Miscellaneous. 149 



which subject Dr. Rathke and Mr. J. V. Thompson have pronounced 

 such decided, but altogether contradictory, opinions. Thanks to the 

 kindness of some friends of science, I have been able to obtain a 

 considerable number of females, and to follow, day by day, the de- 

 velopment of the embryo in the egg. I hasten to announce that my 

 observations agree entirely with those of the learned naturalist of 

 Dantzig, which have moreover already been confirmed by the testi- 

 mony of M. Duvernoy. 



However contrary this fact may be to the views which I sought 

 to establish in my memoir on Curidina Desmarestii, I lose no time in 

 publishing it. 



The remarkable exception which the absence of metamorphosis in 

 the Astacus fluviatilis presents, may, in my opinion, obtain an expla- 

 nation, which I submit to the judgement of the Academy. Accord- 

 ing tci the observation of M. Duvernoy, the eggs of the cray-fish are 

 in small number, but of very large size compared to that of the ani- 

 mal. Those of the lobster {Cancer Homardvs), of the spiny lobster 

 {Cancer gammarus), and of the greater part of the other Decapods, 

 are, on the contrary, small and very numerous. The former, conse- 

 quently, would contain a quantity of vitellus sufficient to enable the 

 complete development of the embryo to take place in their interior : 

 the latter, being placed under totally different circumstances, would 

 only admit of an imperfect development of the animal, which would 

 break its envelope prematurely in order to complete its embryonal 

 life amidst the waters*. — Compies Rendus for July 3, 1843. 



SALIX CUSPIDATA, 



The Rev. W. A. Leighton found this tree some years since near 

 Shrewsbury, but was unable to meet with it again. A few days since 

 Mr. Leighton and I had the pleasure of again finding two trees of it 

 (probably the same seen before) at about 5^ miles from Shrewsbury, 

 by the side of the road to Pontesford. We had not time to go nearer 

 to the hills in search of it, but I think it highly probable that a 

 careful search will prove its existence in that district. 7'his is the 

 tree that is called S. Meyeriana in Leighton's ' Flora of Shropshire,' 

 but refen-ed with apparent reason to S. cuspidata by Koch in the 

 ' Syn. FL Germ.'— C. C. B. 



OCCURRENCE OF THE GREAT SPOTTED CUCKOO. 



To the Editors of the Annals of Natural Histoty. 



Gentlemen, — The Cuculus Glandarivs, or Great Spotted Cuckoo, 

 was taken near Clifden in the county of Galw^ay last spring. I have 

 seen the specimen, which is the jjroperty of Mr. Creighton of Clifden. 

 As it is the first noticed occurrence of this bird in the British Islands, 

 you will oblige me by making it known through the medium of the 

 ' Annals of Natural History.' Veiy truly yours, 



Granby Row, Dublin, July 19, 1843. R. Ball. 



* Dr. Rathke's recent observations on the development of the Decapod 

 Crustacea, with which the author does not seein to be acquainted, will be 

 found at p. 263 of the sixth volume of this Journal. — Ed. 



