reddish yellow, and they
vary in length from five to two and twenty inches. Though confess-
edly possessing a fragile corporation, I have not found the preparation
of tolerable specimens so very impracticable as has sometimes been
represented, and have best succeeded in preserving them entire, by al-
lowing them to remain at rest under the ordinary influence of the
atmosphere, until life becomes extinct, before interfering with them at
all. Perhaps eight out of ten examples are then sufficiently firm to
admit of the necessary scarifications and ablutions previous to being
set aside to dry. I have one beside me at present, prepared in this
manner, at my suggestion, by the kindness of Mr. James West, of
Macduff; and though measuring twenty inches in breadth, the prepa-

3308 Zoological Society.

ration has been completed with only the fracture of a single arm.

Many of them are brought ashore in a sadly mutilated condition, but —

I have frequently seen more than the half deposited on the shore per-
fectly entire, or, as they had been caught, with shattered rays in course
of reparation. As regards the method of extingushing star-fish life by
plunging in cold fresh water, the result of my experience is in favour
of excepting most of the Ophiure, and in particular this frail star, from
having any part in the hydropathic mode of treatment. Every time I
have tried the experiment, the body has quickly thrown off into frag-
ments ; and in one instance, where I treated a whole colony, carried
in safety over a distance of a mile and a half, to the douse, I had the
mortification the next moment of beholding the whole converted into
a chaos of hapless shreds. I retained the mingled mass upwards of
twenty-four hours, and on turning it out was somewhat surprized to
find many of the fragments giving unequivocal indications of vitality,
which was done by violent movement of the suckers, the motion be-
ing chiefly lateral. This fish inhabits deep water, and on this coast
is very often associated with the rosy Cribella.

Of the Echinide, besides the common egg-urchin (Echinus sphera,
Muller), the other varieties I have met with on this coast are the pur-
ple-tipped egg urchin (Z. miliaris), hitherto not considered to be very
abundant on the east coast of Scotland; and the purple heart-urchin
(Spatangus purpureus, Muller), respecting which Forbes observes at
p. 186, that it is rare in England and in Ireland; but, according to
Fleming, is common in the Firth of Forth.

GEORGE HarRRIs.

Manse of Gamrie, Banffshire,
September 10, 1851.

Proceedings of the Zoological Society.

Monthly General Meeting, November 6, 1851.— W. J. Broprrip, Esq., V.P., in
the chair.

F. I. Bladon, Esq., R. W. Crawford, Esq., and the Rev. B. Winthrop were elected
Fellows. H. Druitt, Esq., W. H. Lintott, Esq., J. Colthurst, Esq., H. N. Reboul,
Esq., and H. Bullock, Esq., were proposed as Candidates for the Fellowship.

The Report of the Council stated that the number of visitors to the Gardens dur-
ing the month of October amounted to 45,535, and that the number of visitors in the
current year, up to this time, as compared with the same period in 1850, presented an
increase of 308,147. The Report further stated, that the Society had been honoured
by the gift of a pair of wild boars, from H. R. H. the Duke of Saxe Coburg Gotha,
which had been sent to this country under the care of one of H. R. H.’s foresters, and

Entomological Society. 3309

arrived on the 9th of October. Several other donations have been received from va-
rious sources: and the purchases effected at the sale of the collection of the late Presi-
dent, included sixty-six species of the greatest beauty and rarity. Of these, but a
small number have as yet been removed from Knowsley to the Menagerie in the Re-
gent’s Park, in consequence of the buildings which are in progress there being not yet
entirely complete.

The Scientific Meetings will be resumed on Tuesday evening next, when, among
other communications, Professor Owen will read a paper ‘‘ On the Relative Capacity
of the Cranium in the Negro, Chimpanzee, and Orang-utan.”—D. W. M.

Proceedings of the Entomological Society.

November 3, 1851.—J. O. Westwoop, Esq., President, in the chair.

The following donations were announced, and thanks ordered to be given to the
donors: —‘ The Annual Report of the Leeds Philosophical and Literary Society,’
1849-50; by the Society. ‘Jahresbericht des Naturwissenchaftlichen Vereines in
Halle, two parts, 1849-50 and 1850; by the Society. ‘ Bibliotheca Historico-Natu-
ralis et Physico-Chemica, Erster Jahrgang, 1s Heft; Halle, 1851; by E. A. Zuc-
kold, Foreign Member of the Society. The ‘ Atheneum’ for October; by the Editor.
The ‘ Zoologist’ for November; by the Editor. A second box of Renfrewshire in-
sects; by Mr. Young, of Paisley. A case of Tasmanian insects (from the Great Ex-
hibition) ; by F. Cox, Esq., Van Diemen’s Land. A glass case containing a piece of
honeycomb, in which a queen bee had been reared from the worker-brood, (from the
Great Exhibition) ; by Mr. Golding.

The following books had been obtained for the Society : —‘ Orthoptera descripta
et depicta a T. de Charpentier.’ Lipsiz, 1845 ; and ‘ Libelluline Europee descripte
ac depicte a T. de Charpentier.’ Lipsiz, 1840.

Mr. John Hunter, of 24, Bloomsbury Street, London, was balloted for and elected
a Member of the Society.

The President, in exhibiting the honeycomb presented by Mr. Golding, read the
following memorandum from that gentleman’s note-book : —‘“‘ July 2nd. Hive No.
5 having lost its queen, gave it a piece of brood-comb from another hive. On the 8th
found a sealed royal cell upon it. On the 15th, the young queen was come forth. On
the 28th found eggs and young larve in the hive; consequently the operation was
completely successful. ‘The queen thus raised is now queen of the hive.” Mr. Gold-
ing adds that “‘ this might be taken as a specimen of the facilities offered by hives hav-
ing movable leaves or bars.”

Mr. Stevens exhibited a new British coleopterous insect — Dircea discolor; and
one of the rare British Tineida — Gracillaria Phasianipennella ; both taken this year
in Scotland, by Mr. Weaver. Mr. Stevens also exhibited specimens of Helops palli-
dus, Curtis, found at Tenby by the Rev. H. Burnie.

Mr. Edwin Shepherd exhibited some beautiful specimens of Aporophila australis,
and one example of the pale variety of Colias Edusa; all captured this autumn near
Deal.

Mr. Smith exhibited some oak-leaves, with galls, commonly known as “ oak-span-
gles,” attached. In one of these he had found a larva, probably that of Cynips longi-
pennis, an insect hitherto obtained only in the perfect state.

3310 Entomological Society.

Mr. Wilkinson exhibited larva-cases of a Taleporia (T. Ferchaultella, Stephens ?
Zool. App. cix.), found in July, from which females had been produced, which laid
fertile eggs without male intercourse. The larve that had been hatched were also in
the box.

Mr. White exhibited some specimens of Crustacea, including Idotea Baffini, Acan-
thonotus hystrix, Amphithoe Edwardsi, Nymphon (new species), &c., collected by
Charles Ede, Esq, Assistant-Surgeon to H. M. S. Assistance, lately returned from the
Arctic regions. He exhibited some drawings by Mr. Ede, of minute Crustacea, espe-
cially of a species of Cyclopsina, which Dr. Baird thinks may prove to be the type of
anew genus. He exhibited an unpublished plate of Crustacea and Insects, which
will shortly appear in Mr. MacGillivray’s ‘Voyage of H. M.S. Rattlesnake. He also
exhibited a portrait of Jules-Cesar Savigny, Member of the Academy of Sciences, and
one of the savans employed during the French expedition to Egypt and ynee and
gave a short account of his valuable labours and published works.

Mr. Spence submitted a letter, addressed to him by Mr. T. Thompson, of Hull,
inquiring the name of an insect, the larve of which were doing considerable damage
to the corks in wine-bottles in the cellar of a wine-merchant in that town; and also
what means could be adopted to stay their ravages. A specimen of the eaten corks
was also sent, but the larve had escaped.

Mr. J. F. Stephens said that on a former occasion some perforated corks were for-
warded to the Society, from which he had reared Gracillaria Vau-flava, Haw., and the
Jarve certainly fed on the cork ; so that it was probable the damage in the present in-
stance was caused by that species.

Mr. Bedell observed that the moth was frequent in vaults in the London Docks
and other places. Other members concurred in the opinion that the larve were im-
ported in the cork, and that the only cure for the damage they caused was to recork
the bottles.

Mr. Douglas exhibited specimens of a moth, a species of Ephestia, which appeared
to be undescribed, and which he proposed to call E. Ficella, from its having been
reared (by Mr. Doubleday) from larve which fed on dried Turkey figs. The specimens
exhibited were lately found in the bonded warehouse at Botolph Wharf, where great
quantities of figs were deposited.

Mr. Douglas also exhibited specimens of Gelechia costella, reared from larve found
on Solanum Dulcamara, on which they feed variously ; some mining the leaves, some
fastening two or more leaves together and feeding between them, some eating the
seeds, and others boring into the stems. He observed that the larve of another spe-
cies of Gelechia—G. contigua, Haw. (tricolorella, Haw.? St.), closely allied to G. cos-
tella, fed on the young shoots and leaves of Stellaria holostea, and the larve of another
species, G. blandella, fed in the capsules of the same plant. These discoveries, all
made by Mr. Stainton, were not only interesting in themselves, but showed that in
some instances, much stress could not be put upon the manner of feeding of larve,
as a guide to generic association, for there could be no doubt of the close relationship
of these three species, notwithstanding the habits of their larve were so different.

Mr. Ingpen exhibited, mounted as objects for the microscope, young Coccide
found on leaves of maple: they probably belonged to the genus Cyanops. .

Mr. W. W. Saunders mentioned that an instance had lately come under his notice,
in which some ornaments formed of maccaroni, and worked into fancy baskets, had
been totally destroyed by Anobium paniceum.

Entomological Society. 3311

- Mr. Saunders also stated, that over a large extent of garden-ground on the south
side of London, French beans had been freely attacked by a red-brown Acarus, caus-

_ ing the formation of yellowish spots on the leaves, and killing the plants in about ten

days. On looking at some plants that had been cast aside for a few days, he found
them covered with a fine delicate web.

The President exhibited a specimen of the rare beetle, Leptinus testaceus, taken
some years since at Box Hill, by Mr. Janson; and stated that at a future time he
should have some observations to offer on this and other species of blind insects.

The following note by Mr. Weaver was read : —

“ In 1850 I discovered, in Scotland, an empty larva-case of a species of Psychide,
differing from any I had seen before, and having this year found some of the same
kind with living larve in them, from which I have reared the perfect insect, I am sa-
tisfied it is a new species. The male very closely resembles Sterrhopterix opacella,
which I formerly discovered in Hampshire; but the female is very dissimilar, as I
propose to show by comparison: and, for the sake of brevity, I will call S. opacella
No. 1, and the new species No. 2.

“ The Cases.—No. 1 is found on dry ground, and is thickly covered with sprigs of
heath, on which plant the larva feeds. No.2 is found on boggy ground, is much
larger than No. 1, has on it no sprigs of heath, and therefore I think the larva does not
feed on heath.

“ The Latwe.—No. 1 has the back of a tortoiseshell colour, and the under side of a
light colour ; in fact it resembles the larva of S. nigricans, but is smaller. No. 2 has
the back nearly black, and the under side black as far as the third pair of legs.

““ The Perfect Insects.—No. 1. ‘The female has no breast, is quite destitute of legs,
and the body is much shorter than in No.2. It has eight or ten distinct tufts of hair?
all round each segment of its body ; this hair is very brittle, and as, when the insect
falls out of its case it rolls about, the tufts soon get broken. No. 2. The female has a
breast, six slender legs (which may easily be overlooked), and two antenne ; it has a
black mark down the under side of the breast as far as the legs; head and thorax shin-
ing black, the head protruded. On each side of the body are three patches of hair or
down, also one patch on the fore part and one on the hinder part of the back, all of
which are so short that they can scarcely be seen without a glass. When the insect
drops out of its case, it does not roll about like No. 1, but remains quiet. In conclu-
sion, I would remark that any entomologist seeing the two females alive, would at once
say they were different species.”

The President observed that the males of these species, under the above circum-

stances observed in the females, might be expected to show a difference in the number

of the joints of the antenne and in the neuration of the wings.

The President exhibited a living larva of Hamaticherus Heros, received from Sir
T, Pasley, the head of Pembroke Dock-yard, where this insect is often found to be very
destructive to the Italian oak timber, into which it burrows to a considerable depth.
Living specimens of the perfect insect had been exhibited by the President on previous
occasions, received from the same gentleman, who had informed him that the larve
are frequently found when the timber is being cut up at the saw-pits. The son of the
Timber Inspector of Pembroke Dock-yard had also obtained eggs of this beetle, which
were hatching at the end of October. The President remarked that this larva, from
its size, afforded the means of solving the difficulty which had arisen respecting the
construction of the anterior portion of the body of this and other longicorn larve ; the

3312 Microscopical Society.

large membranous segment succeeding the head having been considered by some au

thors as a portion of the head itself.* It is true, indeed, that this large segment is des-

titute of spiracles, and that the first pair of legs seems placed rather on the fold between _

it and the following segment; that, moreover, the first pair of spiracles is placed in the

following segment, and, as it is the general principle of larve to have the first pair of
spiracles either in the first, or in the fold between the first and second segments, it

might at first sight seem to warrant the conclusion that the large membranous seg-
ment following the head is really part of the head. But when the corneous head itse _
is separately examined, it presents all the characters of a perfect head, and it is seet
moreover, that the second pair of legs is certainly attached to the segment which bears
the first pair of spiracles, we shall be compelled to consider the first segment as re-
duced to the small inferior fold which bears the first pair of legs. Taking all thes:
circumstances into consideration, the President was clearly of opinion that the larg
segment in question is not part of the head, but is the real first segment greatly deve
loped; and that the position of the first pair of spiracles on the second segment of th
body is anomalous.—J. W. D.

Proceedings of the Microscopical Society of London.

October 22, 1851.—A paper “On the Sporangia of some of the Filamentous Fresh-
water Algae,” was read by Mr. George Shadbolt.

This was in continuation of a subject introduced to the notice of the Society in’

May last, by the same gentleman, when he pointed out the fact that in Zygnema quad:
ratum and Z. varians, the sporangia undergo a considerable change of form, assuming

a stellate character after the lapse of some weeks from their first transformation. The —

second paper detailed observations confirming those previously announced, and giving
some of the particulars of the modus operandi, and added Lyngbya floccosa, and a spe-
cies of Vesiculifera to the list of those in which the author had noticed an analogous
transformation.

It was stated that in Zygnema varians, after conjugation, when the sporangium
appears as an ellipsoidal homogeneous mass, the first change which takes place is the
formation of a few semi-transparent vesicles, just within the sporangium, and these
continually increase in number until the whole of the interior becomes similarly con-
verted. After the interval of about a fortnight from this period, a further change oc-
curs, the sporangia being covered with long projecting spines, producing a considerable
inflation of the original cell-wall of the frond in which they were formed, a fact which
the author considers important, as tending to prove the contined existence of vitality
in the cell at this stage.

Tt was stated that in Lyngbya floccosa the spines are exceedingly short, but what
is remarkable, they are disposed in a regular spiral line about the long axis of the spo-
rangium.

In Vesiculifera ? the spines are numerous and extraordinarily delicate.

In all the above-named species, the observations were made while the sporangia
were still within the original frond, so that there is no doubt as to which each belonged.
—J. W.

* See various papers in the ‘ Annales de la Société Entomologige de France.’

oe

THE ‘ZOOLOGIST’ LIST OF BRITISH BIRDS,

To facilitate the exchange of specimens of Birds and Eggs.

(=> This List is compiled from the 2nd edition of ‘ Yarrell’s British Birds,’ with the addition of all the new species

recorded in the ‘ Zoologist’ up to November, 1850.

It is particularly requested that Ornithologists will continue their

exertions in sending immediate notice of the occurrence of new or rare species for publication in ‘THE Zooroerst,’ and
will adopt the names here employed.

Griffon Vulture
Egyptian Vulture
Golden Eagle
Spotted Eagle
Whitetailed Eagle
Osprey
Jerfaleon
Redfooted Falcon
Peregrine Falcon
Hobby
Merlin
Kestrel
Goshawk
Sparrowhawk
Kite
Swallowtailed Kite
Common Buzzard
Roughlegged Buzzard
Honey Buzzard
Marsh Harrier
Hen Harrier
Ashcoloured Harrier
Eagle Owl
Scops Eared Owl
Longeared Owl
Shorteared Owl
Barn Owl
Tawny Owl
Snowy Owl
Hawk Owl
Little Owl
Tengmalm’s Owl
Great Gray Shrike
American Great Gray Shrike
Red-backed Shrike
Woodchat
Spotted Flycatcher
Pied Flycatcher
Common Dipper
Missel Thrush
Fieldfare
Song Thrush
White's Thrush
Goldvented Thrush
Rock Thrush
Redwing
Blackbird
Ring Ouzel
Golden Oriole
Alpine Accentor
Hedgesparrow
Redbreast
Bluethroated Warbler
Redstart
Black Redstart
Stonechat
Whinchat
Wheatear
Grasshopper Warbler
Cetti’s Warbler
Savi’s Warbler
Sedge Warbler
Reed Wren
Nightingale
Thrush Nightingale
Blackcap
Orphean Warbler
Garden Warbler
Common Whitethroat
Lesser Whitethroat
Wood Warbler
Willow Warbler
Lesser Pettichaps
Chiffchaff
Dartford Warbler
Dalmatian Regulus
Goldencrested Regulus
Firecrested Regulus
Great Titmouse
Blue Titmouse
Crested Titmouse
Cole Titmouse
Marsh Titmouse
Longtailed Titmouse
Bearded Titmouse
Bohemian Waxwing
White Wagtail
Pied Wagtail
Gray Wagtail
Grayheaded Wagtail

Printed and Sold by E. Newan, at the Zoologist Office, 9, Devonshire Street, Bishopsgate, London.

