REPORTS OF SOCIETIES. 



71 



from the deck and thrown overboard, and which they eagerly devour, fight- 

 ing desperately for it and making a terrific noise), took very little notice 

 of the Kites except when they observed one had secured a larger morsel 

 than it could swallow at once, and then they invariably gave chase and 

 very often made him drop it ; they did not then always succeed in getting 

 it, as sometimes the kite would dash down suddenly, disperse the gulls on 

 each side of him, and regain his lost food before it reached the water. 



Bluethroated Warbler (Sylvia suecica, Lath.) was tolerably common at 

 Coina, and also at IMoita ; at the latter place, which is a small village on 

 the south side of the Tagus, on the line to Setubal, and the third station 

 from Barreiro, I noticed it on the 13th February in some numbers. 

 There were several millponds close to the village on the banks of which 

 reeds, rushes, and a variety of plants grew luxuriantly, drooping over the 

 muddy margins of the ponds, particularly a species of Cheiiopodlum ; these 

 formed excellent retreats for those pretty little birds, who had accord- 

 ingly taken up their abode there, and from which, even when disturbed, 

 they were very reluctant to depart ; every now and then flitting out and in 

 again, or, half flying, half running, they seemed to chase the small insects 

 which they frequently dislodged from among the tangled vegetation through 

 which they forced their way. From its secluded habits I should imagine 

 this species is one which might readily be overlooked. 



(To he continued.) 



HuJdersfield Naturalists' Society. — 

 An ordinary meeting of this Society 

 was held on Monday evening, June 

 13th ; the president, Alfred Beau- 

 mont, Esq., occupying the chair. 

 After the transaction of the ordinary 

 business, Mr. John Armitage exhi- 

 bited seven species of Veronica, four 

 species of Ranunculus, and a fine 

 specimen of Atropa Belladonna, the 



latter grown in his garden, but origi- 

 nally obtained from Almondbury 

 Bank, where it formerly grew luxu- 

 riantly. Mr. James Varley exhibited 

 fine specimens oi Notodonta Dodoncca 

 from Sherwood Forest, and Cymato- 

 jjJiora fliictuosa recently caught in 

 Wharncliffe Woods. Mr. W. H. 

 Charlesworth exhibited a fine collec- 

 tion of Coleoptera, obtained during 

 a recent visit to Sherwood Forest 

 by some members of the Society. 



