202 The Field Naturalist'' s Quarterly Aug. 



memory of a local and ancient inhabitant, were laid in 

 the first year of their tenancy. To-da}^ the ponds, though 

 not nearly so densely crowded as those at Twigmore, which 

 are more secluded, and doubtless for that reason more 

 popular, are frequented by a very numerous tribe of gulls, 

 which increases in numbers every year. It will be interest- 

 ing to see how long it ma)^ be before yet another colony has 

 to be founded elsewhere. 



Those readers who may chance to find themselves in the 

 north of Lincolnshire and within reach of Scawby or Scun- 

 thorpe (which possesses a station on the Great Central loop- 

 line from Doncaster to Grimsby) would do well to seize the 

 opportunity of paying a visit to the Twigmore and Black- 

 head Ponds, though the former are by far the more worthy 

 of a visit. Both places, as has been noted, are situated 

 upon private property ; but permission to visit either can 

 no doubt be obtained if properly applied for. 



Scunthorpe, it may be added here, is remarkable for two 

 curiosities in natural history. On Black Rabbit Warren, 

 where the Blackhead Ponds lie, is a breed — though not a 

 numerous one — of black rabbits; while at Crosby, an adjoin- 

 ing hamlet, there existed not many years ago a warren of 

 silver-haired rabbits much esteemed for their skins, but 

 latterly exterminated owing to the former protection which 

 they enjoyed having been removed, through the depreciation 

 of the value of the skins consequent upon some vagary 

 of fashion. 



At Ashby, a couple of miles distant, are the remains of 

 one of the most profitable of the old Lincolnshire duck- 

 decoys. 



Entomology in Summer. 



By Claude Morley, F. E.S., &c. 



It is a trite saying that the entomologist, no less than the 

 poet, is born and not made : enthusiasm is a fine thing, 

 goading us to perform prodigies while it lasts, but too evan- 

 escent to be of real service to the naturalist, who, to be 