Ray’s Wagtail

Tree Pipit

Meadow Pipit

Rock Pipit

Richard’s Pipit

Sky Lark

American Red Lark
Wood Lark

Crested Lark
Shorttoed Lark

Shore Lark

Snow Bunting

Lapland Bunting
Common Bunting
Blackheaded Bunting
Yellowhammer

Cirl Bunting

Ortolan

Painted Bunting
Chaffinch

Mountain Finch

Tree Sparrow

House Sparrow
Greenfinch

Hawfinch

Goldfinch

Siskin

Common Linnet
Lesser Redpole
Mealy Redpole
Twite
Bullfinch
Pine Grossbeak
Common Crossbill
Parrot Crossbill
American Whitewinged Crossbill
Twobarred Crossbill
Starling
Redwinged Starling
Rosecoloured Pastor
Asiatic Minor Grackle
Chough
Rayen
Carrion Crow

Hooded Crow

Rook
Jackdaw

Magpie

Jay

Nutcracker

Threetoed Woodpecker
Great Black Woodpecker
Green Woodpecker
Great Spotted Woodpecker
Lesser Spotted Woodpecker
Hairy Woodpecker
Wryneck

Common Creeper
Wren

Hoopoe

Nuthatch

Cuckoo

American Yellowbilled Cuckoo
Great Spotted Cuckoo
Roller

Beeeater

Kingfisher

American Belted Kingfisher
Swallow

Australian Spinetailed Swallow
Martin

Sand Martin

American Purple Martin
Common Swift
Whitebellied Swift.
Nightjar

Ring Dove

Stock Dove

Rock Dove

Turtle Dove
Passenger Pigeon
Common Pheasant
Spurious Grous

Black Grous

Red Grous

Ptarmigan

Common Partridge
Redlegged Partridge
Barbary Partridge
Virginian Colin

Common Quail
Andalusian Quail
Great Bustard
Little Bustard
Ruffed Bustard
Collared Pratincole
Creamcoloured Courser
Great Plover
Golden Plover
Dotterel
Ringed Plover
Kentish Plover
Little Ringed Plover
Gray Plover
Peewit or Lapwing
‘Turnstone
Sanderling
Oystercatcher
Common Crane
Common Heron
Purple Heron
Great White Heron
Little Egret
Buflbacked Heron
Squacco Heron
Night Heron
Cayenne Night Heron
Common Bittern
Little Bittern
American Bittern
White Stork
Black Stork
Spoonbill
Glossy Ibis
Curlew
Whimbrel
Spotted Redshank
Common Redshank
Green Sandpiper
Wood Sandpiper
Common Sandpiper
Spotted Sandpiper
Greenshank
Avocet
Blackwinged Stilt
Blacktailed Godwit
Bartailed Godwit
Ruff
Woodcock
Great Snipe
Common Snipe
Jack Snipe
Sabine’s Snipe
Brown Snipe
Curlew Sandpiper
Knot
Buffbreasted Sandpiper
Broadbilled Sandpiper
Little Stint
Temminck’s Stint
Schinz’s Sandpiper
Pectoral Sandpiper
Dunlin
Purple Sandpiper
Land Rail
Spotted Crake
Little Crake
Baillon’s Crake
Water Rail
Moorhen
Martinico Gallinule
Coot
Gray Phalarope
Rednecked Phalarope
Graylag Goose
Bean Goose
Pinkfooted Goose
Whitefronted Goose
Bernicle Goose
Brent Goose
Redbreasted Goose
Egyptian Goose
Spurwinged Goose
Canada Goose
Chinese Goose
Hooper
Bewick’s Swan
Mute Swan
Polish Swan
Ruddy Shieldrake

Common Shieldrake
Shoveler
Gadwall
Pintail Duck
Bimaculated Duck
Wild Duck
Garganey
Summer Duck
Teal
Wigeon
American Wigeon
Hider Duck
Steller’s Western Duck
King Duck
Velvet Scoter
Common Scoter
Surf Scoter
Redcrested Whistling Duck
Pochard
Paget’s Pochard
Ferruginous Duck
Scaup Duck
Tufted Duck
Collared Duck
Longtailed Duck
Harlequin Duck
Goldeneye
Buffelheaded Duck
Smew
Hooded Merganser
Redbreasted Merganser
Goosander
Great Crested Grebe
Rednecked Grebe
Sclavonian Grebe
Eared Grebe
Little Grebe
Great Northern Diver
Blackthroated Diver
Redthroated Diver
Common Guillemot
Brunnich’s Guillemot
Ringed Guillemot
Black Guillemot
Little Auk
Puffin
Razor Bill
Great Auk
Common Cormorant
Green Cormorant
Gannet
Caspian Tern
Swift Tern
Sandwich Tern
Roseate Tem
Common Tern
Arctic Tern
Whiskered Tern
Gullbilled Tern
Lesser Tern
Black Tern
Whitewinged Black Tern
Noddy Tern
Sabine’s Gull
Ross’s Rosy Gull
Little Gull
Buonaparte’s Gull
Masked Gull
Blackheaded Gull
Laughing Gull
Kittiwake
Ivory Gull
Common Gull
Iceland Gull
Lesser Blackbacked Gull
Herring Gull
Great Blackbacked Gull
Glaucous Gull
Common Skua
Pomerine Skua
Richardson’s Skua
Buffon’s Skua
Fulmar Petrel
Great Shearwater
Manx Shearwater
Dusky Shearwater
Bulwer’s Petrel
Wilson’s Petrel
Forktailed Petrel
Storm Petrel

Price 2s, > dozen.

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APPENDIX

TO

THE ZOOLOGIST

FOR 1851.

Art. XVIII.— Descriptions of some New Species of British Hymenoptera. By
Freperick Situ, Esq., Assistant in the Zoological Department of the
British Museum.

Family—C urysiIDIDz.
Genus—Curysis, Linneus.
CHRYSIS ORNATUS.

Male: length 4} lines. Head golden green, violet-blue at the vertex; antenne
nigro-piceous, the scape golden-green: thorax above rich crimson, intermixed with
gold on the prothorax, and on the sides of the mesothorax ; a square patch on the
disk golden green; the post-scutellum and metathorax are also green; the thorax
beneath is blue, dashed with green ; the legs blue, the tibia above having a golden
refulgence, the apical joints of the tarsi piceous : the first and second segment of the
abdomen is of a rich carmine; the basal half of the third segment is blue, the apical
half golden green; beneath metallic blue dashed with green: the head and thorax
are closely and rather coarsely punctured, but the abdomen very closely and delicately
so: the apex of the abdomen is not toothed,

A single specimen in my own collection.

This very beautiful species, which I believe to be undescribed, was captured by W.
Hewitson, Esq., in the vicinity of Bristol, who kindly presented it to me. This insect
might without examination be mistaken for a large variety of bidentata; it is, how-
ever very distinct from that species, the sculpture at once separates it, the abdomen
being as finely punctured as in C. neglecta, and the margin of the third segment
is entire as in that species; but independently of the colour of the third segment
of the abdomen, the prothorax is proportionably one-third longer than that of C. neg-
lecta. It is a valuable addition to our native Fauna.

IX. APPENDIX. AA

CXXV1 Mr. F. Smith’s Descriptions

_Family—CraBronip&.
Genus—CernratTopHorvus, Shk.
CERATOPHORUS ANTHRACINUS.

Female: 33 lines. Black, head subquadrate, not narrowing towards the thorax,
punctured rather deeply and distantly, thinly pubescent ; in the centre of the face just
above the insertion of the antenne an obtuse tubercle, pear-shaped ; its base being the
narrowest end ; the clypeus bidentate: the labrum triangular, prominent, smooth and
shining, and grooved down the centre; the mandibles bidentate: the thorax shining
and pubescent, with scattered punctures on the disk, the metathorax rugose, excepting
a broad, half-circular, shining space, which encloses a subcordiform one: the wings
fusco-hyaline, the nervures black: the abdomen very smooth and shining, pubescent
towards the apex; the apical segment coarsely punctured and deeply grooved down
the centre.

A single specimen in my own collection.

The species of this genus, as well as those belonging to the genera Diodontus and
Passaloecus, are extremely difficult to determine, but the excellent descriptions of Mr.
Shuckard, in his ‘ Essay on the Fossorial Hymenoptera,’ have in a great measure re-
moved the difficulties, still they require very careful examination. The present species,
which was captured by Mr. S. Stevens, in Devonshire, I have hesitated in describ-
ing until I could satisfy myself of its distinctness from C. morio: the above descrip-
tion will, I trust, enable the student to recognize its specific differences; which,
independently of its large size, preclude, I think, the possibility of its being a variety
of morio. The species of this genus are rare.

Genus—Crasro, Fab.
CRABRO INTERSTINCTUS.

Male: length 3 lines. Black, head subquadrate, minutely and closely punctured,
the stemmata placed in a triangle on the vertex ; a smooth, impressed line running
from the anterior stemma to the deep canaliculation of the face, the clypeus carinated
in the centre, and covered with silvery pile ; the scape of the antenne yellow towards
the apex, the third and fourth joints beneath deeply emarginate, and produced into
a tooth at their apex; the thorax closely covered with minute, elongate punctures ;
the metathorax rugose, and having seven or eight short, elevated lines, running down
from the post-scutellum, and also a longitudinal incisure, the posterior portion is
transversely striated: the wings hyaline, their nervures and tegule piceous ; the ante-
rior tibia in front, the posterior pair above, and the anterior and intermediate tarsi
yellow: the second, third, fourth and fifth segments of the abdomen have on each
side an ovate, yellow spot, and the basal margin of the sixth is yellow.

In my own collection.

This insect is extremely distinct from any hitherto described British species of the
genus: it was captured by W. Hewitson, Esq., at Weybridge, and I am indebted to
his liberality for its possession. This season, he informs me, he again observed the
species in the same locality, but had not at the time the means of capturing it.

of New British Hymenoptera. CXXVIi

Family—Apip&.
Genus—Nomapa, Scop.
NoMADA MISTURA.

Male: length 3% lines. Black, the mandibles ferruginous, with a spot at their
base, and the margin of the clypeus yellow; the labrum has a minute tooth in the
centre ; the antenne ferruginous beneath, and the three or four apical segments en-
tirely so; the scape black: the thorax has a spot on each side of the collar, and the
tubercles yellow ; the apex of the femora, the tibia, and tarsi yellow-ferruginous ; the
anterior and intermediate tibie have a black stain above ; the posterior pair black, ex-
cepting their base and apex: the tegule and nervures of the wings piceous, the apical
margins fuscous: the abdomen has the margin of the basal segment rufopiceous, and a
band of the same colour across the other segments ; the second and third segments have
on each side an oblong, yellow macula, acute within: a very minute spot on the sides
of the third, and the margins of the fifth and sixth yellow ; beneath, the margins of the
segments are rufopiceous; and the third and fourth have on each side a narrow, yellow
line, curving upwards towards the centre, and terminating in a round spot.

In my own collection.

The only described species, with which I am acquainted, that appears to resemble
ours is the N. melanostoma of Herrich-Schaffer, but his description is too recondite
to be satisfactory ; it agrees, however, with mistura in having a black scape, scutellum,
clypeus and labrum ; but he does not mention the tooth with which the labrum is
armed. This insect was captured by W. Hewitson, Esq., at Weybridge, and kindly

presented by him to my collection.
FREDERICK SMITH.

Arr. XIX.—Description of a New British Species of the Genus Actinia.
By Wi.i1am Tuompeson, Esq.

Natural Order—PoLyrres cHarnus, Cuvier.
Genus—Acrinia, Linneus.
ACTINIA CLAVATA.

Body subcylindrical, a quarter of an inch in diameter; tentacula placed in two
series, one being much longer than the other, club-shaped, larger at the top than the
bottom, and ending abruptly ; twenty-five longitudinal raised lines are placed at re-
gular intervals round the body, the top of each produced into a wart at the edge of the
disk, giving the margin a scalloped appearance; the length of the longest tentacula
about half the diameter of the disk, the shorter ones a third of the length of the
longer ones; all the tentacula are retractile: skin warty: ground-colour straw, or
yellowish pink, profusely covered with innumerable small, puce-coloured specks,
which become scarcer towards the apex, and where they form five or six circles; the

CXXVili Mr. E. Nenman’s Descriptions

raised longitudinal lines are much less pinky and well defined in consequence of a
yellow coloar, the spots upon them are much larger and scarcer than on the other
parts of the body. The shorter tentacula are of an uniform, dirty, transparent white ;
the longer the same, but having, in addition, blotches of pink and puce: in the in-
terior of each are visible, small, oval, cream-coloured bodies: oral disk pellucid, with
the appearance of chalk having been sprinkled over it. I have satisfied myself by
examination that this is not the young of any of our described species. The descrip-
tion is very particular, but I thought, claiming it as new, I could not be too much so.

Has.—I found this Actinia attached to the rocks under Sandsfoot Castle, in Wey-
mouth Bay, at extreme low-water mark, spring tides.

WILLIAM THOMPSON.
Weymouth, February 19, 1851.

Art. XX.—Descriptions of New Insects from New Holland.
By Epwarp Newman.

Family—CrRaMBYCID.
Genus—Permpsamacra, Newman.
PEMPSAMACRA PYGMHA,

Supra aheneo-fusca, subtus argenteo-albida ; antennarum articulo 5to, elytri utriusque
maculd subrotundd submediand flavescentibus. (Corp. long. *3 unc. Elytrorum
lat. max. ‘09 unc.)

The prevalent and very uniform colour of the upper surface of this little longicorn
is a brassy brown, that of the under surface a silvery but not brilliant white ; in the
antenne, the fifth joint, the comparatively great length of which has been employed
as a distinguishing character of the genus, is yellow except at the apex, which together
with the remainder of the antenna is brassy brown; on each elytron, at half its length
and near its costal margin is a nearly round yellowish spot.

Has.—A single specimen taken at Wonboyn River, near Cape Howe on the east
coast of Australia, was taken by Mr. Mossman, and consigned to Mr. 8. Stevens.

CERAMBYX PULLUS.

Niger, concolor, lanugine brevissimd pallidiori undique obsita: prothoracis tuberes 5 :
1 utrinque laterali, 3 dorsalibus in triangulo dispositis. (Corp. long. °75 une.
Elytrorum lat. max. *2 une.)

Black and perfectly concolorous, except that a very short, paler down clothes the
upper surface of the insect, while the lower surface is glabrous and almost naked : the
anteune are 11-jointed, rather slender, and not half the length of the body ; the pro-
thorax is short, scarcely longer than the head; about the middle of each side it
has a strong tubercle, and dorsally it has three tubercles arranged in a triangle, two

of New Insects from New Holland. cxxix

of these constituting the base of the triangle are parallel with the anterior margin of
the prothorax, and are prominent and polished ; the third, constituting its apex, is
nearer the scutellum and is almost obsolete. The legs are rather short and small,
and the thighs are slightly incrassated.

Has.—New Zealand: in the possession of Mr. 8. Stevens; consigned to that
gentleman by Mr. Mossman. It is related to Aromia and Rosalia, but totally desti-
tute of the beauty which the species of those genera possess.

Genus—Omores, Newman.
OMOTES PUNCTISSIMA.

Testacea, oculis tantum nigris, puncta, pilis testaceis obsita, parm depressa; elytra
profundé ac confertim puncta. (Corp. long. °25 unc. Hlytrorum lat. max. °045
unc.)

Entirely testaceous, the eyes alone being black, beset with testaceous hairs, all
parts punctured, but the elytra deeply and confluently so. Seeing how extraordinary
is the variation in size between individual Australian longicorns of the same species,
I was at first sight strongly inclined to consider this diminutive insect as nothing
more than a small, dark-coloured specimen of Omotes Cucujides, a single example of
which was captured by Mr. Higgins, and described by myself, some ten years back,
in the ‘ Entomologist: however, on carefully comparing the two specimens, I was in-
duced to abandon this view, since other characters far more important than those of
magnitude or colour were revealed, and seem clearly to indicate that the insect now
under consideration is specifically distinct: in O. Cucujides the prothorax is slightly
depressed dorsally, and slightly, almost imperceptibly, rounded laterally ; in punc-
tissima it is perfectly cylindrical dorsally, without depression, laterally quite straight,
and also longer in proportion to its width: in O. Cucujides the elytra are decidedly
flattened dorsally, highly polished and glittering ; in punctissima they are scarcely
depressed, and so completely covered with deep and confluent punctures, that there
is no glittering appearance whatever : the legs, short in both species, are proportion-
ately shorter in punctissima.

Has.—South Australia: in the cabinet of Mr. Westwood ; to whose kindness I
am indebted for the loan of this interesting little species.

Family—Lamup 2.
Genus—Ruyrievora, Serville.

RuytipHora Donovanl.

Fusca ; antenne piceo-fusce, nigro fimbriate, articulis basi cinereo-lanuginosis : caput
et prothorax fusca, hic fasciis illud maculis fulvo-lanuginosis ornata ; scutellum
fuscum ; elytra fusca, tuberibus prominulis basi, maculis fulvo-lanuginosis undique,
vittd lata costalt ante humerum interruptd nived, ornata. (Corp. long. *65 une.
Elytrorum lat. max. °225 unc.)

This insect in size and general appearance resembles Saperda nigro-virens of Do-
novan, but the absence of all green colour in the elytra, and the interruption of the

CXXX Mr. Ek. Newman’s Descriptions

white costal vitta, are sufficient to distinguish it immediately: I will, however, add a
more detailed description. Antenne pitchy-brown, the basal joint glabrous and
naked, all the rest fringed on one side with black hairs; the basal portion of each
Joint is also clothed with short gray down: head brown, but nearly covered in patches
with a short fulvous down: an impressed, epicranial, glabrous line is prolonged an-
teriorly almost to the clypeus : prothorax brown with impressed rings, which are filled
with short fulvous down, thus appearing as fulvous rings, but these are attenuated
and almost interrupted on the back: elytra brown, with numerous, slightly raised
black tubercles near the base, numerous fulvous downy markings all over the sutural
and dorsal regions, a slender, gray, sutural vitta extending from the middle to the apex,
and a costal white vitta extending from near the shoulder to the apex; beneath the
humeral angle, which is prominent and highly glabrous, is a white downy spot, con-
nected with the costal vitta by an extremely attenuated marginal line: beneath, the
body is covered with short down ; that on the sides of the mesosternum is pure white ;
that on the abdominal segments is gray, sprinkled with small, round, glabrous spots,
the margins of each segment being fulvous: legs short, stout, and variegated with
downy markings of gray and fulvous.

Hazs.—New Holland: I have seen many specimens of this insect ; that described
is in the possession of Mr. 8. Stevens, consigned to that gentleman by Mr. Wilson.

Genus—AcantHocinus, Megerle.
ACANTHOCINUS LINEOLA.

Niger, punctus, maculis minutis lanuginosis irroratus ; prothoracis lineold laterali
longitudinali alba. (Corp. long. ‘55 une. Elytrorum lat. max. *225 une.)

Antenne black, fringed beneath with black hairs: prothorax black, with a slender,
longitudinal, white line on each side above the lateral spine : elytra deeply punctured,
indistinctly ribbed: beneath clothed with whitish down.

Has.—Kangaroo Island: in my own collection.

This form in Lamia is very numerous in individuals if not in species, throughout
New Holland: the present species somewhat resembles the annulicornis of Latreille,
described under the name of Acanthocinus marginicol, by Boisduval, ‘Faune de
lOcéanie,’ p. 490, but from this very common species it differs in wanting the beau-
tiful annulations of the antenne, and in having the broad, gray, lateral vitta of the
prothorax replaced by a slender white line.

ACANTHOCINUS ? PLUMULA.

Antenne corpore paulld longiores, basi sat proxime, 10-articulate, articulo secundo
sesquialtero, quinto apice plumoso, nigra, maculis elytrorum nonnullis, incertis,
lanuginosis, canis. (Corp. long. *475 une. Elytrorum lat, max, *2 unc.)

Antenne rather longer than the body, somewhat approximate at the base, the head
being longitudinally grooved between them, 10-jointed ; the first joint long and stout,
the second less than half the length of the first, rather stout and apparently divided
into two, but whether this division is apparent only or real, is a point on which, with-

of New Insects from New Holland. CXXxi

out attempting a separation, an observer is so liable to be mistaken, that I will not
venture to express an opinion ; the third is long, slender, and slightly arcuate; the
fourth shorter; the fifth still shorter and bearing a small fascicle of black hairs on
one side at its apex ; the rest decrease in length; all the joints have a thin fringe of
hairs on one side, they are black, with the exception of a small portion at the base of
each which is gray: the head and prothorax are black, with scattered gray hairs, the
latter has a strong and sharp central tooth on each side, and three small obtuse
tubercles on the base, the middle one of which is nearest the hind margin and unites
with a small ridge which passes between the other two: the elytra are manifestly
wider than the prothorax, and ample, extending beyond the abdomen; they are
rounded at the apex, coarsely and deeply punctured, black, and variegated with irre-
gular markings, due to a short, velvety, gray pilosity, they have two short ridges at
the base, one originating at the humeral angle, and the other half way between that
and the scutellum : the legs are moderate, the femora being decidedly, but not abruptly,
incrassated.

Has.—Van Diemen’s Land: a single specimen in the cabinet of Mr. Westwood,
to whom I am indebted for the opportunity of describing the species.

The occasional numerical reduction of the joints of the antenne of certain Lami-
ide has already been noticed, but whether this peculiarity is incident to one sex only
I am unable to say, never having seen a series of any species, the antenne of which
were uniformly 10-jointed. The well-known Brazilian species, Lamia scopifera, de-
scribed by Germar, in 1824, in the first volume of his Ins. Nov. Spec., p. 476, which was
raised into the rank of a genus by Audinet-Serville in the ‘ Annales de la Société En-
tomologique de France, iv. 79, has the antenne 11-jointed in the male and only
10-jointed in the female, and it is by no means impossible that the numerical reduc-
tion in the instance before us applies only to one sex.

Genus—IsosceLes, Newman.

IsOSCELES PIGRA.
Piceo-nigra, puncta, pilis lanugineque canis obsita, elytra fusca profunde ac confertim
puncta, prothoracis latera vitta via distincta cano-lanuginosd ornata. (Corp. long.
3 unc. Elytrorum lat. max. °05 une.

