YOUNG OF THE CROSSBILL. — ACHATINA ACICULA. 565 



in its natural habits, I should be very glad to transfer it to 

 some Institution, where, while it could enjoy fresher air and 

 direct light, it would meet with attention to temperature and 

 cleanliness equal to what it has had from us ; and in that case 

 I see no reason why it might not be kept alive for years. — 

 Thomas Bradley, Director. — Royal Gallery of Practical Sci- 

 ence, Adelaide Street, Oct. 23, 1839. « 



Young of Loxia curvirostra, Temm. (Cross-bill.) — On 

 the 10th of July, 1839, as I was riding under some fir-trees, 

 my attention was attracted by the peculiar note of the Loxia 

 curvirostra ; my stopping to pry too minutely into their ac- 

 tions caused them to change their quarters to an ash tree, 

 where they and their motions were more distinctly discernible, 

 and I could clearly see, and watched for a considerable time 

 the two old ones, in shabby plumage, and four young ones, 

 full two- thirds grown, which appeared very hungry and ex- 

 ceedingly clamorous for food, fluttering their wings, opening 

 their beaks, and incessantly importuning the parent birds for 

 sustenance ; thus proving, if additional proof were wanting, 

 that the cross-bills do occasionally build and breed here, al- 

 though it is probably of rare occurrence, which is not to be 

 accounted for, as so many do remain during that season of 

 the year when all our other birds are engaged in the usual 

 and necessary occupation of reproduction. — Joseph Clarke. 

 —Saffron Walden, Oct. 18th, 1839. 



Note on Achatina acicula. — Of all the British land shells, 

 the remnants of this species seem to be found in the most 

 singular places. Instances are, I believe, recorded where 

 these shells have been found in Danish coffins, &c. I beg 

 to add another instance of this shell being found in connexion 

 with Danish remains. While carefully examining the tym- 

 panum of a skull found at Limbury, a hamlet of Luton, Bed- 

 fordshire, in conjunction with old pottery, urns and a key, sup- 

 posed to be of Danish origin, I was rather surprised to find 

 in addition to the perfect chain of bones, the lower two whorls 

 and a half of a shell, which upon examinination proved to 

 be the remains of Achatina acicula, (Agate shell) a species 

 of rare occurrence at the present time in the vicinity of Lu- 

 ton. How this shell could have found its way into the cavity 

 of the ear I do not pretend to say. I merely bring it forward 

 as another proof of the species having been again discovered 

 in connection with Danish remains. — Daniel Cooper, Sur- 

 geon, 82, Blackfriars Road, London. 



1 For Mr. Bradley's former letter on the Gymnotus, see Mag. Nat. Hist. 

 Vol. ii. n. s. (1838), p. 668. 



