The Scottish Naturalist. 191 



Taylor has the bands translucent (one specimen of this variety in the collection, 

 has the mouth contracted, the lip white, the second whorl very large, and the 

 spire rather produced) ; 8, cincta of French authors has a single narrow band 

 (o, o, 3, o, o), and the lip is brown ; 9, coalita of French authors has the bands 

 more or less coalesced (1-3 4-5, or 1-2 3-5, or 1 2-3 4-5, or 1-5, the hyphen 

 indicating coalescence of the bands joined by it. In the last of these there is a 

 very broad band formed that covers the greater part of the spire). 



The Society formally opened the Museum with a conversazione lasting for 

 the three days, December 20-22, 1S83. The conversazione was a complete 

 success, and a very lively interest was manifested by the numerous visitors to 

 it in the collections that have been brought together. We may say, from per- 

 sonal observation of the Museum, that it may well be regarded as a model to> 

 be followed by other Societies in their efforts to promote a knowledge of and 

 love for the study of the sciences of botany, zoology, and geology. From it 

 may be realised how much can be done if only there exists the will to do the 

 utmost. The Perthshire Society of Natural Science deserves the hearty con- 

 gratulations of all kindred Societies, and the frank and willing recognition th«.t 

 it has set an excellent example to the other Scottish Societies in this matter. 



SCIENTIFIC JOUKNALS. 



THE ZOOLOGIST (January, 1884).— "Note of some Rare British 

 Birds in the Collection of Mr. J. Whitaker," by O. V. Aplin, mentions 

 the following from Scottish localities: — Falco fslandicus, Gmd., from Kirk- 

 wall; Milvus iclinus, Sav., Sanday, Orkney; Cyanecula suecica, L., taken on 

 a fishing-boat off the Aberdeenshire coast, and sent by Mr. Sim ; Pagophila 

 eburnea, Pliipps, from Aberdeen. "Wanton destruction of Animal Life 

 in Shetland" is a protest against the following advertisement which is ex- 

 tracted from the " Shetland '1 i7ties" of 12th January, 1884: — "Destruction of 

 Vermin. — Mr. Urquhart will pay the undernoted prices for Vermin brought to 

 him : — is. for every Gyr or Peregrine Falcon, Osprey, Buzzard, Kite or 

 Hobby ; 6d. for every Black-backed Gull, Raven, Merlin, and every species of 

 Hawk and Harrier ; 3d. for every Hoody Crow ; 6d. for every Weasel. By 

 order of Committee of Commissioners of Supply. Lerwick, 12th January, 

 1884." [It is hardly necessary to say that we most heartily join in the protest 

 against such wholesale destruction of our native fauna. — Ed. Scot. Kat.~\ 

 "Method of recording Observations," by J. A. Harvie Brown, advocates 

 systematic records of the occurrence of rare birds, &c. " Pale-coloured 

 Kestrel from Skye," by O. V. Aplin. 



ENTOMOLOGIST'S MONTHLY MAGAZINE, Vol. XX. (December, 

 1883). — "The Natural History of Zygsena exulans," by Wm. Buckler, is 

 of interest, though worked out from Swiss examples, from the fact that the in- 

 sect is confined in Britain to the Aberdeenshire Grampians. The larvae were 

 found to feed on Silene acaulis, Cherleria sedoides, Trifohum a/pinum, T. repens- 

 and T. praiense, Medicago lupiclina, Geum monianum, Alchemilla alpina, and 

 Sibbaldia procumbens. They hibernate as larvse. A full description of the 

 various stages is given. " On the species of European Crambi more or 

 less allied to C. margaritellus," by George T. Baker (cont. from Vol. XIX. 

 pp. 239-244). (Januaiy, 1884) — " Crambus furcatellus" (recorded as 

 plentiful in 1847 on a range of hills stretching from Killin to Ben Lawers), by 

 J. B. Plodgkinson. (February) — " BritishHomoptera, Additional species," 

 by James Edwards, records, with description, the capture of Thamnvtettix stu,- 