Face rather convex, its direction more than prone, antenne moderately distant
seated on prominences more than half as long as the body, 11-jointed, slender, the
basal joint rather stout ; the second as usual short and small; the remainder longer,
but gradually decreasing in length and substance; the longer ones individually
slightly arcuate: prothorax nearly cylindrical, scarcely so wide as the head, its lateral
margins perfectly straight: elytra linear, rather wider than the prothorax, longer than
the abdomen, obliquely and arcuately truncate, the angles of the truncature rather
acute: legs uniformly short, mesotibie with the distinctive Lamiate notch. The
colour is pitchy-black, the elytra approaching to brown, all parts are punctured, the
elytra deeply and confluently: every part is also sprinkled more or less abundantly
with gray hairs or down, the latter forms a line on each side of the prothorax: this
pilosity is somewhat silvery on the tibie: the extremity is furnished with a pencil of
longer black hairs. ;

CXXXill Mr. E. Nenman’s New Holland Insects.

Has.—South Australia. The only specimen I have seen is in the cabinet of Mr.
Westwood, to whom I am indebted for the opportunity of describing the species.

Natural Order.—CLeRITEs.
Genus—CLerRus? Auctorum.
CLERUS ? SOCIALIS.

Punctissimus, subpilosus, niger, maculis 8 pilorum niveorum ornatis, scutello quoqué
niveo. (Corp. long.*4 unc. Elytrorum lat. max.*15 unc.)

Black: prothorax remarkably convex, covered with large, deep, and confluent
punctures ; a little patch of snowy-white hairs on each side of its anterior margin,
almost close to the eye: scutellum covered with white down ; elytra at the base nearly
twice as broad as the prothorax, but gradually narrowing towards the apex ; the basal
portion, rather exceeding half, is covered with deep confluent punctures arranged in
series, and there is an elevated prominent ridge between the humeral and scutellar
angles; the apical portion of the elytra has shallow and distant punctures, and is
highly polished ; this smoother portion is divided from the more rugose, by four little
subfascicular patches of snowy-white hair; two of these are very near the suture,
and two below them nearer the costa; in the anal angle of each elytra is a similar
but smaller patch: a remarkably obese insect, closely resembling, except in colour,
Clerus crassus of Newman.

Has.—Adelaide, South Australia: taken by Mr. Wilson, and now in Mx. S.
Stevens’ collection. i

Class—NEUROPTERA.
Natural Order—PERLITEs.
Genus—Nemovra, Latreille.
NEMOURA SPEUSTICA.

Nigra ; alis anticis obscuris, maculis numerosis fuscis ornatis ; pedes nigri, femoribus
basi flavis, tibiis prope basin flavo annulatis. (Corp. long.*4 unc. Alarum dilat.
1°4 une.)

Black: eyes very prominent, but still the breadth of the head is inferior to that of
the prothorax, black with a scarcely perceptible testaceous mark near its anterior mar-
gin: mesothorax black, ‘with a triangular scutellum-like mark near its anterior
margin; the rest of the body is black: the fore wings are uniformly stained with pale
brown, and adorned with a great number of distinct brown spots of various size and
figure: hind wings slightly spotted at the apex, tinged with yellow at the base:
femora yellow at the base ; tibie annulated with yellow rather before the base.

Hap.—Australia: taken by Mr. Mossman, and now in Mr. 8. Stevens’ collection,

Epwarp NrEwMaAN.

—

Mr. E. Newman’s Characters of Dohrnia. cxxxiii

Art. XXI.— On the Characters and Affinities of Dohrnia, an Australian Genus of
Hormocerous Coleoptera. By Epwarp Newman.

Class—CoLEopTERa.
Stirps— Hormocera, Newman.
Natural Order—Stenetytra, Latreille.
Family—CEpEmeErip2, Leach.

Genus— Donrenia.

Caput subexsertum, subpronum, facie subelongatd ; antenne ecorpore vie breviores, bast
distantes, tuberibus prominulis site, 11-articulate ; articulo 1mo longo, paullo
curvato, extus crassiori ; 2do 3tioque simplicibus, brevioribus, cylindraceis, graci-
libus ; 4to iterium breviort, simplici ; 5to precedenti longitudine part, difformi ;
6to breviort, iterium difformi, complanato, uno latere dilatato ; '7mo 5to longitu-
dine pari, difformi, horizontalitéer excavato, profundé concavo, poculiforme, mar-
gine elevato ; 8vo minori, breviori, tamen complanato, dilatato ; 9no 10moque valdé
brevioribus, subpyriformibus, ultimo 2 precedentibus longitudine equanti, sim-
plici, cylindraceo, basi apiceque acuto. Oculi subrotundi, laterales, valdé dis-
tantes, prominentes. Labrum magnum, feré quadratum, margini antico medio
emarginatum, angulis obiusis : mandibule arcuate, apice bifide, margine antico
tumide, coriacee, paullo ciliate : maxille galeate, maxipalpi majores 4-articu-
lati, articulo basali minuto ; 2do tripld longiori, extus crassiort ; 3tio precedenti
longiori, paulld crassiori, ultimo 2do longitudine equanti, dilatato, subtrigono,
margine antico obliqué truncato, angulis obtusis ; galea articulata, paulld genicu-
lata, articulo apicali longiori, apice incurvo, pilis curvatis obsito ; lacinia minort
obtusa, pilis curvatis obsita: labium margine antico subrotundum, medio depres-
sum ; ligula biloba, lobis rotundatis ; labipalpi breviores, minores, 4-articulati,
articulis 1—3 brevibus, crassis, 4to longiori, apice tumido, subrotundato, apice ob-
liqué truncato. Prothorax capite paulld angustior, latitudine paulld longior,
posticé angustior, subobcordatus. Scutellum minutum, apice rotundatum. Ely-
tra longa, linearia, flexilia, dehiscentia, prothorace latiora. Pedes mediocres,
simplices, heteromert. Abdominis segmenta 5 tantim patentia, ultimo fisso, fis-
sura lobos binos, magnos, sexuales, rotundatos, fimbriatos amplectitur.

DouRNIA MIRANDA.

Caput nigrum, facie palpisque ferrugineis ; antenne nigra, articulis 3tio 4toque pices,
7mo disco albo, 8vo extus albido ; prothorax rufus ; elytra nigricantia ; propedes
ferruginet, profemorum linea dorsali nigra ; mesopedes nigri, mesotibie basi fer-
ruginee ; metapedes nigri; abdomen nigricans, fulgore metallico splendens. (Corp.
long.°35 unc. Elytrorum lat. max. ‘075 unc.)

Head : — the face rather long and somewhat prone: the antenne nearly of the
same length as the body, geniculated, the 2nd joint united with the Ist at a right an-
gle, and the remainder nearly following the direction of the second ; moderately dis-

Ix. APPENDIX. BB

CXXX1V Mr. E. Nenman’s

tant at the base, seated on small but distinct protuberances, and 11-jointed: the eyes
are large, round, lateral, distant, prominent and black; the entire epicranial region,
including the tubercles on which the antenne are placed, is black, punctured and
shining ; the face below the antenne is ferruginous, the same colour also pervading
the mouth and its appendages, the labium excepted, which is black and highly gla-
brous; the antenne require a more minute description, and I cannot avoid expressing
the fear which I entertain of being unable to convey in words a correct idea of their
anomalous structure: the Ist joint is long, slender at the base, stouter towards the
apex, porrected directly in front of the head, and somewhat curved inwardly, so that
the extreme point of the curvature approaches and nearly meets the corresponding
point of the 1st joint of the other antenna, this joint is entirely black and shining ; the
2nd and 3rd are severally half the length of the 1st, simple, straight, and subcylindri-
cal or deviating only from a cylindrical form in being slightly incrassated externally ;
they are of two colours, black and pitchy red, longitudinally divided ; the 4th has the
same general character, and the same distribution of colour, but is shorter and stout-
er ; the 5th is of nearly equal length with the 4th, but flattened out on one side into a
large rounded lobe; it is black, with the exception of a small ferruginous portion at
the base ; the 6th is not more than half the length of the 5th, but is fattened and di-
lated in the same way, as far as its length will permit, it is entirely black; the 7th is
rather longer than the 5th, dilated and hollowed into a kind of basin, the bowl whereof
is white and the rim black, this joint has much the appearance of a mounted lens; the
8th is not more than half the length of the 7th, it has a small dilated and flattened
portion, which is white, while the shaft is black; but the dilated portion in this is very
inferior to that in either of the three preceding joints ; the 9th and 10th are short, ob-
conical and pitchy ; the 11th is longer, pitchy, and somewhat sausage-shaped.

Mouth : —the labrum is rather large, nearly square, but having the anterior mar-
gin rounded at the angles and depressed or notched in the middle: mandibles arcu-
ate, hooked and bifid at the apex, the two points being similar, closely approximated
and acute; the inner margin of the mandible is increased, and its concavity filled, by
a tumid, slightly ciliated, coriaceous or semimembranaceous lobe: maxille having the
three constituent terminal portions distinct and separate ; the maxipalpi are large and
4-jointed, the basal joint very minute, the 2nd three times the length of the Ist, and
thickened apically, the 3rd shorter and more robust than the 2nd, the 4th fully equal
in length to the 2nd, dilated, somewhat but very indistinctly triangular, the apical
margin obliquely truncate and slightly rounded ; galea very much shorter than the
palpus, jointed and elbowed near the base, the apical portion somewhat linear, much
longer than the basal portion, the apex incurved and thinly beset with incurved hairs:
labium with the anterior margin rounded, but depressed in the middle; ligula divided
by a median notch into two large spreading rounded lobes fringed with cilia; labi-
palpi shorter and smaller than the maxipalpi, 4-jointed, the Ist, 2nd, and 3rd joints
short and robust, the 4th longer, stouter towards the apex, where it is obliquely rotun-
dato-truncate,

Prothorax vather narrower than the head, rather longer than broad, indistinctly ob-
cordate, being evidently swollen towards the anterior and narrowed towards the poste-
rior margin; its dorsal surface is somewhat uneven, its colour bright ferruginous and
shining.

Elytra rather broader than the prothorax, long, narrow, severally rounded at the
apex, slightly dehiscent, extremely thin, flexible, nearly black, covered sparingly with

Characters of Dohrnia. CXXXV

short hairs, deeply and confluently punctured and almost destitute of gloss: wings
ample, smoke“toloured, not entirely concealed by the elytra.

Legs of moderate size and simple form: procoxe large, approximate, black with a
small ferruginous spot at the apex ; profemora slightly excurved at the apex, ferrugi-
nous, with a black blotch on the outer side at the base, prolonged into a black line
along the upper edge to the extreme apex: protibie slightly excurved at the base and
again at the apex, ferruginous, with a black line on the upper edge of the apical half;
protarsi distinctly 5-jointed, the basal joint short, the 2nd and 3rd still shorter, the 4th
deeply notched, bilobed and cushioned beneath ; the four closely crowded together ;
the 5th simple, rather exceeding the lobes of the 4th in length; the claws rather large,
simple ; the entire tarsus ferruginous, the joints just tipped with pitchy black and the
claws of the same colour; mesocoxe of moderate size, closely approximate at the
base, black; mesofemora somewhat flattened, excurved, dilated beneath into a rounded
preapical tuber, like an almost obsolete tooth, black ; mesotibie simple, black, ferru-
ginous at the base, distinctly 5-jointed and perfectly black ; the detail of the joints as
in the protarsi: metatibie longer than the pro- and mesotibie, excurved, furnished
with 2 apical spines ; metatarsi distinctly 4-jointed, the basal joint long, simple, and
produced into a spine at the extremity, the 2nd short, elongato-triangular, the 3rd
flattened, dilated, cushioned beneath, the 4th simple, springing from the upper surface
of the 3rd ; the metapedes are black, with a faint indication of pitchy red at the joints.

Abdomen beneath black, with a metallic green lustre, five segments only are visi-
ble ; these are punctured, and clothed with scattered hairs, yet shining ; four of them
are entire, the 5th or apical segment is deeply notched, and divided into two rounded
dehiscent lobes, and from the notch issue two longer, larger, rounded lobes, apparently
connected with sexual function; these are fringed along the exterior margin with pale
hairs, which in their uniform curvature and extreme regularity resemble eye-lashes.

Has.— Hobart Town, Van Diemen’s Land, where it was taken by Dr. John Co-
verdale, and obligingly communicated to me by Mr. H. Colquhoun, of Glasgow.

Named Dohrnia, in honour of Herr Dohrn, the President of the Stettin Entomo-
logical Society, and intended to commemorate that gentleman’s visit to this country,
which will long be remembered with pleasure by those who had the good fortune to
enjoy his company.

The affinities of this very remarkable-looking insect do not appear difficult to as-
certain. The distinctly heteromerous tarsi decide that its station must be among the
Hormocera ; its flexible and somewhat dehiscent elytra induce one to regard it as one
of the Stenelytra ; while the structure of the head, mouth, prothorax and tarsi, fully
bears out this location, because in these parts it closely resembles the well-known
Cidemera cerulea, an insect which serves as a kind of type for Dr. Leach’s family
(Edemeride, and this appears to be typical in the higher group at present called
Stenelytra. I should however remark that considerable discrepancy exists in the struc-
ture of these parts, between species which, in other respects, seem perfectly cognate ;
for instance, between Cidemera cerulea and Asclera viridissima. Our insect com-
bines the oral apparatus of the former* with the habit of the latter, more nearly how-

* Mr. Curtis, under the name of Gidemera sanguinicollis (Brit. Ent. pl. 390),
appears to me to have drawn his details of the oral apparatus, as well as the inflated
metafemur, from Gidemera cerulea, while the entire insect represents a true Asclera,

CXXXVi Mr. E. Nenman’s Characters of Dohrnia

ever approaching Asclera sanguinicollis, and still more nearly Asclera mansueta, a
widely distributed New Holland species which is familiar to all collectors.* A charac-
ter of very trivial importance, and one that might reasonably be looked for in any
group of Coleoptera, adds some additional weight to this view of the case. In the ge-
nus Asclera, the species frequently have several joints of the antenne near the base
longitudinally divided as regards colour; the entomologist need only examine the
very familiar sanguinicollis, Fadr., sanguinicollis, Curt., and mansueta, A. 0.; and
this is precisely the case with these joints in the insects before us, which retain some-
thing like a normal and simple structure.

But although I place this insect without hesitation among the Stenelytra, and in
the more restricted group Cidemeride, I must not be considered as expressing any
opinion as to the integrity of these groups: thus, the character of the elytra is of very
doubtful value ; not that a character derived from the elytra is necessarily worthless ;
on the contrary, in some groups, as the Staphylinites for example, it is excellent: but
that in the Stenelytra it is intrinsically vague, and its application essentially arbitrary.
Again, in the minor group, associated under the name Cidemeride, there is an equal
departure from the character proposed as distinguishing — the inflated metafemora ;
this singular character being restricted to a very small number of the species origi-
nally and still included in it, and to one sex only, the other species and sex being
rather remarkable for simple and slender metafemora. The genus Nothus, again,
appears to me to be widely discrepant, its oral apparatus being entirely different, and
the Rhyncophoromorphous genera Mycterus and Salpingus have no further apparent
connexion with the group, than the very comprehensive character of heteromerous tar-
si. Again, the singular insect, Cephaloon Lepturides, found in the United States by
my lamented friend, Edward Doubleday, and described by me in the fifth volume of
the ‘ Entomological Magazine,’ is equally abnormal; as also is the extraordinary
Calopus serraticornis of Fabricius. I will not, however, venture on the assertion that

but I think perhaps not the sanguinicollis of Fabricius, since that species is without
the singularly disposed fuscous markings which, in Mr. Curtis's beautiful figure, adorn
the prothorax. I venture the suggestion that this author has made this combination
of characters, seeing he advisedly combines Gidemera and Asclera, as well as Dryops,
under one generic name, and therefore probably concluded that it was a matter of in-
difference which insect he selected for purposes of anatomical detail. I hope it will
not be considered presumptuous if I add that in such instances it would have been
well to name the species dissected, as well as that figured entire, or still better, to have
drawn the details from the identical species figured entire.

* ASCLERA MANSUETA.

Caput in prothorace receptum ; epicranium et oculi nigra; facies leté ferruginea ; la-
brum et pulpi niyra; antenne corpore breviores, 11-articulate, simplices, articult
lus Qusque seminigri, semiferruginei, colores longitudinaliter divisi, ceteri nigri ;
elytra et abdomen nigra, elytra conferttm puncta, haud striata, apice acuta ; pro-
thorax obcordatus, laté ferrugineus, maculis 4 nigris, 2 minoribus anticis distanti-
bus, 2 majoribus posticis subapproximatis ; co«e ferruginee ; femora ferruginea,
apicibus fuscis ; tibia et tarsi fusca, (Corp. long. *375 une. lat, 1 wne.)

Has.—Australia. In the cabinet of the British Museum.

and Pseudocephalus arietinus. CXXXVI

the group Stenelytra, approved as it has been by philosophically-inductive minds, and
adopted by industrious and careful compilers, is essentially so heterogeneous in its
composition as to be unworthy of adoption: such an assertion would not only be ex-
cessively presumptuous on my part, but also premature, since my acquaintance with
the group is very imperfect, and I have never considered it with sufficient deliberation
and care to warrant me in proposing any alteration.

Epwarp NEWMAN.

Arr. XXII.—Characters of a Second Species of Pseudocephalus, a Longicorn Insect
from New Holland. By Epwarp Newman.

Natural Order—CERAMBYCITES.
Family—(—————- ? )
Genus—PsEvupocEPHALUS, Newman.

The genus Pseudocephalus was established in the 22nd No. of the ‘ Entomologist’
(Entom. 353), in a descriptive list of longicorns collected at Port Philip, by Mr. E. T.
Higgins: one species only is described, P. formicides, remarkable for the extreme si-
milarity of its enormously developed head and curiously geniculated antenne, to some
of the ant tribe; and I have now the pleasure of adding a second. I will not venture
an opinion as to the natural place of these insects among the longicorn Coleoptera,
but merely observe that in their completely exserted head, round eyes, and greatly re-
stricted prothorax, they resemble the Lepturide.

PsEUDOCEPHALUS ARIETINUS.

Nigricans, antennis, femoribus basi, tibiis, tarsisque leteé testaceis : elytra Arietis signo
retrorsum spectantt albido ornata. (Corp. long.*25 une. Elytrorum lat. max.
065 unc.)

Head dull black, minutely punctured, longitudinally depressed between the eyes ;
antenne and mouth bright testaceous: prothorax dull black, minutely punctured,
longer than the head, greatly restricted anteriorly, and there much narrower than the
head in the middle, produced on each side into a strong tooth, and behind this again
restricted: scutellum black: elytra much broader than the base of the prothorax,
square at the humeral angles, depressed dorsally, rounded at the apex and completely
covering the abdomen, the costal margins slightly incurved, so that they are narrower
across the centre than either at the base or below the centre, dull black, minutely and
confluently punctured, the minute size and close proximity of the punctures giving the
elytra a silky appearance, this appearance is probably enhanced by the presence of a
close, very short, velvety pile ; on each elytron is a median transverse narrow yellow-
white fascia, which originates in the costal margin, and after proceeding some distance
in a nearly direct line towards the suture, curves gradually upwards and finally unites

CXXXVill Mr. E. Newman's

on the suture with the corresponding fascia of the other elytron: placing the insect
with its head towards you, these fascie represent very accurately the zodiacal sign of
Aries, a figure which will at once remind the entomologist of one of the markings as
well as the name of Clytus Arietis: legs long, with tumid femora, the tumid portion
being dark brown, while all other parts of the legs are testaceous:

Has.—Van Diemen’s Land. Two specimens taken by Dr. Coverdale, near Hobart
Town, ‘are in the collection of Mr. Colquhoun, of Glasgow, to whose kindness I am
indebted for the opportunity of making the species known.

Epwarp Newman,

Art. XXIIT.—WNote on the Genus Ametalla, with Characters of three Species supposed
to be previously undescribed. By Epwarp NEwMan.

Stirps—Macrocera.
Natural Order—CriocERITEs.
Genus—AmeETa.ta, Hope.

