HARD WICKE'S SCIENCE- G OSSIP. 



257 



"The Butterflies of Europe," by Dr. Lang. 

 — Part IV, of this beautiful work is to hand, contain- 

 ing four exquisitely-coloured plates of the caterpillars 

 and chrysalides. 



" Monthly Natural History Notes."— Edited 

 by F. J. Rowbotham. No. 10 of this neatly got up 

 and well-edited periodical has just appeared. 



Sphinx Convolvull — A specimen of this fine 

 moth, comparatively rare so far north, was captured 

 at Maulesdan, Forfarshire, on the 29th of August, 

 J-iaving made its way into the kitchen of a house — 

 much to the confusion of the Scotch domestics, none 

 of whom dared touch the " dreadfu' looking beast 

 with twa or three stings aneath its wings." There 

 are two of these motlis in the possession of the 

 Dundee Naturalists' Society, but the present insect 

 is larger than either, more rounded at the tail, and 

 ithe brown streaking on the body darker than usual. — 

 JEdwin Lester Arnold. 



Sphinx Convolvull — This moth appears to 

 have put in an unusual appearance in various parts 

 ■ of England this year, but particularly in the eastern 

 counties. I had three specimens, male and female, 

 brought to me in one week at Ipswich. — J. E. Taylor. 



"The State and Higher Education." — 

 This is the title of an elaborate address recently 

 ■tgiven to the Minnesota Academy of Natural Sciences 

 by Professor N. H. Winchell. 



Science in the Provinces. — The Proceedings 

 ■of the Nottingham Literary and Philosophical Society 

 for the Session 18S0-1881 has just appeared, con- 

 ■taining an address by the President (Dr. T. A. 

 Stephens) on "The Disposition of the Dead;" on 

 " Preparation of Rock Sections for the Microscope," 

 by J. H. Jennings ; " Notes on the Names of the 

 Natives," by S. D. Walker; " Ancient and Modern 

 Oratory," by J. K. Wright; "Rise and Progress 

 ■of Philosophy," by J. Glendinning ; "The Per- 

 mian Formation in the North-east of England," by 

 E. Wilson, F.G.S ; " Youlgreave Church," by S. D. 

 Walker; and on "Arbor Low," by A. H. Scott 

 White, B.Sc, F.G.S. , &c. The latter paper is 

 illustrated. 



The Haggerston Entomologcal Society held their 

 Annual Exhibition of Lepidoptera (Life Histories, 

 &c.), Coleoptera, and other orders of natural history, 

 at the schoolrooms of All Saints' Church, Haggerston 

 Road, E., on Friday, October i, iSSi. 



A preliminary meeting of those interested in the 

 formation of the Beverley Field Naturalists' and 

 Scientific Society was lately held at the Assembly 

 Rooms, Norwood, and in spite of the inclement 

 weather, the number of those present, who were 

 subsequently enrolled as members, was very gratify- 

 ing. The two main objects of the society are, to 



acquire a scientific knowledge of the district, and to 

 encourage the study of natural history, for which 

 purpose, sections, embracing zoology, geology, botany, 

 conchology, entomology and microscopical research, 

 are being formed. The society purposes to hold 

 regular fortnightly seances for the reading of papers 

 by members, discussions, and exhibition of specimens, 

 and those who have not yet had the opportunity of 

 signifying their intention of becoming members are 

 requested kindly to send in their names at once, 

 either to the hon. sec, Mr. J. D. Butterill, St. John 

 Street, or to the hon. treasurer, Mr. F. Mills. The 

 first general meeting was held on the 5th of October. 



Assisting Naturalists. — I think, by his remarks 

 in the October number, Mr. G. H. Bryan has rather 

 misunderstood one object at least of " Our List," 

 which was (as mentioned by me when I first sug- 

 gested it in your columns some two years ago) 

 to compile a sort of directory of local naturalists : 

 that is, persons willing to afford to one another and 

 to others desiring it, information regarding the 

 natural history of their district, and to exchange 

 specimens, &c. This idea was expanded by Mr. 

 Hobson of Sheffield, who asked for the names of 

 specialists willing to assist beginners in their several 

 departments, as well as localists (if I may coin a word 

 to express my meaning). This may have deterred 

 some from sending in their names, who, while quite 

 able and willing to give much valuable local informa- 

 tion, did not feel justified in setting up as professors 

 of any special subject. While I quite agree that a 

 list of specialists willing to impart knowledge to 

 learners would be most valuable, I still think a 

 directory of local naturalists quite a desideratum. To 

 prevent confusion I think it would be well to publish 

 a full complete list of the naturalists who have 

 already sent in, and any others that by reading this 

 may be induced to give their names. If it will 

 facilitate this, as your valuable time is much engaged, 

 I shall be glad to receive before the 31st of December 

 a postcard from any local naturalist willing to allow 

 his name to be published, giving (i) full name and 

 address with county ; (2) Branch of natural history, 

 it being understood that these naturalists will give 

 information on local topics only to any visitor or 

 correspondent. I hope to be quite inundated with 

 postcards, for surely none but the veriest tyros need 

 be deterred from joining the list. I will then 

 classify the names and send you a tabulated list to 

 be published in February 1882, which might after- 

 wards be republished annually with corrections. If 

 this plan succeeds a list of specialists might be 

 prepared in the same way. — Arthur D. Melvin, 

 JSIadresfield, Great Malvern. 



The Eider Duck. — Three specimens of this 

 duck {Somateria mollissiina), including both sexes, 

 were shot on the river Orwell, near Ipswich, on the 

 nth of October last. 



