24: THE QUERIST. 



Near the spot a magnificent sheet of Sandstone was observed, covered with ripple markings, so 

 regular and fresh-looking as almost to deceive the eye into the belief that the observer looked 

 upon a sandy shore, just left bare by the tide It is about twenty or thirty yards in extent. 

 Vegetable ren^ains lay here in myriads, many of them in exquisite condition, others were in a 

 stnte of charcoal, and might have been almost used as a dentrifice. "As we passed onwards," 

 says Mr. G., "fragments of a sigillaria, of which the shingle on the beach was entirely com- 

 posed, betrayed the neighbourhood of another most interesting ancient forest; and as we walked 

 off the links and across these loose stones, we trod immediately on their prostrate and petrified 

 remains. "Whole trees lay there, with their curiously-marked tranks and branches crossing each 

 other, and in confused heaps, like tangle on the shore; and as we stopped from rock to rock, 

 new forms engaged our attention. Many of them had been washed out of their sites, leaving 

 a corresponding cavity impressed with their external characters ; others were laying loose in their 

 cradles, and rocked by the waves at every tide. "We dislodged a few of these, and found the 

 under side coated with coaly matter. Some specimens measured ten or twelve feet in length, 

 and were much branched; the main trunk had a proportionate thickness, and the extremities 

 might almost be termed twigs." One or two other deposits were noticed, fossils from which 

 were laid on the table ; the most admired were a large and crowded slab, containing portions of 

 echini, etc., and pieces of coral, in which were embedded some beautiful terebratula). 



Several interesting ornithological notices were also given. At the Bass Eock, the Little Auk, 

 (Mergulus alle,) was observed, a bird which is very seldom met with. Great numbers of 

 Kittiwakes, (Larus tridactylus^) were breeding in the high ledges; one that was shot disgorged 

 an ordinary-sized whiting. The Sandwich Tern, (Sterna Boysii,) was also found breeding 

 there. Along shore specimens of the Purple Sandpiper, (Tringa maritima,) were obtained — a 

 rare capture in the summer season, as it is one of those species which retire to northern latitudes 

 to breed. On the 23rd., the excursionists set out for St. Abb's Head, where they had to endure 

 the disappointment of not finding a boat at their service. A delightful ramble, however, was 

 enjoyed along the head of the clifi's, which were profusely clothed with wild flowers. Over these 

 various insects were hovering in abundance — gay Copper Buttei-flics, and sober-coloured Ringlets, 

 Graylings, etc. Anthroccra Jil^'pendula', (the Five-spot Burnet Moth,) was particularly common. 

 On wing this curious insect resembles a slow-flying Beetle. Every gleam of sunshine called 

 forth swarms, which instantly dropped on the smallest disturbance being offered. Their flight 

 was not resumed for a time ; and so sluggish were they, that our entomologists leisurely pinned 

 them on the flowers, without being required to take them in their hands, an operation they 

 submitted to very quietly. In East Lotliian and Berwickshire the insect appears to have a 

 partiality to the sea-shore, being found in many situations along their coasts. On their way to 

 Cantybay, the party saw a large swarm of the Speckled "Wood Butterfly— an interesting and 

 pretty species of Ilipparohia— flying about the hedge-rows. There were some hxmdreds of them 

 in active motion, occasionally assembling in little clusters, and fighting till they reached the 

 ground. So numerous were these beautiful creatures, that several were knocked down at each 

 blow of a cap, as it swung rapidly from side to side. The Painted Lady, (Cijnthia cardui,) 

 was also found, but not in such plenty. 



Mr. Gray concluded his account, of which the foregoing is a very imperfect abstract, with a 

 few interesting observations on the Rock Pigeon, (Columba Ihia,) which was noticed in 

 considerable numbers in the rocky coves between Cockbumspath and East Castle. 



€\i <tm\± 



Have any of your entomological subscribers reared Vanessa Antiopa from the larva in this 

 country ? and if not, at what period of the year were the specimens they possess captm-edi'— 

 An answer will oblige Bombyx Atlas, Tottenham. 



JFatei--Mies, (Nymphfea alba.)— In a pond at Middleton Tyas, near Richmond, Yorkshire. 

 Nupltar lutca, in abundance in the "Wiskc, at Tafl!brth, near Northallerton, North-Riding of 

 Yorkshire. Collected in these localities by D. Ferguson, Redcar. 



Water-Lilies, (Nymphcea alba.)"Pleutifuly in the Foss river, close to York. Nuphar lutea, 

 common in the Foss also.—B. R. M. 



