Miscellaneous. 297 



logue from specimens obtained by Mr. Harvey in the county of Wick- 

 low, in Ireland, and there only. It is a native of the coast of France. 

 — Wm. Thompson (Belfast). 



ITALIAN FIRE-FLY IN NORFOLK. 



To the Editors of the Annals of Natural History. 



Swaffham, Norfolk, Sept. 7, 1843. 

 Gentlemen, — I wish, through the medium of your valuable pub- 

 lication, to make known a circumstance which, as far as I can learn, 

 has been hitherto unnoticed in England. On going into my green- 

 house between seven and eight o'clock in the evening of the 22nd of 

 August, I was surprised at perceiving a glimmering light amongst 

 the vines, which, on further observation, I discovered to proceed from 

 a " lucciola," or Italian Fire-fly, with whose habits and appearance 

 a long residence in Italy has rendered me familiar. Although the win- 

 dows of the green- house were always open till within an hour of 

 sunset, so that every facility was offered for its escape, the little 

 stranger regularly became visible after dark for ten or twelve even- 

 ings in succession, and was seen by many of the inhabitants of Swaff- 

 ham, whose curiosity attracted them to the spot. I can only account 

 for this circumstance by having lately received from Italy five or six 

 orange-trees, the roots of which, being encased in balls of mould, 

 might have afforded a shelter to the insect in its chrysalis state, sub- 

 sequently developed into active existence by the heat of the green- 

 house. May I beg to be informed through the pages of the * An- 

 nals,' if the appearance of this insect in England be hitherto unre- 

 corded ? and any light which can be thrown on the subject will 

 greatly oblige, Gentlemen, your obedient servant, 



John Dugmore, Jun. 



OCCURRENCE OF RARE BRITISH BIRDS. 



Phil. Hall, Leeds, Sept. 13, 1843. 



The last week in July a specimen of the Sterna anglica (Gull- 

 billed Tern) was brought alive to me which had been shot on the 

 reservoir of a mill on the York Road, Leeds, a mature bird. 



In May last a fine male Roller flew on board the Hamburgh steamer 

 when about forty miles beyond Flamboro' Head, and was shot and 

 brought to Leeds by my friend Mr. Thomas Stansfeld of this town. 

 — Henry Denny. 



capture of a wolf-fish. 



To the Editors of the Annals of Natural History. 



Rooms of the Devon and Cornwall Natural History Society, 

 Plymouth, August 10, 1843. 

 Gentlemen, — I beg to inform you that a specimen of the Wolf- 

 fish (Anarrhicas lupus) was captured off this port a few days since, 

 and forwarded to me for presentation to this Society. The speci- 

 men in question is about three feet long ; the stripes represented in 

 *' Yarrell " not very conspicuous, and the mark on the head less so ; 

 the teeth very large ; the flesh very similar in appearance to veal , 

 Ann. i^ Mag. N. Hist. Vol. xii. X 