The genus Ametalla was first characterised in 1840, by the Rev. F. W. Hope, in
the 3rd part of his ‘ Coleopterist’s Manual,’ at p. 179 ; is placed by that author in Dr.
Leach’s family Sagride ; and is said to “ unite in itself the genera Donacia and Sa-
gra.” The type of the genus is said to be Donacia Spinole of Hope, and it seems
probable that this is a misprint, and that Ametalla Spinole, the only described species,
is intended. Immediately following the description of Ametalla Spinole is that of
another new genus and species, Mecynodera picta, which the author also considers as
a link uniting the above-mentioned genera. Lacordaire has added a second species of
Ametalla, under the name of A. Stenodera, but this appears to possess the only distin-
guishing character of Mecynodera; and both genera seem to be abundant in species and
individuals, and to be restricted in geographical range to New Holland, or at least to
the Australian group of Islands. The generic distinction between Ametalla and Me-
cynodera is not very apparent, the instrumenta cibaria, described in both instances at
considerable length, seem very similar. I subjoin the characters of three species,
which have been obligingly handed me byMr. S. Stevens for that purpose, and which
at present stand unnamed in most cabinets.

With regard to the true value of the group of Coleoptera, first, I think, separated
by Dr. Leach (1824), under the name of Crioceride, secondly by Latreille (1825), un-
der the name of Criocerides, and subsequently by myself (1833), under that of Crioce-
rites, some difference of opinion will obtain. Latreille combines them with his tribe
Sagrides (Fam. Nat. 403) into a family, Eupoda, and, although he places this family
exactly intermediate between his Longicornes and Cyclica, expressly calls attention to
their great affinity to the former. “ Par les tarses,” says he, “les machoires, et la lan-
guette, ces insectes ne different point ou presque pas des longicornes; mais leur corps,
quoique oblong, est plus court.” Other affinities might be shown by a comparison of
the structure, food, and economy of the larve. Dejean, in his ‘ Catalogue des Colé-
opteres, a work which (although worse than useless in its mass of MSS. names, never
likely to be received as the representatives of things, yet) is a first and noble attempt

Note on the Genus Ametalla. CXXXIx

to reduce into something like order our rudis indigestaque moles of species of Coleop-
tera, places, without hesitation, the Criocerites among the Chrysomelines (see p. 383),
I shall be glad of the assistance of entomologists on this subject, and repeat, merely as
suggestive, the opinion I have already expressed elsewhere, that all the affinities of the
group in question are with the Cerambycites, more especially with the Lepturide.

AMETALLA XANTHURA.

Nigra, nitida, elytrorum humeris plis minusve rufis, apicibus flavis ; metafemora sub-
tus tubere mediano denteque valido acuto preapicali armata. (Corp. long. *5 une.
Elytrorum lat. max. -2 unc.)

Antennz fusco-testaceous, scarcely longer than the prothorax, of uniform thick-
ness, 11-jointed, the 2nd joint short, the 3rd rather longer, and each succeeding joint
slightly longer, the last acuminate: eyes promineut, almost round, rather small, very
distant: mandibles strong, arcuate, sharp-pointed and furnished with an internal lobe ;
labipalpi with a short basal and two longer joints, the middle joint cylindrical, the
terminal one ovate ; maxipalpi with a short basal and three longer joints, the 2nd and
3rd cylindrical, the 4th ovate: head not narrowed behind the eyes, black, punctured,
shining: prothorax rather broader than the head, somewhat obcordate, its greatest di-
ameter being near its anterior margin, black, punctured, shining: elytra ample, much
broader than the prothorax, having a deep sulcus on each very near the suture, punc-
tured, the punctures arranged in about 12 irregular linear series, black, with a coral-
red humeral spot, various in size and figure, and a large yellowish apical patch, from
which a yellow line, more or less distinct, extends both along the sutural and costal
margins: legs of moderate size; metafemora slightly incrassated, furnished beneath
with a slight central lobe and a strong acute preapical tooth ; tarsi 5-jointed, the Ist
and 5th joints longest and of equal length, the basal joint notched at its apex, the 2nd
more deeply divided, the 3rd short, very deeply divided and bi-lobed, the lobes long
and externally very hirsute, the 4th joint short, cylindrical, shining, and without hairs,
and the 5th curved, slender, shining, the claws strong, simple.

Has.—Australia. Two specimens, collected by Mr. Wilson, have been consigned
to Mr. S. Stevens. :

AMETALLA UBER.

Nigra, nitida, elytrorum testaceorum sutura strigisque octo nigris, metafemora subtus
tubere mediano denteque valido acuto preapicali armata. (Corp. long. °45 une.
Elytrorum lat. max. *15 une.)

Antenne fusco-testaceous, as long as the body, of uniform thickness, 11-jointed,
the 2nd joint very short, the 3rd scarcely longer, the others gradually increase in
length, the last acuminate: eyes very prominent, almost round, rather large, very dis-
tant: head black, closely and almost confluently punctured: prothorax rather broader
than the head, somewhat obcordate, its greatest diameter being near its anterior mar-
gin, black, punctured, shining: elytra ample at the base, quite twice as broad as the
base of the prothorax, each having a sulcus near the suture, and a number of deep
punctures arranged in 8 irregular linear series, bright testaceous, with the suture and
10 linear spots black, these black spots or marks are however very inconstant in size,
figure, and even occasionally in number, in the specimen before me, two of these long

7

cxl On the Word Hermaphrodite.

black markings originate side by side at the base of the elytron, their length is rather
less than a third that of the elytron, and that nearest the black sutural line unites
therewith at the base ; rather below the middle of each elytron are two others, whereof
that nearest the suture is broadest and extends the lowest, a 5th on each elytron occu-
pies the costal angle: the legs are brownish black; the metafemora are slightly incras-
sated and furnished with a slight central tubercle and a strong acute preapical tooth ;
tarsi as in A. chrysura. |

Has.—Australia. One of the most abundant and most widely diffused of Austra-
lian Coleoptera, but I am unable to find a prior description. Mr. 8. Stevens has re-
ceived it from Mr. Wilson, and I received it from numerous and distant localities,
during my Curatorship of the Entomological Club.

AMETALLA DECOLOR.

Testacea, nitida, prothorace capite antennisque saturatioribus elytris pallidioribus ; me-
tafemora nullo modo armata. (Corp. long.°35 unc. Elytrerum lat. max. °125
une.)

Antenne dull testaceous, of nearly the same length as the body, of uniform thick-
ness, 11-jointed, the 2nd joint the shortest, the 3rd and following gradually increasing
in length, the last terminating in an extremely acute point: eyes prominent, round,
distant, black: head fusco-testaceous, closely and confluently punctured: prothorax ra-
ther broader than the head, its greatest diameter near the middle, narrowed before and
behind, fusco-testaceous, punctured, slightly downy, with a glabrous median longitu-
dinal posterior line: scutellum extremely small, rounded: elytra ample at the base,
much broader than the prothorax, each elytron has a distinct longitudinal sulcus pa-
rallel with and closely approximate to the suture.

Has.—Australia. Same locality and collection as the two preceding.

Epwarp NEwMAN.

Art. XXIV.—On the Word Hermaphrodite, as employed in Zoology ; considered espe-
cially with regard to a Bee accidentally possessing some of the distinguishing
Charcters of both Sexes. By Epwarp Newman.

I ruink I was the first to suggest that time and trouble might be saved by con-
fining one term to one organ or one phenomenon; this was twenty years ago; and
although my suggestion has been cleverly opposed, and occasionally ridiculed with
considerable acrimony, yet I am not altogether disposed to abandon it, although I have
seen it convenient occasionally to yield to custom, as, for example, in the instance of
elytron, universally substituted for what I regard as the older, more precise, and more
meaning term, wing. The word hermaphrodite is one of those which has always
appeared to require this restriction, being currently used to express four distinct phe-
nomena, which it is the object of this paper to define and discriminate: but prior to
this it may perhaps be as well to glance at the meaning and origin of the word, in
fact, its history, previously to its employment in physical science.

On the Word Hermaphrodite. cxli

In Hederich’s Lexicon the word Hermaphroditos is thus explained : —“ Filius
Veneris et Mercurii: semimas; ambigui sexus; androgynus.” This is indeed giving
a tolerably wide margin, yet not wider than that which naturalists are still willing to
allow. The first or mythological interpretation seems to be unquestioned,* but the
application does not appear to me very clearly traceable to the parentage of our hero:
simply regarded as the son of Mercury and Venus, it does not seem extraordinary that
he should have received his euphonious cognomen; his history, however, clearly ex-
plains the application of that cognomen in matters of science: it is on this wise. Like
Cephalus, Acteon, and other heroes reflected in Ovid from the more brilliant lights of
Greece, Hermaphroditus was a mighty hunter. He pursued the sport in many lands,
and one day, having missed his quarry after a most exciting and laborious chace, he
came to a lonely lake of the purest and most delicious water: he threw himself down
on the bank, and having taken a refreshing draught, fell asleep under an umbrageous
canopy of boughs. As he lay, “beautiful exceedingly,” locked in the arms of sleep,
the nymph Salmacis beheld him, and instantaneously conceived for him that absorb-
ing passion which decided the fate of both for ever. He awoke, and beheld the nymph
bending over him: she avowed her passion ; but he, possibly mindful of some Dulcinea
at home, possibly bound by some plighted troth, turned a deaf ear to her endearments,
and refused to yield to her seductive entreaties. In this situation of masculine firmness
and virtue, sculptors and painters have fixed the group, and rendered it immortal: +
but this is not our business. Salmacis secured our hero ere he could escape, pressed
him with one arm to her bosom, and lifting the other towards heaven, devoutly prayed
that their bodies henceforth might be united in one. Her prayer was heard. The
two bodies became one body. A statue now extant at Rome exhibits the extraordi-
nary conformation required to render the fable complete ; but a moment’s reflection
will, I think, supply another and more natural solution.

Some of the poets have taken another view of this matter, and seem to consider
Venus as a god of both sexes; and there are not a few instances in which Venus is
spoken of as a male and as Hermaphroditos. All the school editions of Virgil have a
note appended to the word Deo, in the line—

** Descendo, ac ducente Deo flammam inter et hostes,’—n. ii. 632,

* Except by Bell. After having penned these few sentences, it occurred to me to
turn to the word Hermaphroditus in Bell’s Pantheon, a copy of which extraordinary
publication has descended to me as a heir-loom. The opening passage I will recite.
“ Hermaphroditus the son of Hermes and Aphrodite, 7. e., of Mars (!) and Venus.”
This curious parenthetical explanation, however, does not originate with the conceited
compiler of the ‘ New Pantheon ;’ it is an unacknowledged piracy: but a compiler
who copies so gross a blunder is not trustworthy on any point.

+ The reader of the classics cannot but be struck with the great analogy between
Salmacis trying to detain Hermaphroditos, Venus dissuading Adonis from the chase,
and the amatory designs of Potiphar’s wife on Joseph. Painters and sculptors have
preserved what may be called a family likeness in their illustrations of the three sub-
jects: the lady in nearly all instances is seated, and holding the flowing robes of the
gentleman, whose virtuous soul seems horrified at the idea of the solicited endearments,
and whose anxiety to escape is depicted in every feature and every limb.

IX. APPENDIX. OE ©

exlil On the Word Hermaphrodite.

to this effect: — “‘ Dea Venere; nam Deus communi genere aliquando sumitur:” and
Lucan, i. 2, 80; Euripides, Troad. v. 948; and Demosthenes, Orat. de Corona, are
cited in support: the last of these certainly appears to make the gods bisexual. The
annotator might have added Hesychius, who calls Venus Aphroditos ; and Theophras-
tus, who asserts that Hermaphroditos is Venus, and that her statue in the Isle of Cy-
prus had a beard like a man. Hence it is tolerably clear that Hermaphroditos was a
myth, intended to represent the passion of love, and to indicate that such passion was
common to both sexes. Compare also Calvus and Heyne, passim.

In the other meaning given in Hederich, it will be observed a great discrepancy
exists: “ half-male,” “of doubtful sex,” and ‘‘ androgynous,” or having both sexes
complete. It remains to be seen how far these terms are capable of restricted appli-
cation.

The great John Hunter divided hermaphrodites into two kinds, “ the natural and
the unnatural, uncommon, or monstrous.” ‘“ The natural,” says that eminent anato-
mist, “belongs to the inferior and more simple order of animals, of which there are a
much greater number than of the more perfect: but as animals become more compli-
cated, have more parts, and each part is confined to its particular use, a separation of
the two necessary powers for generation has also taken place in them.” *

It may be assumed that this division was Hunter’s ultimatum on the subject, and
it seems to have been received as satisfactory, since it has uniformly been adopted by
compilers, although allusions to the name of Hunter are rarely met with, and his ad-
mirable paper still more rarely quoted. Let us consider the question of its sufficiency.

In the first place we are told of hermaphrodites in the vertebrate province of the
animal kingdom: these are beings which, being female, present certain abnormal or
not truly female appearances. I believe anatomists are perfectly agreed that the sex-
ual parts in the higher animals are essentially the same in both sexes, but differently
modified; there is then nothing extraordinary in the occurrence of instances wherein
this difference of modification is incomplete: such incompleteness occurs not uncom-
monly in the ox tribe, more rarely in the sheep tribe, and still more rarely in the horse
tribe. It is not desirable to pursue this branch of the subject, and it will be sufficient
to say, that imperfect females are barren, not possessing even the natural attributes of
a single sex, the only name by which they are known is that of free martins. It is by
no means improbable that barrenness in all instances is a consequence of this tenden-
cy, although it may be the only mode in which the peculiarity is exhibited. This class
of phenomena might be called Psrupocynovs: that is, falsely or imperfectly female.

In the second place, we are constantly told of hermaphrodites in the insect pro-
vince of the animal kingdom ; and this class of phenomena is as curious as it is deci-
dedly abnormal. One half of the individual is male, and the other half female, the
division by a longitudinal mesial line of separation being very manifest: the antenne
in many insects present a marked contrast in the two sexes, and it is very striking in
such instances to find each character of antenne issuing from the same head. Phe-
nomena of this class are clearly comprehended in the term semimas, but I doubt whe-
ther this would be so expressive as HEmicynovs, or half-female, which moreover har-
monizes better with the preceding.

In the third place, we have hermaphrodites in abundance in the group which were

* Philosophical Transactions,’ ]xix. 281.

|

On the Affinities of the Pulicites. exliii

formerly emphatically designated worms or Vermes, and the phenomenon is equally
exhibited in the mollusk and annelide divisions of the province: the garden snail
(Helix aspersa) may be quoted as an example of the former; the common earth-worm
(Lumbricus terrestris) as an example of the latter. In these the organs of both sexes
are perfectly developed, each individual is at the same time a perfect male and a per-
fect female, yet strange to say, it appears to have no power to fecundate itself, a coitus
with another individual being required for that purpose, and both individuals being
made fruitful by the double union. Phenomena of this class may be characterized as
ANnprRoGyYNoUs, or perfectly male and female.

We now arrive at the fourth and lowest province of animals, those of radiate struc-
ture: among these, as a rule, there is no difference of sex ; like a flower with stamens
and pistils, each individual is complete in itself, the sexual parts being interwoven as
it were with each other: hence, like the flower, it reproduces its kind. Oken says of
the individuals among vertebrates, that two of opposite sexes are required to make a
perfect being; but among the radiates, on the contrary, each individual is perfect,
each, unaided and alone, is capable of all the functions nature requires for the preser-
vation of its kind. Here then we have the fable carried out: here we have the two
bodies blended into one: here we have the true hermaphrodite, a creature fulfilling all
the conditions of the myth: to this the term Hrrmaruropirte is strictly applicable,
and, as I conceive, to this it should be rigidly restricted.

The following formula will express these phenomena.

Normal condition. Monstrous and exceptional _—_- Provinces.
condition.

Fiera pheOdite 929s tic sectees su tat anes sae Chedee ve fe chinderees RUADAAE As

AMANO RYN OUS, piesioch aoimad -» todeeeapbebe ob thous -sel67 ands pee V BRASS

Hemigynous. ......... INSECTA.

Pseudogynous. ......... VERTEBRATA.

It is thus, I hope, shown that the idea attached to the term hermaphrodite is not
precise; and moreover, that Hunter’s division of hermaphrodites into natural and un-
natural, is not sufficient, since each of these divisions comprises two classes of pheno-
mena perfectly distinct.* Epwarp NEWMAN.

Individuals ...
Monogenous ahs bois

ArT. XXV. — Affinities of the Pulicites, an Essay.
By Epwarp NEwMaN.

“ Fleas are not lobsters, ——!”—Peter Pindar.
“La puce est un Dipteére sans ailes.” — Strauss Durckheim.

Preliminary Note.

THE mist of obscurity which for so long a period veiled the affini-
ties of Stylops, has also extended to those of the flea: but there is

_ * Since the above was written, I find that the hemigynous insects require a more
careful examination than I had found leisure to bestow on them, and it will not be
desirable to delay the publication of these preliminary observations until the examina-
tion shall be more complete.

exliv On the Affinities of the Pulicites.

this difference; that in the case of Stylops, the obscurity appears due
to an error of description, and to an almost total ignorance of its eco-
nowy, in the flea to the extremely abnormal characters of the imago.
From the most remote antiquity the flea has been a puzzle and a prob-
lem to our ablest naturalists. Still 1 cannot but regard with infinite
pleasure the fact, that the deliberative entomologists of the last thirty
years have indicated the truth, although in no instance has the prob-
lem been worked out. Lamarck expressly invites attention to the
identity of metamorphosis between the flea and certain of the Dipte-
ra; Oken considered the flea dipterous; Haliday, in a letter to Mr.
Curtis, published in ‘ British Entomology,’ indicates his having arrived
at asimilar conclusion. “In investigating,” says he, “the analogy be-
tween Cordyla and Mycetophila nigra on the one hand and Pulex on
the other, I was led to the discovery of the antenne of the latter ge-
nus;” in this passage the affinities of the flea are clearly indicated.
Burmeister again considered the flea a dipterous insect; and Strauss
Durckheim, an author unhappily unknown in this country, except
through the admirable abstract by my late friend, Edward Doubleday,
and my own numerous citations in the first volume of the ‘ Entomo-
logical Magazine,’ expressly asserts that the flea is nothing more than
a dipterous insect without wings; Erichson, Schiodte and Siebold
have all expressed the same opinion. Under these circumstances my
position is widely different from that which I occupied in the investi-
gation of Stylops: then, I stood alone; * here, I am surrounded by a
cloud of witnesses, the very principes of the science.

It is not extraordinary that the characters of the perfect flea should
have misled our earlier systematists, for it may be observed that when
a law of nature is clearly pointed out, as in the instance of the varied
characters of insects’ wings, it is almost certain to be received with too
abject a servility; and hence the exceptions which are sure to exist
are not sufficiently taken into consideration: still I am at a loss to
conceive on what ground two of our most respectable methodisers have
adopted their view of its affinities. I allude to Latreille and Leach ;
the former of whom places the flea between Pediculus and Cicindela,
the latter between Coccus and Papilio. These seem grave errors of
judgment; but an error of fact equally grave, first broached by the
younger MacLeay, was subsequently repeated and insisted on by M.
Dugés, and, in spite of its most transparent fallacy, has obtained cur-
rency among recent compilers: I allude to the supposed presence of

* See Supplementary Note.

———

On the Affinities of the Pulicites. cxly

wings, which have been created out of the scales observed and figured
by Hooke, on the sides of the thoracic segments. Now, supposing
that wings were to be detected on an insect previously regarded as
apterous, the comparative anatomist is at once furnished with a clew
to its position in one of those systems which all entomologists have
admitted as the basis of their methods: but alas! this favourite hypo-
thesis must fall before the searching investigation of the comparative
anatomist ; these scales are neither wings nor the representatives of
wings. This assertion I base upon the following facts: —jfirst, no
wings have the character of these scales: secondly, no wings have
the position of these scales: thirdly, true wings, in a closely allied
genus, exist in company with these scales. These preliminary re-
marks appeared necessary, in order to bring the book-history of the
flea up to the period of the commencement of my inquiry; and I wish
it to be distinctly understood that I disclaim all idea of originality in
my conclusion that the flea is a dipterous insect; my object being
rather to prove that those profound entomologists are correct who
have supposed this to be the case.

§ 1. Economy and Metamorphosis of the Flea.

