152 MOLLUSCA IN THE NKIGUBOUBHOOD ON NICE. 



9. Trochus conulus. Rather scarce. 



10. cinerarius. Common. 



11. Patella vulgata. Common, but always small. 



12. Bulla lignaria. Occasionally. 



13. Argonauto Argo. Small specimens frequently brought in by fishermen. 

 The above is a list of a few land and fresh-water Shells, which I collected 



last month, (in the course of a very few days,) in the neighbourhood of Nice 

 Maidtime. Should any of your readers form a part of the numerous English 

 who yearly hybernate in that delightful climate, it may perhaps be of use to 

 them. As all in the catalogue were collected in the course of three or four 

 days, the list is no doubt veiy imperfect. I have, moreover, been unable to 

 ascertain the correct names of several species. — I remain, &c., J. D. 

 May 8th, 1855. 



THE MYRTLE BEE. 



BY JAMES S. WALKER, ESQ. 



In the April number of your Magazine, I have read, Avith interest, a Paper 

 by O. S. Round, Esq., on the " Myrtle Bee." 



Though a subscriber to Notes and Queries, I have not observed the dis- 

 cussion to which this gentleman alludes ; and my object in writing these few 

 lines is, merely to say, that in New South Wales, I have met with a bird very 

 similar to the Myrtle Bee. 



It is a small species of Wren, rather smaller than the Willow Wren ; {Syl- 

 via hippolais ;) colour, a dark yelloAv; with two or three long feathers in the 

 tail, which give it a pheasant-like appearance. It Avas a summer visitant 

 to the part of Australia (TAVofold Bay) AA'here I resided ; its note was a mere 

 buzz; and its habits Avere just such as your correspondent describes. I 

 generally met Avith it in long SAvampy grass ; or, still more frequently, in 

 Avheat or barley-fields. On a still summer's morning, this little bird seemed 

 fond of perching upon the top of a Avheat-stalk ; but, on the slightest alarm, 

 it Avould dive into cover and disappear. It left a strong game scent, and Avas 

 a great nuisance to the sportsman, as tlie poiuteis Avould potter about after 

 it for a considerable distance ; and so adroit Avas it in dodging through the 

 grass or AAheat-field, that, at such times, it AA'as seldom seen, though I have 

 occasionally flushed one with the dog ; when thus disturbed, the bird Avould 

 fly only a feAv yards, and disappear in the first patch of grass it came to, 

 from whence I never succeeded in dislodging it. 



You AAill observe hoAV very closely this description tallies Avith that of tlie 

 " Myrtle Bee ;" and I think Avhat I have said corroborates the truth of Cap- 

 tain BroAvn's account. 



