150 Intelligence and Miscellaneous Articles. 



first individual of this rare and magnificent species ever brought 

 alive to Europe. It was presented to the Society by Mr. Reeves, 

 and is now living at the Garden in the Regent's Park. A second 

 individual died on the passage to England. 



XX. Intelligence and Miscellaneous Articles. 



GENERAL SCIENTIFIC MEETING AT YORK. 



THE following notice has been circulated by the Council of the 

 Yorkshire Philosophical Society, and we are happy in com- 

 plying with their request to give it publicity in our pages. 



" The Council of the Yorkshire Philosophical Society having re- 

 ceived intimation from men of scientific eminence in various parts 

 of the kingdom, of a general wish that the friends of science should 

 assemble at York during the ensuing autumn, we are directed to 

 announce that the Society has offered the use of its apartments for 

 the accommodation of the meeting, which will commence on the 

 26th of September, and that arrangements will be made for the per- 

 sonal convenience of those who may attend it. Tt will greatly faci- 

 litate these arrangements if all who purpose to come to the meeting 

 would signify their intention as early as possible (by a letter, post- 

 paid) to the Secretaries. 



" William Vernon Harcourt, Vice-President. 



;; WM.GRAY,Jun.-> 



" John Phillips, J 

 « Yorkshire Museum, York, July 22, 1831." 



ON THE RAPID FLIGHT OF INSECTS. 



In passing along the Manchester and Liverpool railway, at a 

 speed of about twenty-four miles an hour, ascertained by a stop- 

 watch, I observed one of the smaller humble-bees, I think the Apis 

 subinterrupta , flying for a considerable distance and keeping pace 

 with the train apparently without the slightest effort ; in fact, the 

 little traveller was going at a rate far more rapid than ours, for its 

 accompaniment was not in a straight line but in that well-known 

 zigzag mode of flight observable when these insects are hovering 

 from flower to flower in search of food. Several house, blue-bottle, 

 and horse flies were also repeated visitors : our rapid motion seemed 

 to have no manner of effect upon them, for when it suited their pur- 

 pose they darted onwards, for a few feet or yards or balanced them- 

 selves steadily over any given point; though in an instant, whenever 

 either their efforts relaxed, or they thought it expedient to part 

 company, they were far away in our rear. I should observe, more- 

 over, that the wind at the time was blowing obliquely against us 

 with a current of such strength, [that I occasionally had some 

 diflSculty in keeping my hat on. Under all circumstances, there- 

 fore, of the wind's opposition and tiieir irregular motion, I consi- 

 dered that the locomotive powers of these insects could not be well 



less 



