TIONEY-BUZZAEBS AND CROSS-BILLS. 127 



zard, as I happened to know that he had several times 

 shot that bird in Lord Lonsdale's grounds ; but, ' alas, 

 poor Yorick ! ' I found that, about two years ago, he had 

 gone the way of all flesh, and that his collection was 

 entirely dispersed. His place was not occupied by any 

 one in the same line ; so my mission, quoad F. [Pernis] 

 apivorus, failed. 



" I hear of nothing interesting here at present. The 

 fall of the leaf enables one to watch the habits of the 

 smaller forest-birds, such as tit-mice, &c. Both the cole 

 and long-tailed tit-mice are in great abundance, and very 

 active. I also see the golden-crested wren, the creeper, 

 and, more rarely, the nut-hatch. There is also, not far 

 from this, a large flock of cross-bills, now considerably 

 reduced by amateurs and country sportsmen. At first 

 there appeared to be about sixty of them, now between 

 thirty and forty. The char-fishing has commenced, but 

 with little success as yet. 



" In regard to the entomological duplicates which you 

 specify, the only one I can promise for certain is Ar- 

 taxerxes. I have one spare specimen of Blandina ; but, 

 if I part with it, I think it is bespoke. A single specimen 

 was taken for the first time near Edinburgh the summer 

 before last. I have no duplicates at present of the others 

 you mention, but shall keep them for you if they occur." 