It seems scarcely necessary to state that the flea is a lively little
insect of a red-brown colour, remarkable for its power of leaping, and
for its disagreeable propensity to suck our blood; but a few facts con-
nected with its history are not so universally known, and are worth
recapitulating. The bite of the flea is much more annoying to some
persons than to others; in fact, it may be assumed from the everyday
use of the term, “a mere flea-bite,” that the majority of mankind re-
gard its attacks with great contempt. It is not thus with all: were I
to indulge in a little bit of autobiography, my own pulicine experi-
ences would excite some surprise: I will, however, only describe the
feeling and appearance produced. The feeling is that of intense and
intolerable itching, accompanied with burning heat and a greatly
accelerated pulse; the surface is swollen around the puncture in a
distinct and well-defined circular space, as large as a shilling, and
becomes white, the skin exterior to this circle is red, and the punc-
ture itself intensely red; these effects last for twenty-five minutes.
The female flea is commonly, perhaps always, the aggressor. I have
acquired some considerable skill in capturing fleas while in the act of
sucking my blood, and they have invariably proved females. There
are several species, almost equally common, but-not yet distinguished
by specific characters; Pulex irritans I regard as an absolute myth.

exlvi On the Affinities of the Pulicites.

The female is more than double the size of the male, and frequently
attacks her prey while the act of coition is still in progress, and, if
disturbed, leaping with her customary agility, totally unimpeded by
the inale, who retains his position with admirable dexterity and sang
froid. The female usually lays eight or ten eggs: these are very large
in proportion to the size of the insect, perfectly white and oval, much
resembling a pigeon’s egg in miniature. I have often watched the
act of oviposition: it may constantly be observed in hot weather,
when a dog infested by fleas is lying asleep; the fleas then come to
the extremity of the hairs, and drop their eggs slowly and at intervals,
but quite atrandom. The eggs appear to me to be perfectly without
any viscid covering, and hence do not adhere to the hairs, but gene-
rally, after passing amongst them, fall to the ground; but this is not
the experience of prior observers. Thus, Baker* says that fleas “ de-
posit their eggs at the roots of the hairs of cats, dogs, and other ani-
mals, sticking them fast thereto by a kind of glutinous moisture.” The
same statement has been made by older writers, and therefore I am led
to believe that a difference of economy may obtain among the species ;
I am able to speak positively only as to a species which infests the
dog, and this, as before stated, I have carefully observed in the act of
oviposition. This suggestion of the existence of a discrepancy in the
character of the egg in different species, is rendered probable by the
fact that very excellent observers have described a difference in the
character of the larva. Thus DeGeer found those which he examined
to be without eyes; while Roesel found that they possessed those or-
gans very conspicuously. DeGeer states that the segments of the
body are pilose, and Baker, that they are thinly covered with long
hairs ; whereas most authors have either described them as perfectly
naked, or left that fact to be inferred. I have never seen the larve
alive, but in one mounted as a microscopic object, I found that each
segment emitted a few very minute hairs at right angles with the me-
sial line. Roesel himself points out a third discrepancy which came
under his own notice: some of the larve which he procured assumed
the pupa state without any covering, while others, as we shall find to
be the normal economy, spun delicate silken cocoons, and in them
became pupe.

The larve are long, apod, vermiform maggots, composed of thirteen
very distinct segments, all of them nearly equal in breadth, but the
first or head rather longer than the others, and somewhat attenuated

* Microscope, i. 193.

On the Affinities of the Pulicites. exlvii

anteriorly, where it is furnished with two very distinct but short and
apparently exarticulate antenne: the thirteenth segment, or telum,
has two short appendages, which have been described as hooks; but
if we state them to be slightly curved, I think it is all that can be said.
These larve, although perfectly without legs, are extremely vigorous
in their movements: and here it must again be mentioned that observ-
ers are at variance. Baker, following several earlier writers, says that
“if touched, or under any fear, they roll themselves up on a sudden
in around figure, and continue motionless for some time; after which
they slowly open themselves and crawl away as caterpillars do, witha
lively and swift motion.” Other authors do not mention this, but de-
scribe them as twisting their bodies, when disturbed, into a variety of
shapes, and altogether omit all allusion to their power of crawling,
which indeed seems greatly to require verification, because, although
apod vermiform maggots are not destitute of the power of locomotion,
yet they rarely have need of that of crawling or locomotion, being ori-
ginally located amongst their food, which they never leave, but therein
undergo both ecdysis and metamorphosis. I extremely regret that
a hiatus occurs as to the food of the larve of the flea, but this per-
haps is not so important, considering it is an obscurity extending to
the larve of thousands of familiar insects, even to that of the common
house-fly.* A very intelligent and most careful observer, states in
the ‘ Encyclopédie Méthodique,’ that their food consists of particles
of congealed blood; Baker, whose account is evidently compiled from
earlier sources, says that they closely adhere to the bodies of animals
and feed on their juices; other authors have stated that their food
consists of fleshy particles adhering to the feathers and hair of ani-
mals. It seems to me highly improbable that this point will ever be
definitely settled; we can do little more than arrive at the conclusion
that they subsist upon the substances amongst which they are found ;
these are the bodies of unfledged pigeons, the nests of pigeons, the
dung on the floors of dove-cotes, the interstices filled with dust be-
tween the boards of floors, &c. In the latter situation it is peculiarly
difficult to conceive how the congealed blood is supplied, unless they
were confined to Rizzio’s chamber at Holyrood, where there appears
to be an everlasting supply, perhaps still more profitable to the show-
woman than to the fleas.

* Mr. W. Wing has repeatedly found the larva of the house-fly among the accu-
mulated dirt of bird-cages, dust-bins, &c., and has promised me a description of it for
the ‘ Zoologist ;’ its food, however, as in the case of the maggot which produces the
flea, is still conjectural.

exlvill On the Affinities of the Pulicites.

“Tt has been discovered,” says Baker, “by putting the eggs of fleas
into a small glass tube, and keeping it constantly warm in one’s bo-
som, that in the midst of summer, they hatch in four days: then feed-
ing the maggots with dead flies, which they suck greedily, in eleven
days they come to fuil perfection of their reptile state.” This experi-
ment, which, however, is not original, I cannot boast of having con-
firmed, but it seems far from improbable that it is strictly and literally
true. After all, it is not perhaps a matter of vital importance on what
the maggot feeds, seeing that its figure and metamorphosis are esta-
blished beyond all question.

When full grown, the larva seeks out some crack or other safe place
of concealment, and there, after remaining some time in a motionless
state, spins itself a delicate cocoon of the softest and most slender
silk: the interior of this cocoon is of the purest white, but the exte-
rior is rougher and soiled with dust, and within this it changes toa
pupa, which at first is of a milk white, but gradually changes colour,
and finally assumes that of the imago. The pupa clearly exhibits the
form of the future imago, the legs being distinctly visible, and all their
articulations readily traceable; they are partially adherent to the bo-
dy laterally, but are severally inclosed in a distinct case or skin: the
pupa emerges from the anterior extremity of the larva, the pellicle
of which, by the wriggling motion of the creature, is gradually pushed
backwards, and finally adheres in a crumpled form to the posterior
extremity. The pupa has thirteen segments, including the head ; the
terminal segment or telum is extremely small. There is a striking
discrepancy in the accounts given by authors of the time occupied in
the different states of larva and imago: thus we find some asserting
that the state of egg lasts four days, that of larva seventeen days, that
of pupa four days, and that the imago lays eggs in three days more;
so that a calendar month suffices for the entire round of its existence,
and a year for twelve such rounds. Others again describe the period
as much more protracted, and make the round of existence occupy
nearly a year. There is no reason for doubting the assertions of
any of these observers, but the conclusions they deduce are not al-
ways equally unexceptionable. I have no hesitation in expressing
my belief that the periods vary with the season, the temperature, and
also with the species; and that no positive conclusions are to be
drawn, until our observations are infinitely multiplied, and are record-
ed with greater precision.

The final change takes place within the cocoon, and the flea then
perforates his silken dormitory and enters on his jumping career, in

On the Affinities of the Pulicites. cxlix

which he is a formidable rival even to the glorious Baron Bohm Big,
of jumping notoriety. With regard to the economy of the flea, now
arrived at days of discretion, I am unable to give a very satisfactory
account. Even in the instance of the jigger (Pulea penetrans), I take
it that we really know nothing of its natural economy. I am aware
that there will be many dissentients from this opinion ; but such dis-
sentients must show the probability that millions of jiggers are cre-
ated annually, in order that some hundreds may serve as plagues to
as many born Europeans who may chance to visit the West Indian
Islands. Surely, the harvest-bugs, which we can only persuade to
attack us by invading their native territories, the harvest-fields, were
never created simply as an annoyanceto man. With regard to the fleas
which infest animals, more especially in a wild state, the circumstance
that fleas similar to one another are found on the same species of ani-
mal, certainly gives some colour to the idea that they have a parasitic
economy.

But even this requires further investigation, for I know from actual
experiment that if a dog be washed, combed, and completely purified
from fleas, you have but to take him an hour’s walk in dusty roads,
green meadows, umbrageous woods, in fact where you will, and on
again examining him, you will find that he has proved himself a good
entomologist, by collecting a great number of fleas, which are already
luxuriating on his living blood. I certainly do not recommend such
an absolute devotion to this branch of science as that exhibited by the
Capuchin friar, who established a colony of jiggers in his foot, in
order that the literati of Europe might examine them at leisure, but
whose foot mortified, was cut off, and thrown to the sharks of the
mid-passage, thus frustrating the devoted enthusiasm of its liege lord:
but I do recommend a little more attention to the living history of
these little jumpers, concerning which our knowledge is at present so
circumscribed.

In connexion with the subject of normal economy, the following
query may also suggest itself. What is the natural food of those ticks
with which dogs are infested in autumn, immediately they commence
their labours of traversing the “lands” of the “ glorious stubble ?”

EDWARD NEWMAN.
(To be continued).

IX. APPENDIX. DD

cl Pomeranian Species

Art. XXVI.—A List of the Pomeranian Species of the Genus
Itthocolletis ; together with Descriptions of some Species of
this Genus not mentioned in Zeller’s Monograph. By G. von
NIcELLI, of Berlin.*

THE genus Lithocolletis will now number nearly fifty species, which
are all distributed over Germany, Scandinavia, Livonia, England,
France and Italy. The Italian Lithocolletides, as also the Italian
Microptera generally, have been made known by German naturalists.
Of the French authors, Duponchel was the first who, in his Cata-
logue of 1844, after Zeller’s example, placed the Lithocolletides sepa-
rate from the Elachistz ; and in England, Stainton first placed them
as a separate genus in his ‘ Systematic Catalogue of Britsh Tineide,’
after, even in 1848, he had described them in the ‘ Zoologist’ mixed
with Lyonetiz and Cemiostome, &c., under the generic name Argy-
romiges. Of other European countries, the larger Microptera are
hardly known to us, much less these small species, which appear to
require so much care and trouble. Even in Germany, the treatment
of the lower groups of Tineide is much neglected, since only a few
individuals venture upon them, whose labours are however crowned
with such astonishing success.

In my note on the Pomeranian species, 1 am obliged to confine
myself to my own observations, which naturally cannot be very nume-
rous ; yet, I lay before the reader a catalogue of twenty-six species,
the result of two years’ labour.

Were I not shortly leaving our rich localities, 1 might expect in.
some years to find out a still greater number.

I have permitted myself to alter slightly the arrangement of the
species, in consequence of the introduction of some species omitted
in Zeller’s Monograph (Linn. Ent. i. 166), which are described in the
annexed treatise.

The species met with are as follows: —

LITHOCOLLETIS.
1. roboris, Z. 5. coryli, (m.)
2. Saportella, Dupch. 6. pomifoliella, Tischer.
3. Amyotella, Dupch. 7. pomonella, ell.
4. distentella, fv. R. 8. ulmifoliella, Hitbn.

* Translated from the Stettin ‘ Entomologische Zeitung’ for February, 1851, pp.
34—51. By H. T. Srarmron, Esq.

of the Genus Lithocolletis. cli

9. spinolella, Dupch. 18. emberizepennella, Bouché

10. capreella, Woche. 19. tristrigella, Haz.
(angulatella, m.) 20. Froélichiella, <.

11. cavella, . 21. Kleemannella, Fab.

12. quercifoliella, F.v. R. 22. lautella, Heyden.

13. connexella, Z. 23. ulminella, <.

14. alniella, Tisch. 24. pastorella, Heyden.

15. Heegeriella, Z. 25. tremule, 3.

16. Cramerella, Fab. 26. populifoliella, 77.

17. tenella, Z.

1. L. roboris, Z. This is very scarce in the entire neighbourhood
of Stettin. After I had Jong in vain songht for it, I bred one speci-
men from some pupe which, at the beginning of April, 1848, I had
collected in the still leafy, small ash-wood, near Hokendorf, on the
right bank of the Oder. I have no other Pomeranian specimen.

2. L. Saportella, Dup., is no rarity in thickly-leaved woody places,
especially where fir-trees and others are intermixed. The chief loca-
lity for this species is the patch of wood in the Polchower ground,
where it frequents the lofty oaks, (Quercus pedunculata). In that
place we collected the pupe in the fallen oak-leaves, quite late in Oc-
tober, and these furnished us with an abundant harvest of specimens.
Kept in a warm room, the perfect insects appeared through the whole
of February ; only a few remained until March. (The period of flight
in the open air is with us from the middle of May till June. I have
not observed the second brood here, but in the Mark I found it at the
end of July and beginning of August. It occurs near Stettin in the
Falkenwald forest, at Julo, near Eckerberg, but nowhere so abundant
as near Polchow. Near Vogelsang, where there are many of these
oaks, it does not occur.

3. L. Amyotella, Dup. Likewise very sparingly on oaks near Stet-
tin, but more abundant at a greater distance. I first found it near
Kckerberg, in the middle of October, 1848, as pupz, along with other
oak-miners, naturally without being able to distinguish them. On the
[st of October, 1849, I found they were yet larvee, as most of the spe-
cies of Lithocolletis do not assume the pupa form until the middle of
that month. Kept in a warm room, where the white glass-pots stood
near the double window, the perfect insect appeared from the middle
of January to the end of February. The period of flight, in the open
air, also occurs somewhat earlier than that of Saportella. The second
brood, which appears more abundant than the first, flies from the

chil Pomeranian Species

middle to the end of August, and may then be easily beaten from the
lower boughs of the oaks. It occurs wherever there are lofty oaks,
and often sits in the crevices of the bark. At Julo I did not find it.

4. L. distentella, F. v. R., must be very rare. In the Polchower
ground, on the 21st of May, 1849, in the afternoon, amongst many of
Saportella, I beat a single, but very beautiful and large specimen of
Distentella.

5. L. coryli (n. sp.), Nicelli. Alis anterioribus obscuré aureis, li-
nea basali tenuissima alba, strigulis coste quatuor, dorsi tribus
albis, striola apicis atra, tarsis* posticis albis nigro annulatis.

A species which even the tyro must take to be distinct from Pomi-
foliella. From Pomonella it is easily distinguished by its very dis-
tinctly spotted hinder tarsi; from other nearly allied species, the streak
at the apex of the wing separates it. From Pomifoliella it is distin-
guished by the ground colour of the anterior wings, which is golden-
yellow in Pomifoliella, but golden-brown in Coryli; besides which it
is distinguished by the basal streak, which is very fine, and of equal
breadth, whereas that of Pomifoliella becomes broader towards the
end; and lastly, by an uninterrupted longitudinal white line on the
thorax, this line being in Pomifoliella indistinct and interrupted.

Size of Pomifoliella, not unfrequently larger. Face and palpi shin-
ing white, antenne pale, faintly annulated with black. Tuft whitish,
above more or less browned or darkened. Thorax colour of the
anterior wings, a fine white line runs through the entire length of it,
sides of the thorax white. Legs white, hinder tarsi with two very
distinct black rings.

Anterior wings dirty golden-yellow, having a dirty appearance from
the numerous small black atoms scattered over the entire disk of the
wing, these atoms occur in different specimens in greater or less num-
bers. From the base arises the very fine longitudinal line, which, to-
gether with the ground colour, is the characteristic of the species. It
remains of equal breadth throughout, and terminates in the fold of the
wing. In Pomifoliella, the basal streak is thickened towards the end,
transcends the fold of the wing towards the costa shortly before, and
soon after ends thereon bluntly, and is also shorter than in the pre-
sent species. The opposite spots are placed as in Pomifoliella, also
the markings at the apex of the wing are the same, only the black
shading between the costal and dorsal spots, which is in Pomifoliella
united to the black streak, is wanting. The hinder marginal line is
hardly sharper.

* In the original the word tibiis occurs; an evident misprint.

of the Genus Lithocolletis. clili

This species mines in the leaves of the hazel (Corylus Avellana),
not rarely in all leafy woods near Stettin. It loosens the thin upper
skin of the leaf to a considerable extent, then draws the loosened part
together in many narrow folds, by which the abode of the larva as-
sumes an almost cylindrical form, at least like the leaf itself, a very
irregular appearance. The cocoon is light and fine; the pupa itself
pale brown. I do not know the period of flight, since I never met
with it in the open air.

Note 1.—TI first found L. coryli as pupe on the 8th of October,
1848, near Eckerberg, in the meadow. In the warm room I obtained
specimens from the end of December, through January and February,
to the beginning of March. From this I conclude that it has a very
extended period of flight. It occurs most abundantly at Polchow and
Kckerberg, but also at Vogelsang and Falkenwald.

Note 2.— Details of the mined abode and larva. 'The abode of the
larva is of so peculiar a form that one thereby very easily recognizes
the presence of the Lithocolletis. When the young larva, after its
exclusion from the egg, has bored into the leaf from above, it begins
by loosening the very fine upper skin of the leaf to a great extent ;
during this process it appears only to feed on the fibres which fasten
the skin to the flesh of the leaf, and which it is obliged to loosen. It
afterwards curves the mined abode by many folds in the upper skin of
the leaf, which at the time of its transformation it draws closer and
closer together. If it begins with the curving its abode, it then pro-
ceeds afterwards to the consumption of the pulp of the leaf at the
loosened place.

The abode is generally so situated that a side rib of the leaf bisects
it; when the larva draws the folds together, it always places them
closer and closer to this rib, so that the leaf finally, as seen from above,
has only a longish elliptic spot pointed on both sides, the two points
of which are on the rib of the leaf. The larva collects its excrement
into little heaps in a corner.

The larva itself is of the size of the larva of L. ulmifoliella (2—3
lines long); head and feet as usual, ground colour pure yellow, the
first segment has only a slight deposit of darker atoms, the second
very broad segment is darker yellow. In most of the segments the
anterior margins are black, the black incision-lines are wanting be-
tween the second and third, the seventh and eighth, the eighth and
ninth, and the eleventh and twelfth segments. After the third ring, as
is usual in the larve of Lithocolletis, the eaten pulp of the leaf ap-
pears as a green originally brownish streak. The pupa is small, and

cliv Pomeranian Species

reposes in a fine cocoon. ‘There appears also to be a summer brood,
but certainly the spring brood has, in the preceding autumn, the most
abundant supply of larve.

6. L. pomifoliella, Z%sch. I met with this in the pupa state in Oc-
tober, 1848 and 1849, on scattered bushes of Prunus communis and
orchard trees of all kinds. From these I obtained specimens in Janu-
ary. In the open air the species flies uncommonly early ; I found a
beautiful specimen, a variety, as early as the 7th of May at Polchow.
At the end of July the summer brood is to be found in all the three
stages of larva, pupa and imago at the same time. It is not exactly
very abundant.

Note 1.—Not only the following species, L. pomonella, but this
also, furnishes many difficulties. Here is an example :— I found on
whitethorn, at the end of September, a larva which was quite differ-
ent from the accurately observed larva of L. pomifoliella, yet the moth
differs in nothing but a deeper ground colour from an ordinary L. po-
mifoliella. |

The mined abode is narrow and rather short; it lies on the edge of
the leaf, and runs between two side ribs, somewhat into the heart of
the leaf. The lower (loosened) skin of the leaf is dirty brown, laid in
several irregular folds, (generally it is pale green) ; on the upper side
there is nothing peculiar about the abode. At the marginal end of it
the larva collects its excrement into a little heap. The larva itself is
hardly so large as is usual in Pomifoliella; the very distinctly heart-
shaped head is quite black, polished, and proportionally larger than
in other more considerable species. The colour is dirty white, on the
two or three last segments clearer. On the first segment is a broad
but short spot, which is black, shining, and divided lengthwise in the
middle, similar in form to the spot on the first segment of the larva of
L. connexella. The back is brownish, from the food showing through.
On the under side there is nothing extraordinary, except the perfectly
black legs.

