310 Information respecting Zoological Travellers. 



past. Thus I find that the Willow Wren (Sylvia Trochilus), instead 

 of the lGth or ISth of April, was not seen or heard before the 3rd 

 of May ; the same in regard to the Blackcap (Curruca Otricapilia), 

 the Tree Pipit {Ant hits arboreus), the Whinchat (Saxicola rubctus); 

 and the 13th of May had arrived before an individual of the Fly- 

 catcher (Muscicapa grisola) was observed. Of the species just enu- 

 merated, a deficiency, such as I have already mentioned, was re- 

 marked ; but I think it was even more striking in others, among 

 which I may particularize the Sedge-warbler (Salicaria phragmitis), 

 Greater Petty-chaps (Curruca montana), "White-throat (Curruca 

 vincrca). To this cold and long- retarded spring, succeeded a short 

 and, with the exception of a few days in July, a moist and chilly 

 summer, circumstances which affected not only the increase of animal 

 life, but produced the more serious calamity of a deficient harvest. 

 Fruits also did not ripen at all, or very imperfectly, and were devoid 

 of their proper taste and flavour. In conclusion, I may add, that a 

 great deficiency of the insect tribes was generally remarked, and, 

 from having given a considerable degree of attention to the entomo- 

 logy of this district for some years past, I can confidently say, that 

 in most of its great families or divisions the remark is correct, more 

 particularly as it applies to the Coleopterous and Lepidopterous in- 

 sects, upon a comparison with what was observed in 1835 and 1836, 

 as well as y r ears previous to that date. 



XLII. — Information respecting Botanical and Zoological 



Travellers, 

 It will give satisfaction to many of our friends to learn that letters 

 have been received from our valuable contributor Dr. Parnell. He 

 is now about to leave Jamaica, after a residence of nearly nine 

 months, during which time he has investigated much of the zoology 

 of that island. His entomological collections have suffered consider- 

 ably from insects, but in ornithology he states, " I have been more 

 fortunate, having obtained 140 species in a good state, several of 

 which are very rare, and two or three of them I suspect have never 

 been before noticed. In ichthyology I have been most successful, 

 having obtained about 500 specimens." At the date of his letter 

 (22nd March), Dr. Parnell was about to sail for Cuba, whence he ex- 

 pected to return to Britain in November or December next. 



We have also letters from another gentleman, T. C. Jerdon, Esq., 

 Assistant Surgeon 2nd Madras Light Cavalry, who has been for some 



