MISCELLANEOUS NOTICES. 



67 



to the amusement of the boys, who gave it rather a rough reception. A 

 pair of Canaries have built and are hatching in the house of Mr. Hastings, 

 Thornhill. The Mavis is in full song; and the Crows, though not actually 

 building, seem to be making every preparation for the coming spring. — Idem. 



As another proof of the mildness of the present winter, I would 

 mention the fact of my having gathered the flowers of the Cornus sanguinea 

 in the hedges between Woolwich and Eltham, during the week succeeding 

 that of Christmas. — W. K. Travis, Blackheath, February 1st., 1858. 



On the 30th. of December, I saw a Bat flying early in the evening, about 

 the church at Sutton-on-Derwent. I had several times seen quite a flock 

 of bees in this village, within a few days of that date. — F. 0. Morris, 

 Nunburnholme Rectory, January 11th., 1858. 



Setting Lepidoptera. — With reference to Mr. Greene's instructions in the 

 art of setting insects, and Mr. Bree's note thereon, I wish to say for the 

 benefit of all entomological readers, that while I coincide with Mr. Greene 

 as to the excellence of the pins No. 8 and No. 10, (though I would use 

 the latter for more kinds than he recommends,) I do not agree with him 

 at all as to No. 7, and also would substitute No. 13 only, for both his 

 No. 11 and No. 12. Mr. Bree too does not say for what sorts it is that 

 he recommends, in the note, Nos. 5 and 15 as the most useful sizes. Mr. 

 Greene also omits to state, for the benefit of beginners, the depth the 

 boards themselves should be of, but it may be inferred sufficiently nearly. 

 The plan is not a new one, except as to the way of first moving the 

 wings forward by means of a piece of wetted paper, which may perhaps 

 be better than the more common and more easy mode of fixing them 

 in their .place, with a minute pin stuck through them, or may not. Mr. 

 Greene does not mention the mode of setting on turned woods with cotton 

 thread, but the effect is better, and the process more quickly performed. — 

 F. 0. Morris. 



Felt instead of Cork for Insect Drawers and Boxes. — The other day I 

 received a box of European lepidoptera from Trofessor Zeller, of Zurich, 

 and the box was lined with felt instead of cork. The paper within it 

 was perfectly smooth, as much so as in any cork-lined box. The pins, too, 

 go into it with the greatest possible ease, but they do not seem to be, 

 indeed they are not, held so tenaciously as by cork. Nevertheless, although 

 the box came so far, not a single insect was loose in it; but I must 

 mention on the other hand that they were placed on a thin stratum of 

 cotton wool, spread over the paper, — an invaluable recipe, by-the-bye, I 

 may add, in all cases of sending entomological boxes by the post. I 

 should also say that the insects were, that is, many, not all of them, fas- 

 tened in likewise with pins stuck crosswise over their bodies; but, as I have 