On the other hand, I have described the larva of the ordinary Po-
mifoliella from orchard trees, as follows : —

Larva thin, pure citron-yellow, anteriorly clearer; the incisions be-
neath are a little darker; head likewise only a little darker than the
colour of the skin, legs paler. The second and third rings are scarcely
broader than the rest of the body; at the anus the larva is more
rounded than pointed. On the seventh and eighth segments is a pale
brown, roundish spot, it is not sharply defined, and is marked with
darker dots in the middle, the division of the segments does not

of the Genus Lithocolletis. ely

interrupt it. The entire larva is from 2 to 2} lines long, shining,
and clothed with very fine hairs. The mined abode in apple-
leaves is often near the margin, often at the midrib, and then placed
between two veins. The lower skin of the leaf is curved and laid in
several folds. The larva collects its excrement into a heap in a cor-
ner. ‘The pupa reposes in a light irregular cocoon.

The perfect insects, as already mentioned, differ only in the ground
colour, since the whitethorn miner is far darker than Pomifoliella. On
this character no specific difference can be grounded.

Note 2.— A species which Professor Ratzeburg bred by hundreds
from mountain ash (Sorbus Aucuparia), at Neustadt-Eberswald, and
of which I have only met with two specimens here, should, if the spe-
cies were new, be placed after this. Have we probably found out the
Elachista (Tinea) cydoniella, Dup., Fabr., which Zeller in his Mono-
graph quotes to Pomifoliella with (??)? The coming season will
prove it.

Note 3.—In the ‘ Bidrag till Finland’s Fyaril-Fauna af Tengstrém,’
p- 153, Pomonella, Zel/. (Blancardella, F. Zett.??), is given as a fre-
quenter of Prunus Padus, and also of Sorbus Aucuparia. I suspect
that some error lies at the bottom of this, since probably the species
found on Prunus Padus is Pomifoliella, and that on Sorbus Aucuparia
is also not Pomonella, but the still uncertain species mentioned in
Note 2.

7. L. pomonella, <ell., is with us far commoner than Pomifoliella ;
we find this species always certainly on the beech, whether that upon
the hornbeam be not another species, appears to me doubtful.* L.
pomonella is common wherever the beech occurs, in hedges and in
our woods, where the spring brood is often met with in swarms. One
collects the pupz best from the middle to the end of October, it is also
still practicable in the early spring. The moth appears both in the
room and in the open air, considerably later than Pomifoliella. In
the room I first obtained it on the 11th of March. Its period of flight
is May, (on the 13th of May, 1849, by thousands at Hokendorf).

8. L. ulmifoliella, Hiibn. Abundant on birches everywhere around
Stettin. They first assume the pupa state about the middle of Octo-
ber; in the warm room the moths come out from the middle of De-
cember to February. A second, but less abundant brood, occurs in
the larva state at the beginning of July. The larva not unfrequently
chooses the point of a birch-leaf for its abode; the greenish white

* Von Nicelli has evidently here mixed Faginella and Carpinicolella together as
Pomonella: see my remarks at the end.—H. T. S.

elvi _ Pomeranian Species

lower skin of the leaf is not laid in one stout fold, but in many small
folds, so that it assumes a wrinkled appearance, the leaf then appears
with the point recurved. ‘The larva begins at the edges of its abode,
and gnaws the pulp of the leaf from the epidermis gradually round and
round, and often leaves some of it standing in the middle, when the
abode is so laid out, that the pulp of the leaf in it is more than sufficient
to nourish the larva till the period of its transformation arrives. Its
excrement is not collected, but lies scattered about; however, before
its metamorphosis, the larva appears to heap it together, and fastens
to the heap, the fine but firm cocoon. The larva itself is stout, 2
lines long, pale yellow except the posteriorly interrupted green dorsal
streak, which however only arises from the food showing through.
The interruption of this streak posteriorly into separate detached spots,
appears to arise from the digested portions of the food, as they slide
down its intestines, becoming placed in small clusters. 'The legs of
the larva are pointed, greenish and yellow, transparent. Prolegs very
small. The body is beset with very fine hairs: the first segment is
not so fleshy as the following, more horny, and sprinkled with darker
atoms ; the sap-green colour of the back begins at the third segment,
where probably the expansion of the stomach begins. The larva is
very subject to the attacks of Pteromaline.
9. L. Spinolella, Dup. Alis anterioribus diluté croceis, in apice
nigro-squamatis, linea baseos longitudinali nivea, postice in-
crassata, striga crassa strigulisque coste 3, dorsi 2, niveis ;
thorace capillisque flavis.
Argyromiges Spinolella (Dup.), Stainton in Sool. 1841, p. 2085, f. 4.
Lithocolletis Spinolella, S¢. Syst. Cat. p. 30.
Var. 6. Strigulis costee tantum duabus; apice vix nigro squa-
mato, ¢.
Var. c. Strigularum dorsi duarum maxima secunda; alarum
dimidiis inter apicem et strigam mediam toto nigro squamato.
This species, new to Germany, but previously observed in England
by Stainton, comes next to Ulmifoliella, and is also nearly allied to
Cavella. From this species it is easily distinguished by the darker
golden ground colour, the far blunter interrupted fascia, the pale yel-
low head, which in Cavella is always white, and lastly by the coarse
scales towards the apex of the wing being hardly united so as to form
a spot, whereas Cavella has a very fine bowl-shaped spot.

From Ulmifoliella it is readily distinguished by the paler saffron-
yellow ground colour, the distinct snow-white markings at the apex of
the wing, and the colour of the body of the female.

of the Genus Lithocolletis, clvii

Size generally the same as Ulmifoliella. Face and palpi white,
head pale yellow, in a few specimens more of a white colour (gene-
rally the head of the female is paler than that of the male). Thorax
of the colour of the anterior wings, bordered with white, also whitish
in the middle in some specimens; antenne faintly annulated, usually
most distinct in the middle, before the apex white, the two or three
last joints black. Legs whitish, on the shady side dark ; hinder tarsi
pure white. Body of the male black-gray, the anal tuft yellowish ; of
the female pale gray, nearly the whole of the posterior half and be-
neath pale yellowish. In the female of Ulmifoliella it is black-gray,
posteriorly pale yellowish, which colour is continued along the back
in a long, sharply defined streak.

Anterior wings shining, pale saffron-yellow, paler than in Ulmifoli-
ella, darker than in Cavella; a pure white longitudinal line arises from
the middle of the base, it is even shorter than in Ulmifoliella, increases
in breadth towards the end, is almost club-shaped, it runs midway
between the costa and inner margin, nearly one-third of the length
of the wing, and is on both sides clearly margined by the ground
colour. The inner margin has at the base a white line, of variable
breadth, posteriorly thickest. The wing is intersected nearly in the
middle by a slightly curved, broad, snow-white fascia, internally mar-
gined with brown, between it and the apex of the wing the space is
sometimes almost entirely filled up with blackish scales; on the costa,
following one another closely, are three white streaks, internally with
brown margins, they are acutely triangular, with their apices turned
outwards, the spaces between them are often shaded with dark brown;
the streak nearest the apex of the wing is generally the largest; on
the inner margin are two similar small triangles, also internally mar-
gined with brown, their apices are directed between the costal streaks.
The first inner marginal spot is blunt-pointed, the second appears
merely as a small blotch partly on the cilia, there is no hinder margi-
nal line. Between the last costal and the last inner marginal spots lie
the black scales of the apex of the wing, (sometimes they are entirely
wanting). The cilia of the hinder margin are whitish, with a dark
patch at the anal angle. The under side is more or less blackish, with
the costal spots distinct, but the fascia faint.

Posterior wings shining gray, paler than in L. ulmifoliella; cilia
paler gray. :

L. Spinolella occurs, as far as | know, only near Stettin, upon sal-
lows, where it is scarce; nevertheless, at Vogelsang, a mile and a half
from the town, it was so common in 1849, that there was not a sallow-

IX. APPENDIX. EK E

elvili Pomeranian Species

leaf there free from them. In the open air it appears about the mid-
dle of May. There are two broods, the most numerous of which
proceeds from the autumnal larve. The pale yellow larva mines the
leaf at a convenient place, and is not, like other species, confined be-
tween the veins of the leaf, since the veins of the sallow-leaf are fleshy
and easily bitten through. The epidermis is drawn together in many
small folds, and so forms the cavity of the dwelling; the form of it is
by no means regular. The larva collects its excrement into a heap in
a corner, and generally forms its cocoon in the middle. The cocoon
is transparent and very fine, and contains a pale brown pupa.

Note.—I bred in the winter of 1849-50, upwards of 150 specimens
of this species. Round Stettin it occurs at Eckerberg, abundantly,
and is very common at Vogelsang; also, though scarce, it is to be
found at Fort-Prussia and Julo.

10. L. capreella, Wocke (ZL. angulatella, Nic.), n. sp. Alis ante-
rioribus croceis, linea baseos longitudinali, strigulis coste A,
dorsi 3, tntrorsus fusco-marginatis albis, ante apicem squamis
negris, capills luteis.

This species is most nearly allied to L. ulmifoliella, L. Spinolella,
L. cavella and L. Junoniella; from the first species it is separated
by the less bright saffron-yellow ground colour, by the fascia being
divided into two acute, angulated streaks, by the unmargined basal
streak, and by the apex of the wing; from L. Spinolella it is distin-
guished by the presence of a hinder marginal line (though false, going
through the cilia), by the angulated streaks instead of the fascia, and
by the tuft on the head; from L. cavella, by the deep loam-yellow
hairs of the head, the darker ground colour, and the apex of the wing;
finally, from L. Junoniella, by the unmargined basal streak, and by
the scales at the apex of the wing not being collected into a large
ocellated spot. From L. fraxinella it is certainly distinct, since the
first pair of spots are not united into a fascia, but always remain sepa-
rate, since the basal line takes up more than a third of the length of
the wing, and the opposite spots are so placed that the apex of the
dorsal spot (also in the male) is further inclined than that of the cos-
tal spot to the apex of the wing.

Size of L. Spinolella, with narrower anterior wings. Face and
palpi shining white. Tuft of the head dark loam-yellow. Antenne
as in L. Spinolella. Legs white; the anterior plentifully spotted with

brown ; the posterior legs white; the tibie darker, the tarsi faintly —

spotted ; the anterior tarsi are also spotted in the female.
The thorax, which has a white longitudinal line, and the anterior

——e"

of the Genus Lithocolletis. clix

wings are almost of the colour of L. Spinolella, paler than in L. ulmi-
foliella. The basal line comes nearly out of the middle of the base, it
remains nearer the costa than the inner margin, is fine, hardly thicker
towards the end, and terminates in a blunt point at one third of the
length of the wing; before the half of the wing are the first pair of
opposite spots, which run towards one another nearly in a right an-
gle, and end near the point of the basal streak ; the inner marginal
spot, which is the largest, lies nearest to the base. At the base of the
inner margin, nearly midway between the base and the first dorsal
spot, is a blunt, distinct, unmargined white triangle, from which a very
fine white dorsal line is produced towards the base. The second pair
of opposite spots are internally margined with brown, and certainly
more strongly than the first pair; both spots are nearly of a size, nar-
row, and that on the inner margin has its apex directed more towards
the apex of the wing than that of the costal spot; in the male there is
a dark shade between their apices, which sometimes also reaches to
the black scales of the apex of the wing. The third pair of spots are
unmargined and small. On the costa near the apex is a larger, trian-
gular, likewise unmargined, odd spot, to which the black scales are
annexed. These in the male are only in the form of a streak, in the
female, on the contrary, they assume the form of a larger spot. In the
female, the space between the first two opposite spots is greater, and
besides, the dorsal spot is the smaller of the two; whereas in the
male, the costal spot is the smallest.

At the apex of the wing is a distinct hinder-marginal line, but this
is lost at the anal angle; cilia gray-yellow. On the under side all the
spots and hinder-marginal line show through. Posterior wings shin-
ing dark gray, the cilia somewhat lighter. Abdomen gray, with the
anus paler.

Of this scarce species | bred three specimens (two males and one
female) from Salix caprea, from Eckerberg, together with L. Spino-
lella; near Vogelsang, where the latter was so common, I have not
yet found it. The period of flight is unknown to me.

Note. — Herr Dr. Wocke took this species in the Silesian moun-
tains, a proof that it is widely distributed, and occurs in very different
localities.

11. L. cavella, &. This scarce species, first detected by Herr Zel-
ler near Glogau, also frequents the birches with us, although very
scarce, and two miles from Stettin. Hitherto I have only found it on
young birches, near Falkenwald, in the autumn of 1849. From the
leaves of these trees, which grow in a very sandy place among [ir-

clx Pomeranian Species

trees (Pinus sylvestris), 1 bred along with L.' ulmifoliella, two beau-
tiful specimens; one on the 7th of January and the other on the Ist
of February.

12. L. quercifoliella, F. v. R. Common on oaks everywhere, in the
autumn, in the larva and pupa states. In the room the moths appear
from the end of December to the end of February. In the open air it
appears in May, the second brood at the end of July, and in August.
also occurs at Ueckermiinde.

13. L. connexella, %., is a species easily recognized by the larva,
even before one has succeeded in rearing the perfect insect. I first
met with some pupe of it in the middle of October, 1848, upon some
smooth-leaved willow-bushes, along the ditch near Eckerberg, behind
Steinfurt’s mill, and from these I bred three specimens at the begin-
ning of March. In 1849, at the beginning of July, I found the sum-
mer brood yet as larve and pupe, and bred from them small dirty
specimens, so that I suspected I had found a new species allied to L.
connexella; it was, however, as mentioned, only the summer brood,
but differing in size and colour. The spring brood is much larger,
and more distinctly marked, and appears in heated rooms from the
end of January to the beginning of March, always singly. I found it,
not far from Stettin, on the smooth-leaved willows bordering the pio-
neers’ practising-ground at Alt-Torney, which grow on dry sand; near
Krekow in the willow-plantation, sparingly ; near Eckerberg on the
willow-bushes along the ditch, and more abundantly in the meadows,
but not so plentifully as at Alt-Torney. I never met with the perfect
insect in the open air, but the period of flight of the summer brood
must be the second half of July, since it was about that time that I
bred the specimens. Although I had bred the spring brood up to
March, I cannot therefrom decide with certainty its period of flight
out of doors.

The larva and its food.— The mined abode is generally in the
middle of the length of the leaf, and almost always occupies half the
breadth of the leaf, since it is placed between the midrib and the edge
of the leaf. The inhabited spot is easily detected from above by the
yellowish colour, which arises from the green pulp of the leaf being
devoured, and besides, by the margin of the leaf being somewhat
turned inwards. The growing larva places the lower (loosened) skin
of the leaf together, forming a stout fold ; from the curving of the leaf
which thereby arises, the mined abode assumes the arched form which
is necessary in order to make room for the larva, and afterwards for
the cocoon of the pupa. The larva has its place of repose precisely

of the Genus Lithocolletis. clxi

in the middle of its abode, where it also collects its excrement into two
rows, and afterwards forms the cocoon of the pupa between them.
The larva is stout, 2 lines long; its middle rings, from the eaten pulp
of the leaf showing through, are sometimes greenish, sometimes dark-
er, otherwise the ground colour is pale yellow. The head and thorax
are greenish-yellow at the edges, and the ends of the jaws black. The
legs are sharp, rather darker than the skin, and the two of each pair
stand proportionally far apart. The prolegs appear as imperceptible
eminences; of the anal prolegs I can see no trace. On the skin I ob-
serve very minute warts, on each of which is a small hair. The cha-
racteristics of the larva are very striking. Each ring has on the upper
side a short, but broad spot, which is more convex in front than be-
hind, and of a grayish yellow colour. These spots are all raised above
the surface. The spot on the first ring is divided lengthwise, that on
the second is the largest of all, the others gradually diminishing. Pre-
viously to its transformation, the larva forms at its place of repose a
fine elliptical cocoon, in which it spins up its excrement. The pupa
(at the beginning of July and middle of October) is almost 2 lines
long, goes gradually to a point behind, and has a very short caudal
spine ; the wing-cases are drawn out to a fine point, and reach dis-
tinctly beyond the three-fourths of the pupa. The palpi- and tongue-
cases are distinct, pointed, directed beneath, and projecting. The
colour is a very dark black-brown, the rings of the body rather paler.

14. L. alniella, Tisch. Very common every year on alders, in the
pupa state. At the beginning of October, it is generally still in the
larva state. The larva is very pale, with transparent green streaks
and spots; without further characters. The abode of the larva lies
generally in a corner, between the stout main rib of the leaf and one
of the side ribs ; it is moderately arched, and a small fold runs along
the epidermis in the middle, this is erected, not turned down or wrap-
ped over, as in most species ; the abode is usually therefore triangu-
lar ; rarely, it is placed between two parallel side ribs. The cocoon
of the pupa lies in the middle, it is dark yellow, of the consistence of
paper, very firm, and well fastened to the skin of the leaf: the pupa
is brown. Along with L. alniella, I found at Eckerberg L. Frélichi-
ella, which, being distinguished by its large mined abodes, is easily
detected from the outside. Both species frequent Alnus glutinosa as
well as A. incana.

L. alniella appears in the room the earliest of all, from the middle
of December to the middle of January, after that only sparingly. The

celxii Pomeranian Species

period of flight of the spring brood is the beginning of May, partly
even in April. The time of the summer brood has escaped me.

It is by no means rare round Stettin, among the scattered alders of
the extensive meadows by the Oder; on the alders along the ditches
and streams at Eckerberg, at Polchow, Falkenwald, Julo, Vogelsang,
Hokendorf, &c.; indeed it is the commonest species near Stettin. It
also occurs at Ueckermiinde.

15. L. Heegeriella, Z. A species hardly any rarer near Stettin
than L. alniella. I was much surprized when I repeatedly bred this
species, (at least it appears to me from Zeller’s Monograph, that it
must be this species). I first found the pupe of the spring brood near
Eckerberg, in the autumn of 1848, and obtained the Lithocolletides
therefrom in the February, March and April of the following year.
About the middle of October, 1849, I found the pupe on oaks at
Eckerberg, Polchow, Falkenwald and Julo; I never met with it at
Vogelsang, nor on that side of the Oder. It likewise occurs at Uec-
kermiinde, and everywhere frequents oaks, both old and young trees.
The period of flight is in the second half of May, especially at the end
of that month. The second brood appears together with Cramerella,
Amyotella, &c., in the last ten days of August, but is not so plentiful
as the first.

16. L. Cramerella, Fubr., is very common in Pomerania upon oaks,
more especially on large trees, from the lower branches of which I
collected it; at Falkenwald and Vogelsang it is common; at Polchow
scarcer; at Eckerberg and Julo only singly. In the room I obtained
the moth from the beginning of January to the end of February. It
occurs at Ueckermiinde also.

17. L. tenella, Z., also occurs near Stettin, but is very scarce
on oaks, |

18. L. emberizepennella, Bouché, mines the leaves of Lonicera
Caprifolium. I found it already in pupa towards the middle of Sep-
tember, thus very early in comparison with the other species ; I col-
lected it principally in the Polchower ground: it is abundant there,
and in the leafy wood near Vogelsang, in moist places, where alone
the plant grows. The leaf of the Lonicera is very soft and tender ;
the mined abode, which in this species is very large, cannot therefore
be made firm by a single fold of the epidermis, as in the oak-miners.
The epidermis of the abode, which runs along the mid-rib, is placed
by the larva in many strong folds, by which, though in itself of a very
delicate blue-green, it appears wrinkled and whitish green. The en-
tire leaf gets thereby much bent, and principally from this, one easily

of the Genus Lithocolletis. elxili

detects the inhabited leaf from above, even when the pulp of the leaf
has not yet been eaten. The abode is consequently large and irregu-
lar, the excrement not collected into a heap, and the pulp of the leaf
is irregularly eaten at the margins, and in patches in the middle. The
larva itself is rather large, fully one-third of an inch long. The food
showing through, gives the back a pale green longitudinal line ; if the
larva is full grown and preparing to change to the pupa, it expels all
the excrements and unnecessary juices from its body, and then ap-
pears entirely of the ground colour, which is yellow. The head is
small. ‘The larva is an exception to all others of this genus in its form,
not being broader in front than behind, being gradually pointed from
the middle to the head. The beautiful, clear, pale brown, rather large
pupa, with a pointed and black-spotted head-end and long back-
sheath,* which is continued nearly to the caudal extremity, reposes
in a very firm, thick, papery-like cocoon, of dark green colour and
oval form, which is only loosely fastened in the leaf.

