OBSERTATIONS. 



65 



" Bird of Paradise," and underneath 

 them in strong contrast with the 

 gay plumage of its neighbours was 

 a " JSooty Albatross." Collections of 

 birds of beautiful plumage from 

 Australia and India were also much 

 admired. Among the English Birds 

 were a specimen of the Stormy Petrel 

 [Thalassidroma pelagica) caught on 

 the canal in the neighbourhood of 

 Birmingham ; an Eagle Owl [Strix 

 bubo) ; a pair of the Great Northern 

 Diver (Colymbus septentrionalis), &c. 

 This portion of the exhibition was 

 also enriched by a large collection 

 of the nests of British Birds, in situ, 

 and shewing the peculiarities of their 

 construction. Collections oiMollusca 

 were exhibited by Mr. Cash, of Hali- 

 fax, as well as by several members of 

 the Union. The Entomological and 

 Botanical collections were numerous 

 and several large aquaria formed 

 centres of attraction in the various 

 rooms. Mr. Lancaster, optician, 

 also lent two powerful microscopes, 

 which added greatly to the interest 

 of the exhibition. 



Acherontia atrojws. — On the 3rd 

 instant I had the pleasure of breed- 

 ing a fine specimen of this species, 

 from a larva obtained at Darenth 

 last August. The peculiar " squeak- 

 ing " noise produced by the Imago 



is very perceptible, but I did not 

 find that either the larva or pupa 

 emitted any sound. — Wm. Cole, 

 Page Villa, Tottenham, June 6th. 



Hadena glauca. — On May 2nd, 

 whilst searching the Heather (Callu- 

 na vulgaris) on Norland INIoor, near 

 Halifax, I had the good fortune to 

 meet with a pupa of Hadena glauca, 

 from which a female emerged on the 

 5 th. I believe this is the first time 

 it has been taken in this neighbour- 

 hood. — Thos. Mellob, Skircoat 

 Green, near Halifax. 



Asplenium Adiantum - nigrum. — 

 Some years ago this pretty fern grew 

 somewhat sparingly in Dungeon 

 Wood, near Huddersfield, but we 

 understand some ruthless collector 

 having become acquainted with its 

 habitat, completely exterminated it. 

 We are, however, happy to announce 

 that on Saturday (21st ult.), we 

 found a tuft springing out of the 

 creviceof a rock. Of course we didnot 

 take it, but merely plucked a single 

 frond in verification of its occurrence . 

 We shall not, at present reveal the 

 exact locality for fear of another 

 similar eradication taking place. 



We may also state that a few tufts 

 of A. Trichomanes (which suffered 

 the same fate as A. Adiantum-nigrum 

 some years ago), are still to be found 

 in its old locality, in the wood near 

 Woodsome Hall. — Eds. Nat. 



