256 THE QUERIST. 



I have in my possession two fish-hooks taken from the stomach of a large Cod, (Morrhua 

 vulgaris,) caught in the Frith of Forth the other day. Attached to each hook is a piece of 

 cat-gut fishing-line. One would have been apt to iinaghie that the sharp-pointed barbs of the 

 liooks would have prevented their being swallowed. — Joux DoiG, Surgeon, Torryburn, Fifcsbire, 

 July 8th., 1853. 



Colias hyale in Sussex, — Having seen sove^ral notices of the capture of rare insects in your 

 pages, I beg to inform you that Mr. F. I^I. Alexander, of this town, caught a beautiful female 

 specimen of the Pale Clouded Yellow near Brighton, on the 2tth. of June last. This insect, 

 together with Colias cdusa, is frequently met with here. This gentleman was also lucky enough 

 last year to procure the Mciojhv'lus Ncrii, mentioned at page 230 of your second volume.— 

 J. Cavafy, Brighton, August 6th., 1853. 



TO THE EDITOR OF THE NATUUALIST. 



Sir, 



I think the request contained in the following letter cannot be better complied 

 with than by forwarding it to you for consideration, and if approved of, for insertion in "The 

 Naturalist." I fully concur in the opinions expressed by Mr. Long, and when to thp causes 

 mentioned by him as tending to diminish the nunaber of our native birds, and also those which 

 periodically visit us, are added, the inclosure and clearing of tracts of land, the draining of 

 fens and marshes, and the unwearied exertions of professed bird-catchers, it is not possible to 

 contemplate without regret how many birds, once familiar, are yearly becoming more rare. 



I remain, Sir, yours faithfully, 

 Bath. E. WILBRAIIAM FALCONER. 



Bath, May 25th., 1853. 

 Dear Dr. Falconer, 



I wish you would point out in "The Naturalist," the advantages 



which would result from the establishment of Public Museums in our largo towTis, and the con- 

 sequent discouragement of the formation of Private jSIuseuras of Natural History, for the supply 

 of which, with specimens of British Birds and their eggs, an unrelenting warfare is being 

 carried on, which thi-eatens the total extinction of many species, hitherto accounted common. 

 A well-known bird-stuffer of this place tells me, that during the few years in which th.> rage 

 for oology has become so general, many of our smaller birds have become every year more 

 scarce. The formation of a good collection of British Birds in every large town, which might 

 in most instances be easily effected by Ciontributions from private collections already formed, 

 would suffice for all the students of Natural History in their respective localities, and would 

 tend to check that wholesale onslaught upon our feathered neighbours, which will shortly 

 leave us but a few Rooks and House Sparrows upon which to exercise our ornithological obser- 

 vations. I add a copy of a note at page 294 of Mr. Barker's interesting book, "Lares and 

 Penates," which I have recently ^tumbled upon. — "I cannot avoid, making a few remarks here 

 on the wanton destruction of life, which the mania for collecting eggs and birds to stuff has 

 generated. At the late sale of the valuable and interesting Zoological Collection at Knowsley, 

 many a rare animal was bought in order to kill and stuff it ; and the exertions made in collecting 

 eggs, an unfair practice and a morbid taste, will soon deprive us of many an interesting bird, 

 unless put a stop to by the execration of public opinion, expressed on all possible occasions." 



I am, dear Dr. Falconer, very truly yours, 



"WILLIAM LONG. 



€\\i (Tliitrist. 



Is Guernsey to be considered, entomologically and ornithologically, as well as politically, a 

 part of "Great Britain?" for, if so, our cabinets and collections might perhaps be considerably 

 enriched by this "acquisition of territory."— F. 0. Mobri.s, Naffcrton Vicarage, September 22nd., 

 1853. 



