REPORTS. 88 
indebted for their successful attack upon the place, as they were enabled to ascend 
the river in fleets of vessels reckoned by hundreds in number. The same 
facilities were, of course, open to the early Britons aud the Romans, and also to 
the Saxons; and there could be no doubt that the white sails and double oars or 
galleys of the two latter races were as frequently seen as those of the Danes. 
At this meeting were exhibited half a dozen specimens of the Death’s- 
head moth, (Acherontia Atropos,) three male and three female, the larve 
of which were found last summer by Mr. George Baker, of 
Waterloo Street, feeding in his garden on Lyciwm barbarum, (the tea tree.) 
February 11th.—Mr. H. G. Tomlinson read a paper on “ Birds and their Habits.” 
After giving some interesting details as to the structure of birds and the varied 
ways in which the different kinds are fitted for their modes of life, some 
particulars were given about nests and eggs. Birds were next considered as 
divided into five orders—birds of prey, perchers, fowls, waders, and swimmers— 
the characteristics of each order being mentioned. Mr. Tomlinson then spoke of 
the habits of some of the birds frequenting Staffordshire and neighbourhood. Of 
birds of prey, the common buzzard was the largest seen there; the hobby-hawk 
was a rare summer visitor, but had been found at Dovedale; the kestrel, 
which might be known by its hovering in the air when in search of food; and 
the sparrow-hawk, a brave little fellow, formerly used in the art of falconry. 
While speaking of hawks, he remarked, as a noticeable fact, that in all birds of 
prey the female was the larger. The reason for this was not obvious. With one 
exception, and that not British, there were no songsters in this class of birds. 
They had also in the neighbourhood the white or barn owl and the tawny or 
wood owl. Owls, in addition to having great powers of‘sight and hearing, have a 
noiseless flight owing to their external wing feathers being detached and made to 
curve outwards, so that the air can pass through them. Of the perchers he first 
described the habits of the titmouse family, including the tom-tit, blue-tit, great 
tit, and long-tailed tit; the fly-catchers—spotted and pied—the kingfisher, the 
crow, rook, magpie, jackdaw, and jay; the tree-creeper; and the wood-pecker 
—the green or “ laughing’ wood-pecker being found at Bagot’s Park and Bretby 
Park, and two other kinds—the lesser spotted and the greater—being occasionally 
found in the neighbourhood. Mention was made of the peculiarities of the 
cuckoo, one being that the young bird has an indentation in the middle of the 
back to assist it in ejecting from the nest in which it has been hatched the eggs 
of the rightful owner of the habitation, or its foster-brothers. This cavity fills up 
when the bird is about twelve days old, and the back becomes the same as that 
of otherbirds. The habits of the swallow, of which four species visit us; the 
wagtail, of which we have three varieties; larks and pipits, including skylarks 
and woodlarks ; the buntings, of which we have the yellow-hammer ; the finches, 
of which we have six varieties ; the common brown linnet, the starling, the 
sparrow, the thrush, including the field-fare, red-wing, and missel-thrush ; the 
blackbird, and a few others were also briefly noticed.—Mr. Tomlinson promised 
to continue the subject in another paper. 
CHELTENHAM NATURAL SCIENCE SOCIETY.—February 20th.—Dr. 
Julius Maier read a paper on ‘‘ The Spectroscope and its application to Solar 
Research,” which was well illustrated. 
NORTHAMPTON NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY.—A meeting was held 
in December for the purpose of hearing a paper read by the Rev. Wm. Thornton, 
F.G.8., on the circumstances of the Liassic strata among the volcanic rocks of 
the West Highlands of Scotland. By request it was of an elementary character. 
It described the physical and geological character of Arran, the coast of Argyle, 
and more particularly Ardnamurchan Point, and the Cuchullin Hills, and Glen 
Sligachan in Skye. It was rendered the more interesting by being illustrated by 
a capital section of the coast of Skye, and some very high class water-colour 
drawings of Ben Cruachan, Glen Sligachan, &c. A hearty vote of thanks was 
awarded to the lecturer. Six new members were elected. Jan. 14th.—Mr. C. 
Jecks read a paper, entitled ‘‘A few Thoughis on Darwinism,” in which Mr. 
Darwin’s leading arguments were very clearly explained. Mr. Jecks referred to 
the insectivorous habits of certain plants, the electric power of the Gymnotus, &c. 
A discussion followed, in which the Rey. 8. J. W. Sanders, the Rev: Canon Scott, 
and Messrs. Scriven, Kunson, and Druce, took part. 
