134: MISCRLLANEOUS NOTICES. 



covored with thatch, would have afforded ample nursery accommodation to the rustic Sparrows, had 

 they preferred it. I think fir trees of various kinds are those most frequently chosen, probably 

 on account of the dark deuse nature of the foliage. — E. K. B., February 2nd., 1853. 



Unusual number of Thrushes near Gosport.—Mv. Barron, Curator of Haslar Museum, informs 

 me that "after the fall of snow in the early part of last month, the cold at the time being 

 rather severe, a most unusual number of Thrushes, chiefly Tardus musieus, were to be seen in 

 pasture lands, frequently assembled in considerable parties about moss-grown patches, where 

 they appeared to be searching for the larva; of some coleopterous insect. I am confirmed in 

 this view by an examination of the gizzards of several individuals, which I found principally 

 filled with such food." During the present month I have myself seen large flocks of Thruslies 

 on ploughed land similarly occupied. — John Eose, M. D., R. N., Haslar Hospital, Gosport, 

 March, 1853. 



Great Northern Diver on the coast of Hampshire. — Several strange birds have made their 

 appearance here during the late cold weather. To-day I saw the Great Northern Diver, 

 (Coli/mbits glacialis,) close to the shore near Haslar barracks. I came upon it suddenly, and 

 was close enough to be enabled to identify it. It was very shy, however, and kept constantly 

 diving to elude my observation. It was a young bird; and Mr. Barron, Curator of Haslar 

 Museum, informs me he has not unfi-equently met with it in this quarter during the winter months. 

 Here old birds are extremely rare, and difficult to obtain. It is common on the coast of 

 Ireland during the winter, as recorded by Professor Fleming and others. It visits Spitzbergcn 

 and Greenland during the summer ; and arctic travellers say it bi-eeds as far north as the latitude 

 of 70 degrees. It is pretty frequent along the Banft'shire coast; and, when lately in the north 

 of Scotland, I saw a beautifully-stuffed specimen of an old bird in the possession of my friend, 

 James Milne, Esq., Portsoy, N. B. — Idem. 



The Woodcock, (Scolopax rusticola.) — A gentleman, whilst shooting a short time ago near 

 Newnham, in Gloucestershire, flushed a Woodcock, which settled in an oak tree, out of which 

 he afterwards shot it. Thinking the occurrence an uncommon one, I send an account 

 of it for insertion in "The Naturalist." — Hubert Beadlbs, Bi-oadway, "Worcestershire, March 

 16th., 1853. 



Acmaja testudinalis, F. and H. — On seeing notices of this Acmwa, from my friends J. "W., of 

 Aberdeen, on page 136, vol. i., and A. K., of Montrose, on page 253, vol. ii. of "The Naturalist," 

 and from what Mr. Wilson stated to me about it, I am induced to give you this notice, that 

 wliile collecting the Mollusca of Aberdeenshire, with the late Dr. Macgillivray, I found this shell 

 for the first time in the winter of 1847-48. It has been much souglit for since that time, and 

 I may state that I have found it along the coast with the Acmwa virginea, and I believe J. 

 Wilson has done the same, and the fact that Mr. Kerr has found it at St. Cyrus, and Ferrydcst, 

 two opposite points on the Forfarshire coast, makes me believe that it will be found along 

 all the east coast of Scotland; and in the same pools among the tufts of Coralliiia officinalis: by 

 raising them up with a knife one will find the Modiola discrepans, and discors. All these 

 ■with us are not what one would call rare, though not common. — James Taylor, Pitmixton, 

 February 10th., 1853. 



It does not occur with A. virginea on the Yorkshire coast. — B. R. M. 



Vanessa Autiopa near Whitby. — Two specimens of this rare butterfly were captui-ed on the 

 Whitby Sands, this season, by two visitors from York.— John Braim, Sleight's Bridge, Whitby, 

 December 16th., 1852. 



One was the Eev. G. Rudston Read, of Sutton-on-Derwent. — B. R. M. 



Fossil found on Bagshot Heath. — Since making the drawing and writing the notice on this 

 Fossil, I have had a section made at right angles to the rings, which extend in light marks 

 entirely tlirough its substance, which abounds in spicula of sponges; but as this may favour 

 the suggestion either of cast or an organic Marine Fossil rcmanet, into which minute sponges 

 might have floated previous to petrifoction, the subject remains as much in doubt ^s ever. — 

 0. S. Round, Lincobis-Iun-Fields, January 10th., 1853. 



