CHAFTER OF MISCELLANIES. 167 



beautiful insect, hitherto I think unnoticed, has lately come to my knowledge. 

 Specimens have been taken at Rawmarsh, near Rotherham, in this county. It 

 is said to be met with in Pea-fields, the blossoms of which they frequent. There 

 is a river in the valley, where willows abound, which have probably furnished 

 the stragglers. I think it likely that more might be obtained. It is also a good 

 neighbourhood for many other rare insects, as Zeuzera cesculi, the two species of 

 Trockilium, the Swallow Prominent, &c. &c. — F. 0. Morris, May 5, 1837. 



Method op arranging an Oological Cabinet. — I have lately been engaged 

 in arranging my collection in Oology, but have not yet completed it. I have 

 two cabinets, one for land birds (Raptores, Insessores, Rasores), the other for 

 water birds (Grallatores, Natatores). There are thirty-two drawers, some- 

 what similar to those commonly devoted to Entomology, except that they are 

 of different depths, and are divided into small partitions, so that the eggs of 

 each species are kept distinct. The specimens are placed upon moss, as I have 

 found that in gumming them down there is considerable danger of their being 

 destroyed. It is necessary to glaze the cases in order to keep the original mark- 

 ings of the eggs, and to prevent their fading. They must be excluded as much 

 as possible from the open air, otherwise they become very tender by the action of 

 the atmosphere upon the shells. The eggs of the Dartford Warbler and Grass- 

 hopper Warbler are still desiderata with me. — J. D. Salmon, Tket/ord, Norfolk, 

 April 22, 1837, in a letter to the Editor. 



Little Plover (Charadrius minor J. — An adult and a young bird of the first 

 autumn of the Little Plover are remarkably well figured in the 11th part of 

 Gould's magnificent work the Birds of Europe. Science is indebted to Mr. 

 Henry Doubleday, of Epping, for the addition of this little species to the Bri- 

 tish Fauna, a specimen having been taken at Shoreham, in Essex. " From the 

 extreme youth of the individual transmitted to us," says Mr. Gould, " it is clear 

 that it must have been bred on the spot ; and it is worthy of remark, that the 

 person who kills it affirms that he had long suspected the present bird to be a 

 resident on that part of the coast," having noticed a peculiarity in the note of the 

 species. It is abundant in the south of Germany, as far as Italy, frequenting 

 large lakes and rivers. Mr. Gould positively states, that the American speci- 

 mens he has examined are specifically different. It resembles the Ring Plover 

 in habits, and constructs its nest, like that bird, among shingles on the water's 

 edge, laying four or five yellowish eggs, blotched with black and brown. The 

 sexes do not differ, but young birds want the black collar. This species is easily 

 distinguished from the Ring Plover by its small size. — Ed. 



The Spring of 1837. — The cold weather we have experienced has evidently 

 retarded the arrivals of our summer land birds of passage, with the exception of 

 the Sand Swallow (Hirundo riparia), of which I saw three on the 11th, and 



