PROCEEDINGS OF SOCIETIES. 255 



The portion of the work devoted to Natural History then follows^ and 

 embraces notices of a few of the Mammalia, some of the peculiarities of birds, 

 reptiles, fishes, insects, and polypi, and concludes with some interesting facts 

 in Botany and Geology. The last few pages are devoted to lists of the birds, 

 insects, and plants, which the author has met with. These lists although 

 limited in length, are of much value from the fact of every species having 

 appended to it the time of its occurrence, the locality of its capture, and its 

 comparative rarity, or the reverse. No doubt these lists may be greatly 

 added to, but Mr. Duck has done well to make the beginning, and we trust 

 that those who follow up his researches will be as particular as he has been 

 in noting the dates and the localities. These facts always make lists valuable; 

 indeed without them they are comparatively worthless. 



We shall be very glad if this short notice of the ^^Natural History of 

 Portshead," should assist in the sale of the work, and in any way benefit, we 

 believe, a very deserving man. We are much pleased to observe that Mr, 

 Duck has done what he could to preserve the connexion between religion 

 and Natural History. 



^^nmliingH nf Inrirtie. 



Yorkshire NatnralisW Club, Monthly Meeting, October Qth., 1852. — T. Hounby, Esq., of 

 Pocklington, in the Chair. 



On the subj(!ct of the alleged transmutation of oats into barley, Mr. Smallwood rej)orted 

 that the oats he had sown had not outlived the winter. 



A[r. Baines also reported that his plants had shared the same fate; but also mentioned that 

 a friend of his, at Iloltbj-, who had cut down his unripe oats in autumn, about tlu'ce j-ears 

 ago, the next yc^ar had a crop, without any sowing, of what was somewliat like barley. 



J[r. "Whyteicead said that he had seen some oats this year, at Tang Hall, wliicli had been 

 planted and treated with a view to carry out these experiments, which had lived over the 

 winter, but produced only oats. 



Mr. Horsfall, of Caherley House, near Leeds, exhibited a fine specimen of the Spotted 

 Rail, CCrex porzana,) shot lately near his house. 



Mr. Graham exhibited a Tern, which he believed to be the young of the "Whiskered Tern, 

 shot at Sutton-on-Derwent, and sent for preservation by the Rev. G. Read. 



The Hon. and Rev. S. liAWLEV exhibited a female Sparrow Hawk, shot at Escrick, of an 

 unusually large size. 



H. Cholmeeey, Esq., of Brandsby, exhibited a variety of the Partridge, which had the wings 

 neai'ly all white. 



Mr. Graham showed a fine Death's Head Hawk Jloth, (Sphinx Atropos,) which he had 

 captured in a barge near Ouse bridge. 



1[r. Baines showed the eggs of some large moth, deposited on a laurel twig. 



Mr. Moore exhibited a curious Fungus, ( Phalhis impud'eus,) in all the stages of its growth; 

 and his account of it was received with much interest by the members present. 



The Rev. R. Wood, of Woodhall Park, sent for exhibition several specimens of another rare 

 fungus, obtained under mountain limestone, of a large size, and in all stages of development. 

 It proved to be a Geaster, allied to G. eollegens, and G, llygrometricus, but distinct from either, 

 and probably new. 



Dr. 3k[oRRTS showed a beautiful drawing of a curious variety of the Tcllow Hammer, which 

 had been shot by G. Donaldson, Esq., on the island of Gometra, near Staffa, in August last. 

 In colour it exactly resembled a Canary. He also exhibited some remarkably fine specimens of 

 Acvfea festiiflinaHs, which he had received from A. Kerr, Esq., of Montrose, taken on tlic shore 