I collected several hundred pupa, but obtained therefrom not a sin-
gle specimen, since they all dried up. From three or four pupe, col-
lected later at Falkenwald, I obtained, on the 26th of February last
year, a single female specimen. There are two broods, but I do not
know the period of flight of either.

19. L. tristigella,t Haw. Minor, alis anterioribus saturate-cro-
ceis; (antennis albis fusco annulatis, ante apicem albidis) ;
strigis duabus curvatis aut subfractis strigulisque tribus coste,
duabus dorst argenteis, introrsum fusco marginatis, apice atro
sguamato.

Var. 6. Alis anterioribus vix croceis, sed aureis.

Argyromiges tristigella, Haw. Stainton, Zool. p. 2087, 8, f. 9.

Lithocolletis tristigella, Staznton, Syst. Cat. p. 31.

This species, the nearest allied to L. Frélichiella, would be difficult
to distinguish from it, did not the difference of size render it so easily
recognizable. lL. Frélichiella is the largest species of the genus, L.
tristigella is hardly so large as L. ulmifoliella.

Face, palpi, antenne, legs and abdomen as in the allied species ;
tuft of the head dark loam-yellow ; in L. Frdélichiella the tips of the
hairs of the head are usually pale yellow.

The anterior wings are not quite so deep a colour as in L. Frélichi-

* Query, tongue-sheath? I suspect a misprint of Ricken for Riissel—H. 7. S.
+ Not Tristrigella, Haw., St., Sta., but a new species, very closely allied to Froli-
chiella, and for which Herr Zeller suggests the name Nicellii.—H. 7. S.

elxiv Pomeranian Species

ella. Ata fourth of the length of the wing from the base stands the
first striga, which is more curved than in L. Frolichiella, or even dis-
tinctly interrupted ; nearly on the middle of the wing follows a second
similarly formed striga. ‘The first pair of opposite spots are two-thirds
of the length of the wing from the base, and not unfrequently run to-
gether at their apices, forming a third, bluntly angulated striga ; both
spots are internally distinctly margined with brown; the following
smaller pair of opposite spots, as well as the odd costal spot, are
often faint.

All the markings are more distinct and decided than in L. Fréli-
chiella, the black scales at the apex of the wing are not generally so
scattered as in that species, but are more collected into an elliptic or
streak-shaped spot; beyond them a rather sharp, brown line runs
through the cilia, which are yellowish, darker at the anal angle.

The under side is blackish, with the markings showing through,
and reddish cilia. Posterior wings as in Frdolichiella.

This species is not quite so abundant near Stettin as Frélichiella ;
however, in the autumn of 1848, 1 obtained so great a number of pu-
pe, that I was unable to set out ali the moths that they produced. It
mines in the leaves of the hazel, and is frequently a companion of L.
coryli; in collecting them, one can easily distinguish the habitations
of the two species.

L. tristigella mines beneath the pulp of the leaf, and its abode is
very similar to that of L. Frélichiella on Alnus incana, but less so to
that on A. glutinosa. The period of flight is the end of May; 1 have
not yet met with a second brood.

The larva and its abode. — After carefully separating the mining
larve of L. tristigella and my L. coryli, I have described the former
as follows. The abode in the hazel-leaf is always bordered on both
sides by two ribs of the leaf, and is generally very long and narrow ;
in the middle of the epidermis are some folds. The larva collects its
excrement in a corner of its abode. The first segment of the larva is
somewhat expanded, and has a black, twice-interrupted, transverse
streak; the ground colour is dirty green; head small, dark, heart-
shaped ; thorax divided lengthwise, once on each side ; legs distinct,
the two first, one sees project right and left from the head; first three
pair of prolegs quite distinct ; anal pair imperceptible. The larva is
lively. The cocoon of the pupa, which generally is not narrower than
the entire abode, lies almost between the skins, and is rather firmly
fastened to them, it is yellowish, and of the consistence of paper ; the
pupa itself is shining pale brown.

of the Genus Lithocolletis. clxv

L. tristigella appears to be a species more attached to northern lo-
calities. Here, at Stettin, it was abundant last year, but this winter I
bred it far more rarely. It occurs most abundantly at Eckerberg, at
Polchow and Vogelsang; I know of no other locality for it. In the
room (as well as at large, for I have met with the spring brood) it ap-
pears earlier than L. Frélichiella, generally in January, and even at
the end of December ; more rarely in February.

Note.—On account of the great similarity between this species and
L. Frélichiella, I have altered the diagnosis of the latter in the follow-
ing way : —

20. L. Frolichiella, Z. Major: alis anterioribus saturate crocets,
(antennis albidis fusco annulatis, ante apicem albidis) ; stri-
gis duabus subcurvatis strigulisque tribus coste, duabus dorst
argenteis, introrsum fusco maryinatis, apice atro squamato.

I found this at Eckerberg on Alnus glutinosa and A. incana; the
mined abodes are different on the two plants. Those on A. incana
much resemble those of L. tristigella; those on A. glutinosa are more
like those of L. alniella, yet far more expanded, placed in many small
folds, and containing a fine cocoon, which is white and paper-like,
more rarely is it yellow: the large pupa is shining and brown.

I bred twelve specimens last winter, in a short time, from about the
3rd_to the 26th of February. As far as I know, it only occurs at
KEckerberg, which, in respect to this genus, has produced an abundant
harvest of rarities.

21. L. Kleemannella, Fab. Is very scarce near Stettin, and only
found at Eckerberg. It lives upon alder-leaves; but I have not
distinguished the abode of the larva from that of the numerous L.
alniella. I obtained one specimen in January, 1849, and a second
on February 26th, 1850.

22. L. lautella, Heyd. ‘This insect, in spite of the longitudinal
streak at the base of the anterior wings, must be placed in this section,*
and is one of the most beautiful but rarest species round Stettin, where
it occurs everywhere, but only singly. I have often bred it, especially
in the winter of 1848-49, and certainly at the end of December and in
January. In the open air I never met with it, and cannot therefore
announce the period of flight with precision; but it may be concluded
from the foregoing that it flies at the same time as those species which
escape from the pupa along with it.

* See on this subject ‘ Note on the Labours of the Entomological Section, in the
Year 1848, by Professor Gravenhorst, p. 19: ‘Contributions to the Knowledge of the
Species of Lithocolletis, by Dr. Wocke, of Breslau.

IX. APPENDIX. F F

clxvi Pomeranian Species

23. L. ulminella, Z., I had long sought in vain, but at length found
several pupz on the 26th of September, 1849, on small bushes of elm,
along the ditches (not the mill-stream) before Steinfurt’s mill, near
Kckerberg ; from these I bred only three specimens, February 18th—
22nd. In 1850 I found it on the 21st of September, still in the larva
state. The period of flight is May.

24. L. pastorella, Heyd., is also one of the few species of Lithocol-
letis which is easily recognized in the larva state. It mines in wil-
low-leaves, but almost always on trees, only very rarely have I found
it on bushes, which however were already growing into trees. It has
the peculiarity of frequenting rows of trees. I found the pupe on the
7th of October, 1848, on the willows of the Ueckermiinde high road ;
the larve on the 26th of September, 1849, also on willow-trees which
surrounded the mill-pond at Eckerberg ; but far more abundantly on
the willow-trees near Eckerberg, along the high road from there to
Ueckermiinde. The mined abode is generally between the midrib and
the edge of the leaf, and takes up with its breadth half the breadth of
the leaf. The midrib of the leaf is never undermined ; the epidermis
is placed in a stout fold, which generally runs parallel with the mid-
rib; the hypodermis has a dappled appearance from the parts of the
leaf being eaten away irregularly. The excrement is collected into a
little heap. The stout larva has a heart-shaped head and an unspot-
ted thorax. The lst and 3rd segments are of equal breadth; the 2nd
is the broadest of all; at the 4th segment the body becomes suddenly
much narrower, but at the 8th segment it is again very broad, and be-
comes again more pointed towards the end: the 7th, 8th, 9th and 10th
segments (sometimes also the 6th and 11th) are citron-yellow, the re-
mainder clear white. The chief characteristic of the larva consists in
the seven raised, black-brown (generally longish, round) spots, which
occur on the 5th, 6th, 7th, 8th, 9th, 10th and 11th segments; the 12th
segment has two shorter spots behind one another, or one interrupted
breadthwise. ‘The spots, so striking to the eye, cause the larva to be
immediately recognized. Pupa blackish, its cocoon very fine. Period
of flight the middle of October.

Note. — Of this and the following species it must be remarked that
the autumnal larve undergo all their metamorphoses in the same year.
These species have consequently a summer and an autumn brood ;
the spring and early-summer larve producing the summer brood, and
the late-summer and autumnal larve the autumn brood. In most of
the other species there is a spring brood, arising from the autumnal

of the Genus Lithocolletis. elxvil

larve, and a summer brood from the larve which feed in the spring
and summer.

25. L. tremule, %., is abundant at Eckerberg, Polchow, Falken-
wald, and also at Ueckermiinde. The mined abode of this species, in
the leaves of the aspen (Populus tremula) is partly pure white, partly
of a beautiful rose-colour, often also dirty brown on the epidermis; the
latter colour may probably be accounted for by the advanced period
of the year. In 1849, I found a larva on the 8th of September. The
perfect insects appear still earlier than L. pastorella, from the end of
September hardly to the middle of October. The first brood appears
after the middle of July.

26. L. populifoliella, Zr. I first found this on the 25th of August,
1849, in the larva state. It mines the leaves of Populus nigra and P.
pyramidalis everywhere. My specimens come from the trees in the
avenue near Kckerberg. ‘The part of the leaf inhabited by the larva
lies between two (parallel) side ribs. The larva does not go beyond
these ribs ; from this and from the semicircular form of the other two
ends, the abode acquires its regular shape. The lower skin of the leaf
is pure greenish white and very transparent, only from becoming faded
with the advanced season of the year, becoming opaque and spotted.
In the middle of it, and parallel with the including side-ribs, are seve-
ral very fine, pale yellowish folds, which curve the abode only very
slightly. From the upper skin of the leaf, the pulp is not eaten away
regularly as it is by the oak-miners, but here and there, either in the
middle or at the sides.

The larva is anteriorly very broad and flat; the Ist and 3rd seg-
ments are of equal breadth, the 2nd is the broadest of all: from the
4th segment the body gradually'diminishes. The head is flat, small,
quite pale, only brown at the ends of the jaws. Legs very far apart.
The first eight segments are pale greenish white, the others, excepting
the last, are egg-yellow, but paler than in IL, tremule: the anal seg-
ment is almost of the colour of the first segments ; the marginal line
between all the segments is green. The pupa reposes in a thin, easi-
ly-torn cocoon, and is quite black.

This species appears as early as the beginning of September, when
one takes it at large on poplars. The period of flight of the spring
brood is unknown to me.

With this species I conclude, for the present, the Catalogue of the
Pomeranian Lithocolletides.

elxvili Remarks on certain Species

Remarks on some of the Species of the Genus Lithocolletis mentioned
in the preceding paper. By H. T. Stainton, Esq.

THE species of this genus have always been great favourites with
me; and though when of the age of Von Nicelli, I was inclined to be
of Haworth’s opinion that Harrisella (querczfoliella) was a variety of
Cramerella, yet, variety or species, 1 admired them equally, and my
admiration, repeatedly expressed in the words, “ Oh! what a duck!”
induced a college companion (now, alas! seduced from the pleasant
paths of entomology, by the dry and tedious study of the law), to give
them the soubriquet of “ Stainton’s ducks.” My better acquaintance
with these “ducks” has not diminished my partiality for them; and
every fresh discovery of species or habit is of increasing interest to
me. I have therefore derived extreme gratification from the accurate
observations and acute discriminative remarks of Von Nicelli, which
have again révived one of my day-dreams, viz., a complete mono-
graph of the genus, with descriptions and figures of each state of
each known species. Whether I shall ever live to realize this scheme
is very doubtful at present; every time we make the interesting disco-
very that we know one new species, we arrive at the disagreeable con-
clusion that we suspect two others ; and, of course, the desire to have
no suspicions to record, will tend continually to the indefinite post-
ponement of this day-dream.

REMARKS.

1. From Von Nicelli’s observations concerning his mode of collect-
ing the pupe of L. Saportella (hortella, F.) in the fallen leaves, we
find an easy method of obtaining the pupe of those species which only
inhabit lofty trees, or the higher branches of trees of moderate size.

2. L. coryli, Nicelli. Von Nicelli’s description of the mode of
feeding of the larva is so accurate, that I was able to find the larve of
this species (previously not known as British) without any difficulty,
about the middle of July; from which period to the middle of August
I collected many pupz, and reared therefrom the perfect insects. The
leaves gradually become more folded as the larva grows larger, and
the pupa generally has the leaf completely folded over, by which, and
by the upper skin of the leaf becoming browner, the size of the larva
may be easily known, Unless the larve are near their transformation
to the pupa state, it is difficult to rear them, as they cannot obtain a
sufficient supply of food before the leaf they inhabit withers, and they
have no power of moving to another.

of the Genus Lithocolletis. clxix

3. Von Nicelli states that he obtains L. pomifoliella from Prunus
communis, and all kinds of orchard-trees. Now here I obtain Pomi-
foliella principally from whitethorn: early in October the leaves at-
tacked by the larve being as numerous as those exempt from their
attacks. I have occasionally found it on the wild apple (Pyrus Ma-
lus), but 1 cannot by any means say that it does not frequent our
orchard-trees, since I have not yet looked on them for it. This inves-
tigation will probably take place this autumn.

4. Of the species which should frequent the mountain-ash, I have
no further information. The pupe of a Lithocolletis were discovered
by Mr. Douglas, in August, near Mickleham, on the white-beam tree
(Pyrus (Sorbus) Aria), but the perfect insects so anxiously expected
have not yet made their appearance. Pupz found at the same time
on Viburnum Lantana, have produced L. elatella, Z., Sta.

5. L. pomonella, . The question now arises, What is pomonella?
On what does it feed? Von Nicelli says that it frequents the beech ;
but is doubtful whether those that occur on the hornbeam are the same
species. Now the species that frequents the hornbeam here, dif-
fers so very much from our beech-feeder, that there does indeed arise
a question whether the Pomeranian hornbeam species is the same as
our hornbeam species, Carpinicolella. If not Carpinicolella, it may
be some other species more allied to Pomonella. In the second
place, Von Nicelli’s beech-feeder is doubtless Faginella ; so that Po-
monella is thus eliminated from his list altogether. Is then Pomonella
amyth? That is, have species after species (Salicicolella, Faginella,
and Carpinicolella) been removed from it until there is no residuum ?
By no means: a residuum is still left, which is perhaps again resolv-
able into two sy.ecies. Both these residual species frequent the sloe
(Prunus spinosa), one in May, the other in July and August, which
renders it not improbable that they may be merely the two broods of
one species, Von Nicelli having observed that the spring and summer
specimens of L. connexella show considerable differences. For the
May species, should it prove distinct, I would propose the name De-
flexella, from the almost constant deflexion of the basal streak into
the first dorsal streak. The July species, which appears to have been
sent by Herr Mann to Zeller, under the name of Spinicolella,* re-
maining as the then sole form of Pomonella. The following brief
descriptions of these Pomonelliform species, will perhaps be of some
service in calling attention to the essential characteristics.

* ‘Linnea Entomologica,’ vol. i. p. 203.

clxx Remarks on certain Species

Carpinicolella, Sta. Anterior wings shining, pale tawny, with a
basal streak, four costal streaks and three dorsal streaks white,
and an apical black streak; posterior tarsi spotted; basal streak
very slender, with no dark margin at all, first costal streak not
dark-margined towards the base, and extended along the costa
towards the base of the wing.

On hornbeam, in May (and August ?).

I have observed the larva of a Lithocolletis upon the leaves of the
hornbeam, which is probably this species; it mines the upper surface
of the leaf in white patches, just as L. coryli mines the hazel-leaves.

Faginella, Mann. Anterior wings shining pale tawny with a slight
grayish tinge, with a basal streak, four costal streaks and three
dorsal streaks white, and an apical black streak ; posterior tarsi
pure white, rarely with faint fuscous markings ; basal streak
with no decided dark margin, first pair of spots with broad
and distinct dark margins on the sides towards the base.

On beech in May and end of July and August. I have bred it from

the pupz collected in December and January in beech-leaves.

Pomonella (deflevella). Anterior wings golden yellow more or less
irrorated with fuscous, the basal streak is extremely attenuated,
runs along the fold for a third of the length of the wing and is
then deflexed inio the first inner marginal streak, the dark mar-
gin of which towards the base is interrupted by the prolonga-
tion of the basal streak: the first dorsal spot is sometimes pro-
longed till it meets the first costal spot, at other times its apex
is carried on till it joins the second dorsal spot; hinder tarsi
white, unspotted. Specimens occur in which the prolongation
of the basal streak does not take place, but in those cases there
is generally an elbow or projection on the first dorsal streak at
that place where the connexion would have taken place had the
basal streak been prolonged ; in these specimens the first dor-
sal streak is likewise sometimes prolonged into the second dorsal
streak, sometimes into the first costal streak.

On blackthorn (Prunus spinosa) in May: not scarce.

Pomonella (spinicolella). Anterior wings pale golden yellow, with
a basal streak, four costal steaks, and three dorsal streaks white.
In many specimens none of these marks have dark margins, or
at most they are only faintly indicated on the inner sides of the
2nd and 8rd pair of opposite spots. The basal streak is long,
and reaches fully one third of the length of the wing, its apex
frequently rather turns up towards the costa: in some few spe-

of the Genus Lithocolletis. elxxi

cimens it has a dark margin towards the costa. The first costal
streak has a faintly indicated darker margin on the side towards
the base of the wing, and hardly reaches half across the wing ;
the first dorsal spot has also only faint indications of a dark
margin towards the base; the second pair of spots have distinct
dark margins towards the base of the wing: the apical black
streak is longish-oval, the last costal streak coming nearly to the
middle of it, and not unfrequently white scales are continued
along it from the costal streak.

On blackthorn, at the end of July and beginning of August; the
larva mines the under side of the leaves of the blackthorn, and forms
a fold in a longitudinal direction, the upper epidermis having a mot-
tled green and white appearance. They may be obtained in the pupa
state in the middle of July, and towards the end of the month the per-
fect insect appears.

6. L. ulmifoliella. The continental specimens of this species are
much paler than ours ; but as the markings appear identical, it is to
be presumed that it is merely a variation of the same species induced
by climate.

7. L. capreella, Wocke. This appears to be the Salicicolella of
Sircom, which is a species subject to great variations. Its main cha-
racters are the unmargined, slender, basal streak, slightly curved up-
wards at its extremity, and the dark scales on the disk of the wing,
between the second pair of opposite spots. The intensity of the
ground colour varies exceedingly, and the colour of the spots is not
always white, being sometimes pale yellowish, which gives the insect
at first sight a totally different appearance.

I have collected the pupz in October and November, and bred the
perfect insect in February and March.

8. L. quercifoliella mines the oak-leaves in regular oval patches,
and spins up its excrement on the outside of its cocoon, as also does
Cramerella.

9. L. connexella. The difference mentioned by Von Nicelli be-
tween the spring and summer broods, has again made me doubt whe-
ther our Viminiella may not be a form of this species. Viminiella I
have bred in February, from pupe collected in October and Novem-
ber on sallows ; but, according to Von Nicelli, L. connexella should
occur only on the smooth-leaved willows.

