MISCELLANY. 338 



of the Eastern nations in the present day, offer numerous and highly important 

 coincidences with those incidentally alluded to or more distinctly described in the 

 Scriptures. — Bell's British Quadrupeds, p. 441. 



Mistake respecting the Generic Name Cephus. — Messrs. Stephens and 

 Westwood seem to exult when they can upset a generic name given by Mr. 

 Curtis, but sometimes fail in their object. This name is used by Cuvier for a 

 genus of birds, which they have omitted to discover. — Mr. Stephens, moreover, 

 gives some species as new to Britain which had previously been noticed by 

 Curtis. — J. C. Dale, Glanville's Wootton, July 9, 1837- — [There are no authors 

 or editors on whom we look with more pity and contempt, in a certain point of 

 view, than those who, out of mere spite and personal or partial party interest, 

 attempt to detract from the works of those whom they consider their rivals. It 

 is, in fact, descending from the lofty pinnacles of science, and the calm con- 

 templation of its wonders, to the meanest and most despicable kind of warfare. 

 That so much of this spirit exists amongst the naturalists of our own day, is 

 certainly to be regretted. — Ed.] 



Notice respecting Libellula Sparskalli, Dale. — I had this insect from Mr. 

 Sparshall of Norwich, who assured me, both personally and by letter, that he 

 took it at Horning, Norfolk, in 1823, in company with Mr. Seaman. Mr. 

 Scales saw it soon after its capture, and wanted to possess it. He is quite 

 positive as to the fact, but acknowledges that he should not recognise it if he was 

 to see it again ! I suspect he had confounded it with Libellula cancellata, which 

 I had from him also at the same time, and it was probably taken at Horning, 

 a place similar to Whittlesea-mere, where I have taken L. cancellata. Mr. 

 Haworth had specimens from China which appeared to me to be the same, and 

 I have lately seen some very similar from Jamaica ! — J. C. Dale, Glanville's 

 Wootton, Dorsetshire, July 9, 1837. 



The Garden Fauvet (or Greater Pettychaps) near Scarborough. — The 

 Greater Pettychaps (Curruca hortensis) may be considered scarce in our neigh- 

 bourhood. I shot one in the plantation near the Museum in the spring of 1833. 

 I was attracted by the singular beauty of its song. In order to obtain this 

 specimen I was obliged to watch a considerable time before an opportunity could 

 be obtained to fire at it, as the foliage had become thick, and the bird confined 

 itself to the tops of the trees. I soon found him to be very restless, not remain- 

 ing more than one minute in the same place, threading backwards and forwards, 

 yet never leaving the situation where it was first seen more than fifty yards. 

 Diligent search has since been made, with a view of procuring other specimens, 

 but hitherto without success. — Patrick Hawkridge, Scarborough, Aug. 7, 1837. 



The Irish Hare (Lepus Hibernicus, Yarrell.) — Mr. Yarrell was, I 

 believe, the first zoologist who observed that a considerable difference existed i 



No. 12, Vol. II. 2y 



