: 
CORRESPONDENCE. 129 
April 8rd. The bird had been constantly seen in the neighbourhood 
since Christmas; it frequently took rabbits from the keepers’ traps. The 
enly spring migrant which I have noticed as yet was a Willow Wren 
(Phylloscopus trochilus), or Chiff-chaff (P. collybita), I am not quite certain 
which, on April 5th. Very few signs yet of birds beginning to build.— 
H. Meuuisu, April 8th. 
Asyormat Hen’s Eacs.—Noting a paragraph on the above subject 
in your last number, I was led to hunt up a note concerning an egg laid 
by a Brahma fowl last September. The egg was 3gin. long by 24in. 
diameter. On breaking it was found to contain another egg in a perfectly 
sound shell, measuring 24in: long by 2in. diameter, the intermediate 
space containing only white albumen. The inner egg was complete and in 
no way differing apparently from an ordinary egg. The same fowl has 
laid many very large eggs, mostly double-yolked, both this season and last. 
—F. E. L., Burton-upon-Trent. , 
Correction.—In my notes in the April number, page 102, I made 
some remarks on geese, which it would be better for readers to erase 
altogether, as some confusion has arisen as to species.—O. V. A., 
(Bodicote, Oxon,) April, 1879. 
Gleanings. 
Tur History or Coau.—This is the title of an excellent lecture by 
the Rev. Thos. Wiltshire, M.A., F.G.S., published by Spon, (price one 
shilling.) It gives in a thorough, yet concise and readable manner, an 
account of this important mineral, as known to the ancients, and also 
all that is known as to its, use and development in Great Britain. 
Licnans.—Mr. Charles Larbalestier, B.A., proposes to issue during 
the ensuing summer and autumn fasciculi of the Lichens of the Channel 
Islands, England, and Ireland. Many of the species will be new to 
science or extremely rare. For particulars apply to the Author, Roche 
Vue, St. Aubin’s, Jersey. 
Pottmn.—A comprehensive and valuable paper on the subject of 
“Pollen” was recently read at Natal, before the Natal Microscopical 
Society, by Mr. Maurice §. Evans. A copy of this paper has been sent 
to us by the Secretary. We congratulate our distant microscopical 
friends on having among their members such good original workers in 
science as the author of this paper. 
Doration or Lirr.—We quote the following from the Proceedings 
of the Geologists’ Association (Vol. V., p. 336.) At a meeting at the 
British Museum the keeper of the botanical department, Mr. Carruthers, 
‘informed the members that he had revived Bauer’s specimens of the 
minute annelid, Vibrio, known as the ‘paste eel,’ after it had been 
‘pectously dead’ for sixty years.” This is the finest instance of 
“‘revivification ” which we have yet come across, and one might incline to 
feel sceptical were it not that the high scientific reputation of Mr. 
Carruthers forbids such an idea. 
THE YorKSHIRE NAtuRAuists’ Union commenced the season of 1879 by a 
visit to Ingleton, on the 14th of April last. A special train from Leeds 
and Bradford conveyed about sixty members. Ingleton is situated at 
the confluence of two mountain streams which drain the slope of 
Greygreth, (2,250ft.,) Whernside, (2,414ft.,) and Ingleborough, (2,373ft.,) 
U 
