528 Notice of a Congregation of Moths 



of August, 1835, but, unfortunately, too much injured to be 

 preserved. 



Bittern (Botaurus stelldris Steph.). — During the three past 

 winters, two or three specimens of this bird have been an- 

 nually captured. It is considered a bird of rare occurrence, 

 although formerly rather plentiful in this district. But little 

 appears to be known of its nidification, as there is no authen- 

 ticated account of its nest having been found in this country 

 of late years. 



Ash-coloured Shrike (Ldnius excubitor Linn.). — A fine male 

 specimen of this rare winter visitant was shot in the month 

 of February, 1836, at Buckenham, in this neighbourhood. 

 Although a few pairs of the Red-backed Shrike (L. Collurio 

 Linn.) annually visit this neighbourhood in the spring, for the 

 purpose of nidification, yet it must be considered of rare 

 occurrence, as I saw one pair only last summer, and during 

 the present season I have not seen a single individual. 



Great Bustard ((Ttis tarda Linn.). The last instance re- 

 corded of this noble bird's having been seen in this district 

 was in the autumn of 1 832. Since that period, it seems to have 

 totally deserted this neighbourhood. There can be but little 

 doubt that, ere long, this bird will share the fate of the pride 

 of the north, the capercalzie (Urogallus vulgaris Flem.), 

 which has for many years become extinct in that part of the 

 country. 



Fern Owl (Caprimulgus eurojpce^us Linn.). — An individual 

 residing in this town succeeded in rearing a pair of these birds 

 from the nest, and carried them through the winter in perfect 

 health, until the April following, when they were disposed 

 of. They were fed principally with bread soaked in milk, and 

 occasionally a fly, or any other insect that could be procured. 

 They never attempted to take their food alone, but had to be 

 fed by hand. When food was offered them they made a sudden 

 dart, so as almost to swallow the finger and thumb. 



Thetford, June, 1836. 



Art. IV. Notice of a Congregation of Moths found in the Interior 

 of a Tree of the False Acacia (Rohin'm Pseud-Acacia L.). By 

 J. O. Westwood, Esq., F.L.S„ 



Except in those species of insects which retain their social 

 qualities throughout their whole existence (and in which we 

 find a sexual modification taking place in a great body of the 

 community, so as to fit them for performing the social duties 

 of the assembly, by at the same time unfitting them for the 



