Natural History in the English Counties, 



ns 



figured species of which I possess in sufficient number to furnish all the 

 empty cabinets in the kingdom. The persons with whom the design ori- 

 ginates are all ardent collectors, and are able to contribute most of the 

 natural productions of the neighbourhood as a nucleus. They have also 

 the advantage of two excellent libraries : one left for public use by the late 

 Dr. Shepherd, which is particularly rich in old authors on the subject; the 

 other, a collection of the best modern works, in the possession of the Pres- 

 ton Natural History Society. These, with their private libraries, would be 

 of essential service, by enabling them to correct occasional errors in nomen- 

 clature. In addition, it may be stated that a wish to furnish their cabinets, 

 and a sincere desire to promote the study of natural history, are the motives 

 that induce them to come forward, and not pecuniary advantage. 



It only remains for me to add, that cabinets are preparing for the recep- 

 tion of specimens ; that I hope to be able to. state in your next Number the 

 terms on which exchanges will be made^ &c. ; and that, in the mean time, I 

 shall be glad of your advicey or that of any of yom' correspondents who is^ 

 friendly, tof. such I an undfrtftkiflg- (il.Jt^Blsin*. §j%i&c> rrr;*^?^, \Gilbertson, 

 Fresimi^OcUy\^\\'^W^c-^rA i\nv> «>nBOd -fj/jri ti ,m\nv^^ h oJ ii LoJi-.^K;- 

 ..I' , Dorsetshire*. / ,,, „ -^ '" ^''''' 



•iu'ijv ("Ujxli6nof.in- 

 idw ^ii / — ■ 



•q c "/iji Jii. 



4jpe^rjj?^^lJ>e^V^,§!y,_lsg|9^^pu;^j§}f^h ofia,^e*rified.tree(\^ 1.1.) 



/^'.)/i^jHa>r9_ft-ie;/-'(/#^^veredin one of the; quarries 



uoM e3iKiiftf^he,J^Jimd of Portli^nd, , during 



the latter part of the last year. 



J ifilq m{ \ It \y^ fipund lying in a horizontal 



!/fiw a3fii!3b'. P^^itio^, ^^^d broken into several 



?» ji ,e^\nr ,<■ pieces, abput, 10 ft. below the sur- 



5 m-^jftoitj jiii'J^ce of a bed of stone, which is 



47iiol»o'<;' called, by the quarrymen part of 



i^iiiiiiiH^Kf^iii the/'^y^low tree," and in which 



^f-Lifcrr yHjulo^n r'aots and fragments of trees (pro- 



■jq /IIS oJ h ) 



KY 7 fIB 'loqif \>l '■ 

 I 



bably of the willow kind) have 

 been frequently met with. Its 

 height and diameter are given in 

 the sketch ; its weight is about a 

 ton and a half. As the pieces cor- 

 responded exceedingly well with 

 each other, they have been united 

 by a cement very much resembling 

 the colour of them, which renders 

 the joinings not particularly ob- 

 servable. Mr. White of Portland, 

 who has favoured me with this 

 account, and the accompanying 

 sketch, and in whose possession 

 the tree remains, states that, as it 

 is now standing against the front 

 of his house, in an erect or natural 

 positiou, strangers are deceived by 

 Its appearance, imagining it to be 

 an old oak tree that is dead j and 

 that the dec;eption is only removed by close examination. Mr. White also 

 adds, that persons who a,re judges of timber ha,ve pronoimced ^t oak. 1 

 remain, . Sir, yours, hc.-rJas. Flefjokei\ juty 22. l83u, '/ /' 



Cheshire. 



Occurrence of two extremely rare Bntish Birds. — A beautiful specimen of 

 that rare occasional visitant the goMen oriole (Oriolus Galbula) was shot 



I ./'» -M) ')bj? 'jfit 



24!,ft' 



