Natural History in the English Counties. 171 
like to be informed further respecting those which are stated to occur in 
gravel at the height of 300 ft. The characters of the stratum in which they 
were embedded, its extent and thickness, and other geological data, are re- 
quisite to form a correct opinion of this deposit. — R. C. 7’. 
Since the above note was written, we have procured some further in 
formation. The existence of shells, particularly Tarbo térebra, among the 
gravel employed in mending the road betwixt Whittle and Leyland, has long 
been known. One gravel pit, situated about three fourths of a mile from 
the canal at Whittle, is 20 or 30 ft. deep, several acres in extent, and upon 
higher ground than the canal, which is there 307 ft. above the level of the 
sea. Among this gravel several of the shells were obtained; and in two 
other grayel pits, about half a mile distant, similar shells were abundantly 
collected. They were deposited most plentifully in a layer at the bottom, 
or about 25 ft. from the surface. A considerable number have been obtained 
in sinking wells at Preston; others were procured from the marl, in cutting 
the new road to Blackburn at Brockhales Brow. The depth of this cutting 
is about 35 ft., of which 30 are marl and 3 or 4 of clay. A quantity of shells 
was easily procured from the lowest /if¢ in the marl, and more may readily 
be collected at the same spot, before the marl is covered with vegetation. 
At Goosnargh is an extensive marling, where the shells are only indicated 
by fragments, because the marl is there only excavated to the depth of 12 ft. 
At Blackpool, where a perpendicular face of the same marl is exposed by 
the encroachments of the sea, several different species of shells, similar to 
those near Preston, may be obtained at depths of from 10 to 40 ft. These 
were embedded in, and filled with, marl, in a manner that nothing but a con- 
temporaneous origin could have effected. They do not appear to be accom- 
panied by any other organic remains, except such as are found in the moun- 
tain limestone pebbles. Their appearance is much more like that of recent 
beach shells than the Suffolk Crag, our most modern deposit, as we have 
been accustomed to consider, in this country. — R. C. 7. 
CUMBERLAND. 
Leistus montanus (Mountain Leistus ).— The only recorded locality of this 
rare beetle is Skiddaw, and even there it is sparingly found. The most 
productive situation is the sudden ascent to the highest point or level of 
the mountain, after crossing the long and grassy level in the horse-path 
ascent. The insects are found under not very large fragments of the rock 
lying on bare sand and soddened soil, but rarely under those resting on 
vegetation or other stones. Last July, in a diameter of thirty or forty 
yards at this place, I took twelve specimens, one or two quite in the horse- 
path. On the summit of the mountain, where this beetle is generally 
sought for, I only captured three, although engaged there a longer time. 
The capture of these fifteen specimens was the work of three days. Two 
other entomologists took five between them at the summit of the moun- 
tain. Stephens, the only author who mentions this species, records the 
capture of thirteen by himself and others. —H. C.W, Edinburgh, October, 
1829. 
Birds in the Neighbourhood of Whitehaven. — Sir, In looking over my com- 
munication ( Vol. LI. p. 275.), I find I have omitted the J/érgus serrator, the 
Redbreasted Merganser, very rare; Colymbus minutus, the Little Grebe; 
and Anas Glatcion, the Morillon Duck, rare. In continuation, we have of 
the 
Grdile Scélopax Totanus, Spotted Red- Charadrius pluvialis, Golden 
i shank. Rare. Plover. 
A’rdea major, Heron. /Egocéphala,CommonGod- Hematopus ostralegus, Pied 
stellaris, Bittern. Rare, wit. Very rare. Oyster-catcher. 
Scélopax arquata, Curlew. Tringa Vanéllus, Lapwing. Filica chléropus, Moorhen. 
rusticola, Woodcock. Squatardla, Grey Plover. atra, Coot. 
_  Gallinago, Snipe. Very rare. Rallus Créx, Corncrake. 
Gallinula, Jack Snipe. Charadrius Morinéllus, Dotte- aquaticus, Water Rail. 
Calidris, Redshank. rel, Rare, 
