MISCELLANEOUS NOTICES. 207 



which no (Jpubt prevented its migrating. On December 2nd., 1851, a friend of mine shot on 

 his estate, near Plymouth, Devon., a Landrail, which he carefully plucked, but could not find 

 the slightest mark of a wound about it. Do these birds ever winter with us?--R. A. JuliaN) 

 Emmanuel College, Cambridge, April, 1852. 



Occurrence of the Puffin, (Alca arctica.)— A bird of this species was captured in a fen near 

 Ely, on February 18th., 1852. It seems to be a bird of last year. It is now preserved in Mr. 

 Green's collection, of King's College Cambridge.— Idem. 



The Herring Gull, (Larus fuscus.) — ^Whilst walking on the shore here very lately my atten- 

 tion was attracted by a pair of these birds, which were hovering close overhead. Presently one 

 made a sweep downwards to where a little boy and a very small terrier dog were walking ; the 

 bird reached within two or three feet of the dog, which shrunk down and ran off, the boy also 

 raising his arms in evident alarm at the close proximity of the Gull, which I should judge 

 could not be less than five feet from tip to tip of the wings. Had it not been for the boy, 

 I feel pijrsuaded the bird would have made an attack upon the dog. Probably some of your 

 readers may be enabled to say whether my sui-mises on this head are correct. — J. A. Eobinson, 

 Wycollar Cottage, Southport, Lancashire, January 12th., 1852. 



Pattern Besigns by '■'■Fatlier Frost." — The main street of Southport, about a mile in length, 

 presented a most singular and beautiful appearance on the morning of Saturday, the 10th. of 

 January. Thei-e had been a fall of snow on the morning of the previous day, and this having 

 thawed off, had been followed by .rain, which had ceased probably by five or six o'clock in the 

 morning in question; a dry wind and frost had immediately followed, and on reaching Lord- 

 Street, about nine, a.m., I was immediately struck with astonishment at seeing the beautiful 

 crystallizations on the flags. Each of these formed a perfect picture ; some having, as it were, 

 wreaths of flowers and foliage; others graceful climbing plants; and others again the most 

 accurate representations of nearly all the fern tribe. Not a few had most elegant Kaleidoscopic 

 patterns on them; and occasionally along the junction of two flags a climbing plant, bearing 

 the appearance of the hop, might be seen and delineated — the black mark between the flags forming 

 the hop-pole. When I tell you that these beautiful pictures were all illuminated by the rays of 

 the rising sun, which too soon destroyed them, the pretty effect may perhaps be judged; but 

 I feel that my attempt to describe the beauty of the scene falls very far short of the reality. 

 I have often seen something similai" to this, but never before anything approaching to it in 

 elegance and variety. — Idem. 



The Broad-nosed Sturgeon. — A fine specimen of this fish, about five feet long, was taken in 

 the Ouse at Cawood, near York, on May 18th., and I was told that it is not uncommonly 

 met with there. It was sold for four shillings. — B. E. M., May 24th., 1852. 



Entomological Hints.- -As the Entomological season is now about its height, perhaps the 

 following communication may prove of service to embryo Entomologists, who, having collected 

 numerous specimens, are anxious to have them neatly and conveniently arranged. "When 

 commencing the study myself, I experienced considerable difficulty in this particular. Visions 

 of cabinets with numberless rows of air-tight drawers flitted before me, but on consideration 

 I soon found that such bulky articles were not only quite unsuited to my own present serai- 

 peripatetic life, but, even if settled, that they would take up much room, and involve considerable 

 expense. It was therefoi-e with gi-eat pleasure that I was recommended by my friend Mr. A. 

 Adams, K. N., to adopt the plan which I now wish to mention to the younger lovers of this 

 pursuit, namely, placing the specimens in boxes made in the form of books, with folding hinges, 

 on both sides of which the insects may be pinned down. And here I cannot help mentioning 

 the boxes of this description made by Mr. Robert Downie, Union -Street, Barnet, Herts., which 

 are, both for neatness and cheapness, the best I have seen. His name is well known to all 

 Entomologists of any standing, and I can only add my own less extended testimony to the 

 efficacy and portable nature of his works. The sizes generally made are three, namely, eleven 

 inches by eight and a-half inches, thirteen by nine and a-half, and sixteen by twelve ; the prices 

 being respectively five, seven, and twelve shillings. The first two are the most useful for small 

 collections. No. 1. being well adapted for Coleoptera, Hymenoptera, and Diptera; and No. 2. 

 for Lepidoptera and Neuroptera. I am certain that any one trying them will be as fully satisfied 

 with them as I was.— W. Balfour Baikie, M. D., Haslar Hospital, July 8th., 1852. 



