TRANSACTIONS OF THE SECTIONS. 



113 



The unusually cold weather for this advanced season appears to have operated in 

 producing the destruction of the greater number of this useful tribe of migratory- 

 birds ; the severity of the weather causing a scarcity of insects (the ordinary food 

 of the swallow), and rendering the birds too weak to enable them to search for food. 



On the 30th of May the swallows became so tame that they flew about the legs of 

 persons, and could be caught without difficulty, and on the following morning most 

 of them lay dead upon the ground, or in their own nests. 



In this neighbourhood (near Nottingham) the greatest mortality was occasioned 

 amongst the house swallow {Hirimdo rustica), yet solely because this bird predomi- 

 nates. 



Near the Red-Hill Tunnel at Thrumpton, there are great numbers of sand-martins 

 (Hinthdo riparia), and there in a saw-pit on the banks of the river Soar, hundreds 

 congregated and died. 



At Borrowash, near the Derwent river, there are very many white-martins 

 {Hirundo urbica) ; they also congregated and died, lying ten and twelve deep on the 

 different window-sills. Several persons opened their windows, and the birds were 

 very willing to take shelter in the rooms, exhibiting no disposition to depart. Many 

 were kept alive in the different houses by being fed with the Ajohis of the rose-tree, 

 the only procurable insect. 



At Bulwell, Wollaton, Long Eaton, Sawley, and many other places, the same fear- 

 ful mortality occurred. Farmers opened their barn-doors to admit the birds. To 

 show the extent of the deaths, it may be mentioned that at one place, where pre- 

 viously tliere were fifty nests occupied, only six pair survived to take possession of 

 them. 



The manner in which they congregated was a curious feature in the occurrence. 

 A swallow would fly round a heap of dead and dying companions, and then 

 suddenly dart down and bury itself amongst them. 



On the same days, in the Vale of Belvoir, and in parts of Nottinghamshire and 

 Lincolnshire, several hundred newly-shorn sheep perished. 



A brief account of the weather at Highfield previous to the 31st of May will prove 

 interesting. 



During these six days the barometer ranged between 29'6 inches and 29'9 inches. 

 The first three days were very fine, and during the whole time there was much ozone. 

 29lh, electricity active from 11 a.m. till noon. 30th, boisterous wind with hail- 

 storms. 31st, boisterous wind with continued rain. On the 30th there was a frost. 

 - It would be interesting to trace over what extent of the island this mortality was 

 noticed. 



Exhibition of Zoophytes, Mollusca, ^c, observed on tlie Coast of Norivay, in 

 the Summer of 1855. By Robert M'Andrew, F.R.S.* 



A few of the species of mollusca were new ; many wei-e not recorded to have been 

 previously obtained from the locality, whilst others exhibited peculiar forms of well- 

 known species. 



* Mr. M'Andrew was requested to draw up a report on the results of his various dredging 

 excursions. 



1855. 8 