10. L. tenella frequents the hornbeam (Carpinus Betulus) in May
(and August ?). The mode of feeding of the larve is yet unknown to
me. There is a suffused variety of it which, seen by itself, might

clxxii Species of Lithocolletis.

easily be mistaken for a new species: the ground colour is pale tawny,
not unlike the palest specimens of Alnifoliella, with a long and rather
broad white basal streak, which runs in an oblique direction to the
apex of the second dorsal streak; on the costa are four short white
streaks, and on the inner margin three white streaks, all dark-mar-
gined towards the base ; their dark margins being the dark streaks of
the typical insect: at the apex is the black streak.

The flight of Tenella is very feeble, and on the wing it may be in-
stantaneously distinguished from Cramerella, which flies in jerks.

1]. L. emberizepennella. “I collected several hundred pupe, but
obtained therefrom not a single specimen, since they all dried up.”
Here we see exhibited on a gigantic scale, one of the great evils with
which breeders of Micro-Lepidoptera have to contend, the drying up
of the pupe. I believe as good a way as any is to cut out that por-
tion of the leaf which contains the pupa, and to place it in some ves-
sel that is air-tight, or nearly so. Of course the leaf must not be wet
when thus shut up, but in its ordinary state it will contain sufficient
moisture to keep the inclosed pupa from drying up. When many
pupe are collected, the mass of leaves that would be collected toge-
ther, if the whole of each leaf were preserved, would be found very
inconvenient.

12. L. tristigella. By no means the Tristrigella of Haworth, and
therefore to be re-named. I have much pleasure in publishing the
name Nicellii, proposed for it by Herr Zeller, who says he is himself
to blame for Von Nicelli calling it L. tristrigella, the latter having sent
him specimens for examination, which he pronounced identical with
some not over-fine specimens of Tristrigella I had sent him, and
therefore returned them to Von Nicelli as Tristrigella, Haw., Sta.
Herr Zeller regrets that want of time had prevented him from compar-
ing these specimens with the description of Tristrigella.

As the name has been misapplied, it may be as well, to avoid fur-
ther confusion, to enumerate the differences between Nicellii and
Tristrigella.

Nicellii has the anterior wings pale saffron, with shining fasciz and
spots. ‘Tristrigella has the anterior wings reddish orange, with pale
but dull fasciz and spots. In Nicellii there are two fascie, a pair of
opposite spots forming an angulated fascia, and, besides, ¢ewo small
costal spots and a minute one at the anal angle, and an oval black
spot at the apex of the wing. In Tristrigella there are two fasciz,
and a pair of opposite spots forming an anyulated fascia, and, besides,
only one single streak extending from the costa a little before the

Notes on Vespa vulgaris and V. Germanica. clxxiii

apex to the angle formed by the opposite spots; there are a few dark
scales on its margin, but no oval black spot.

Tristrigella frequents elms, in May and August. I once bred it.
Nicellii is very closely allied to Frélichiella, but*is smaller, paler,
with much sharper and brighter markings, and the black scales to-
wards the apex more collected into an oval spot.

I have not yet succeeded in detecting the larva, and am not aware
that the species occurs with us at all.

13. L. lautella. The larva is an oak-feeder, and the pupa is in-
closed in an extremely fine elongated cocoon.

14. L. ulminella, (Schreberella). The ordinary cocoon of the pupa
is green or bluish green. In July, however, I found two transparent
white cocoons in elm-leaves, from which I bred only Schreberella.

In conclusion, I have only to observe that the species here enume-
rated by Von Nicelli, are identical with those bearing the same names
in Zeller’s Monograph in the ‘ Linnea,’ as I have been assured by
Herr Zeller himself.

H. T. Stainton.

September 1, 1851.

ArT. XXVII.—On the Specific Differences of Vespa vulgaris, Linn.,
and Vespa Germanica, Panz. By FREDERICK SMITH, Ksq.,
Assistant in the Zoological Department, British Museum.

In the first volume of the ‘ Zoologist’ I published a Monograph of
the genus Vespa (Zool. 161), and stated it to be one of the objects of
my communication to point out the true Vespa vulgaris of Linnzus ;
and that species is the same which I re-describe in my present paper.
From a careful examination of the materials which I possessed eight
years ago, I was led to regard what I have now discovered to be two
species, as constituting only one. Since I published my former pa-
per I have lost no opportunity of acquiring additional testimony, and
I must confess that every additional tittle of evidence has been against
my former conclusions, although, at that time, my premises appeared
irrefragable. I have now to show that I was apparently justified in
the conclusions I then arrived at; and a short account of the differ-
ences of the two species will, I think, not only prove that assumption,
but also satisfactorily show that the varieties, as I at that time consi-
dered them to be, of Vespa vulgaris, constitute two species, namely,
Vespa vulgaris and Vespa Germanica. The following observations

IX. APPENDIX. GG

clxxiv On the Specific Differences

on the two species are the results of examinations of numerous broods
of both species, taken at different periods of the year, but principally
towards the end of September, when the nests contain the males and
females in addition to the workers.

_ The error into which I was formerly led, is to be attributed entirely
to the variable character of the male of V. vulgaris; I now indicate
five variations from that which appears to be the type. Var. 5 closely
approaches the male of V. Germanica, and is not uncommon. I shall
show that although the two species appear to intermingle through their
close approximation in colouring to each other in the male sex, still
that good specific characters are to be found; and that, in one sex,
the female, their distinctness is obvious at a glance, this sex, in both
species, being subject to very slight variation, and never assuming a
similar distribution of colouring.

There are very few distinctive differences in the relative sizes of the
two species; in the females I can observe very little. V. Germanica
is a more robust insect, the largest examples exceeding any of those
of V. vulgaris which I have met with; the workers are usually rather
larger. I have found large workers, or small females as Huber
has called them, exceeding, by a line and a half, any of those of V.
vulgaris.

In the male sex the relative sizes are equal.

In the proportion of parts, little difference is to be found; in the
male sex of V. Germanica, the antenne are rather thicker and longer.

As a general distinctive difference I would point out the pubescence ;
this, in all the sexes, is more dense and longer in V. vulgaris, particu-
larly in the males.

The females may always be separated by the markings on the basal
segment of the abdomen; the black band being always entire in V.
vulgaris, but never in V. Germanica.

The distinctions which exist between the workers of the two species
are perhaps the least constant. In upwards of seven hundred indivi-
duals from the same nest of V. vulgaris, I found only twenty-eight
which had not the halberd-shaped spot on the clypeus, but in these a
straight line running half way down, and a minute spot on each side
of its extremity, more or less distinct, replaced it; therefore the hal-
berd-shaped mark may be considered a good general distinctive cha-
racter; since, in V. Germanica, it is quite as rare to meet with it, that
species having only a black line half way down. The character upon
which I most rely is the form of the yellow crown-shaped spot above
the clypeus ; the differences are shown in the annexed figures,

of Vespa vulgaris and V. Germanica. clxxv

The male of V. vulgaris, as I observed above, varies greatly in the
markings of the abdomen, that of V. Germanica seldom, if ever: in
several particulars it differs from V. vulgaris.

In the workers, the crown-shaped spot on the face, above the cly-
peus, is of a different shape, and it is more distantly separated from
the clypeus.

A few words will show that, although I felt satisfied, eight years ago,
that I was justified in the conclusions which I then came to, the dif-
ficulties which attach to the discrimination of these species I had not
then surmounted; and-I have since learned that nothing but an ex-
amination of entire broods and the detection of permanent characters
are safe guides. I had at that time in my possession several pairs of
wasps taken zn coitu, the females of V. vulgaris with var. 5 of the male,
which I at that time considered identical with the male of V. Germa-
nica; then again, I possessed true males of V. Germanica, taken con-
nected with the true female, but I had not discovered the specific dif-
ferences which I now lay down. I had also in winter found females
of both species in the same nest: this I do not now consider evidence
of much moment, as wasps, when seeking winter quarters, may be ex-
pected, without any improbability, to avail themselves of the same
hybernaculum. ‘The conclusions at which I have now arrived are the
results of much observation. I have examined not fewer than from
eight to nine thousand wasps, about one third of which I have either
extracted from the cells, or they have been developed whilst the brood-
combs were in my possession. Still, it will require some attention
and careful comparison before the workers and the males of the two
species can be readily separated, particularly the latter sex, when var.
» of V. vulgaris closely represents the male of V.Germanica. A little
practice will however overcome this difficulty. Notwithstanding all
the care I have taken—all the pains I have bestowed upon the inquf-
ry—I do not flatter myself that all difficulties are cleared away. I
know too well that in many instances local varieties are met with, dif-
fering considerably from what may be regarded as the typical repre-
sentatives of the species; and it is quite possible that a careful ana-
tomical investigation might result in the discovery of more permanent
characters whereby to distinguish the species than those which I have
laid down; but I have endeavoured to point out such as can, certainly
with much advantage, be used by every one. Those resulting from
anatomical research would be, in all probability, too recondite to ad-
mit of general application. The males, however, can be distinguished

clxxvi On the Specific Differences

by the differences in the form of the sexual organs, as shown in the
figures of those parts of the species.

VESPA VULGARIS.

Vespa vulgaris, Linn. Faun. Suec. 1670, and Cab. Mus. Linn. Soc.
Scop. Ins. Carn, 824. De Geer, Ins. ii. 801, t. 27. Fab. Syst.
Ent. 364,4; Id. Ent. Syst. 11. 256,10. Schrank, Ins. Austr.
787. Panz. Faun. Germ. 49,16. Rossi, Faun. Etrus. i. 83,
861. Don. Brit. Ins. vii. t. 266. Latr. Hist. Nat. xiii. 351.
St. Farg. Hist. Nat. Ins. i. 616,14. Smith, Sool. i. 162, f. d.
230. Os tO. 7

Vespa Saxonica, Fab. Ent. Syst. ii. 256, 12, $. Panz. Faun.
Germ. 49, 21, ¢.

Female.—Length 7—8 lines. Head and thorax black; the clypeus
yellow, and having a black stripe down its centre, terminating in a
transverse spot, rounded at its inferior margin ; a stripe along the pos-
terior margin of the eyes; another occupying the notch of the eyes,
and attenuated towards the clypeus ; a crown-shaped spot above the
clypeus, and the mandibles, yellow; the latter rufo-piceous at their
apex. A spot beneath the wings, and a stripe from their base to the
margin of the prothorax, an elongate-ovate spot on each side of the
scutellum at its basal margin, and a lunate one on each side of the
post-scutellum, yellow. ‘The apex of the femora, the tibiz and tarsi
yellow ; the latter ferruginous towards their apex; the tibie have a
black stain behind. Abdomen yellow, its base black; the first seg-
ment has a black fascia on its basal margin, pointed in the centre; a
similar stripe occupies the basal margins of all the other segments,
more or less hidden by their being more retracted or exerted ; the se-
cond, third, fourth and fifth segments have a black dot on each side.

Var. 1.—The black dots on the second segment united to the trans-
verse band.

Var. 2.—The yellow stripe at the posterior margin of the eyes in-
terrupted or subinterrupted.

Worker.—Length 43—6 lines. Head and thorax as in the female,
with the addition of a large yellow spot on each side of the metatho-
rax. Abdomen yellow; a triangular black spot in the centre of the
basal margin of the first segment, and a smaller one on each side, at
its lateral margins; the second segment has a black fascia at its basal
margin, produced in the middle into an angulated patch; the rest of
the segments are similarly marked, but the fascia is more or less hid-

of Vespa vulgaris and V. Germanica. clxxvil

den, according to the retraction of the segments; all have, on each
side of the angulated spot, a small ovate dot. Legs as in the female.

Var. 1.—The small lateral dots on the second segment united to
the marginal fascia.

Var. 2.—The second and third pairs united to the marginal fascia.

Var. 3.—All the lateral dots united to the marginal fascia.

Male.—Length 42—7 lines. Head and thorax black; head marked
with yellow as in the worker, with the addition of a yellow stripe on
the scape of the antenne beneath, occupying the apical half; the cly-
peus has a round black dot in the centre, a short line, or a line and a
spot beneath. Thorax marked with yellow, as in the worker, but want-
ing the yellow spots on the metathorax. Abdomen, the band at the
basal margin of the first segment produced in the centre into an an-
gulated point, the rest of the segments having the black basal band
produced into a tridentate shape at their apical margin, all the dots
being united to the transverse fascia. (This is the V. Saxonica of
Fabricius),

Var. 1—Hlaving the fascia on the second segment only, tridentate.

Var. 2, 3, 4.—Having the first and second, the second and third,
or the second, third and fourth tridentate, the spots uniting in great
variety.

Var. 5.—A halberd-shaped black spot in the centre at the basal mar-
gin of the first segment, and a small lateral spot on each side, the ba-
sal bands produced into angular points down the centre, each having
a minute black dot on each side. (This variety represents the male
of V. Germanica).

VESPA GERMANICA.

Vespa Germanica, Panz. Faun. Germ. 49, 20, 9. St. Farg. Hist.
Nat. i. 516, 18, 3, 9.

Female.—Length 7—8 lines. Clypeus with a central minute black
dot, or having in addition two minute ones beneath it. Abdomen, a
halberd-shaped black spot in the centre of the basal segment, and a
rounded spot on each side; the black basal bands of the other seg-
ments are produced down the centre into angular points, having on
each side a round black dot.

Var. 1.—The clypeus with a black stripe running half way down.

Worker.—Length 5;—7 lines. The worker agrees with the female
in its markings ; the clypeus has usually a black stripe running down
the centre rather more than half way, in vare instances it has an indis-

elxxvill On Vespa vulgaris and V. Germanica.

tinct transverse mark on the lower margin. The lateral dots on the
abdomen are very seldom united to the transverse bands; still, in rare
instances, they are so, on the second and third segments.

Male.—Length 5;—7 lines. The description of var. 5 of V. vulga-
ris exactly corresponds with that of the male of V. Germanica. The
clypeus has sometimes a single dot in the centre, or a line running
half way down, or a line and also a dot beneath it, and sometimes a
minute dot on each side at its apex.

a. The coronet-shaped yellow spot above the clypeus in Vespa vulgaris, male. The double curved line un-
der each is the outline of the base of the clypeus.

b. The coronet of the same species, showing the manner in which the two spots, beneath in the above figure,
are sometimes united.

The coronet in the worker.

A variety which frequently occurs.

The coronet in V. Germanica, male.

The same part in the worker.

The sexual organs of the male of V. vulgaris, viewed from above.

The same parts of the male of V. Germanica, also viewed from above.

re he BS

I have found it necessary to redescribe, with some care, all the vari-
eties of V. vulgaris which commonly occur, whilst the description of
V. Germanica only points out those particulars in which it will be
found to differ from the former; and, should it be considered that I
have been too prolix in so doing, I would call to mind an observation
on the difficulties which the student has to contend with in the inves-
tigation of these insects ; this I extract from one of the best entomo-
logical works which has been produced in this country,— the ‘ Intro-
duction to the Modern Classification of Insects,’ by J. O. Westwood,
Esq., President of the Entomological Society. He says,—“ ‘The spe-
cific differences of the British species of wasps require a more minute
investigation than has hitherto been given to them. This can only be
done by studying the habits of the different species, in conjunction
with individuals of the different sexes from the nests of each.”

Descripiions of two New Longicorns. clxxix

The largest brood of wasps which I ever obtained, amounted to
about 2,000 workers, 360 females, and 230 males. This was taken
during the last week of the month of September. I took also a very
large nest this year, at the end of September; it contained 356 fe-
males, 740 workers, and 150 males: the number of cells was as fol-
lows: — 6537 of workers, 1944 of females, and 664 of males. The
disparity between the number of cells and that of the insects captured
is very great; and if we are to calculate that each worker-cell has
been the cradle of three generations, amounting to 19,611, it is im-
mense. Réaumur has calculated the entire brood that would probably
be developed in a single nest at 30,000; but I am inclined to believe
that he trebled the entire number of cells, and I think it only reason-
able to suppose that but one brood would be developed from those of
the males and females. The entire number of cells in the nest which
I took during the present autumn would be about 9,145, which, tre-
bled, would give 27,435, those of the workers trebled would be 19,611.
This nest, when taken, did not contain more than about 50 closed fe-
male-cells and 30 of males, but more than two thirds of the other cells
contained larve or eggs in different stages of development; but I had
observed, the day before taking the nest, that the workers were busy
carrying out the young brood, and dropping them at some distance
from the nest; and I think it probable that as soon as the males and
females are all come forth, a general clearing out of the cells takes
place, and the community breaks up.

In conclusion, I would observe that in no instance in the numerous
nests which I have examined have I found the broods of what I have
now described as distinct species intermixed. I have with much care
examined the developed broods of different nests, and also extracted
all the sexes, which I have attentively investigated ; and by these
means have arrived at my present conclusions.

FREDERICK SMITH.

Arr. XXVIIT.—Characters of two apparently undescribed Species of Longicorn
Coleoptera. By Epwarp NEWMAN.

LamiA (SYMPHYLETES ?) DICHOTOMA.

Nigra, lanugine cinerea punctisque lanuginosis albis ornata ; prothorax tuberibus bi-
nis dichotomis dorsalibus armata ; elytra humeris bidentata, dorso dente magno
elevato obtuso armata, apice valdé oblique truncata, truncaturd extus acuminata.
(Corp. long. 1 unc. Elytrorum lat. maz. °3 unc).

clxxx Descriptions of two New Longicorns.

Antenne closely approximate ; prothorax with nearly parallel sides, but armed
with two large dichotomous tubers on its back, and between these having a mesial lon-
gitudinal depression ; elytra broad at the base, gradually narrowing to the apex, where
each terminates in a very oblique truncature and an obtuse exterior point, at the shoul-
ders they have a bifid tooth, and on the centre of each, near the base, is a prominent,
erect, pointed tuber; about the base they are nearly covered with deep and almost con-
fluent punctures, but these are smaller, shallower, and more scattered towards the apex.
The colour of the insect is black, with the exception of the costa of the elytra, which
is clear brown ; on the head, prothorax, abdomen and legs is a gray pilosity, and the
elytra are sprinkled with small white downy spots. é
_ Has.—New Holland. Described from a specimen in the cabinet of the British
Museum. ¥5

MonoHAmMus HELENOR.

Fuscus, vitta faciet utringue, alterd gene utriusque, alterd prothoracis utrinquée flavesae —
centibus, elytrorum maculis numerosis lanuginoso-flavis. (Corp. long. 1 une.
Elytrorum lat. max. *4 une.) |

One antenna is entirely wanting, of the other, 6 joints remain, and these united are
about equal in length to the body, the basal joint is moderately long and stout, the
second small and very short, and both these are uniformly brown, the third is as long
as the first and second together, brown at the apex and fulvous at the base, the fourth
is shorter than the third, the fifth than the fourth, and the sixth is scarcely half the
length of the fifth, all these have the same distribution of colour as the third. The
entire insect is velvety black, adorned with the yellow velvety markings described be-
low; from the centre of the anterior margin of each eye an oblique line descends to the
lower extremity of the cheek, and a second, shorter and parallel with this, descends
from near the inferior extremity of each eye; a slender silvery line crosses the clypeus
just above the labrum ; two short lines originate side by side between the bases of the
antenne, and, immediately separating, terminate upon the epicranium; on each side
of the pronotum a vitta traverses its entire length, and at its anterior extremity is in-
creased by a concolorous spot on the head, immediately behind the eye; the anterior
margin of the prosternum is yellow, and its disk clothed with pale down: the apex of
the scutellum is yellow, which colour is prolonged towards the prothorax into an acute
point: on each elytron there are about one hundred and twenty roundish yellow spots,
infinitely varied in size, the larger ones being arranged in two series on each elytron,
the first of these is somewhat sinuous, and cumposed of six spots, commencing at the
prothoracic vitta, and terminating in the apical area, the second is costal, and com-
posed of four spots.

Has.—The East Indies or East-Indian Islands. In the cabinet of the Zoological
Society ; presented by the late Sir Stamford Raffles.

Epwarp Newman.

EDWARD NEWMAN, PRINTER, DEVONSHIRE STREET, BISHOPSGATE,

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