The Zoologist— June, I8C7. 795 



Parasitical Worms in the Stomachs of the Common Guillemot and Cormorant. — On 

 the 18tb of March a specimen of the common guillemot passed into my hands for 

 preservation; it had been killed a day or two previously at Salthouse. In dissecting 

 its stomach (as I almost invariably do with all specimens that pass through my hands) 

 I found it empty, with the exception of a live worm that measured one and a half 

 inch in length; in the gullet just above the entrance to the stomach I found four 

 others, two of the same size, and the others smaller: these were apparently working 

 their way to the stomach. On the 27ih of the same month I also received for preser- 

 vation an adult female cormorant, shot in the neighbourhood of Yarmouth : from the 

 stomach of this bird I obtained as m my as eighteen of these worms, which were 

 of the same description as those I found in a former specimen of this species. 

 These varied from three-quarters of an inch to two inches long ; the majority of them 

 were firmly fixed in a cluster to the inner membrane, the others were located close to 

 the entrance, and, like those in the guillemot, were quite detached : in close proximity 

 to the space occupied by the cluster just mentioned I noticed a number of small lumps, 

 somewhat resembling tumours, with a small orifice in the centre of each ; these were 

 arranged in a similar manner to the worms. Am I right in supposing these are 

 caused by the suctional power of these parasites, who, having derived all the nutriment 

 to be obtained from that spot, seek a fresh site to renew their operations? I noticed 

 the small holes only in the surface of the membrane from whence I had pulled them 

 out, which perhaps they had occupied but a short time. I have preserved these worms 

 in spirits. I also took from the cormorant an example of the sharp-nosed eel, measuring 

 fifteen and a half inches in length — rather an unusual morsel : the head of the eel 

 lodged in the bird's stomach, and therefore was partly decomposed ; its body reached 

 along the gullet, so that the tail came within two or three inches of its captor's mouth: 

 the tails of two smaller eels, with the bones of the remaining portions, also occupied 

 the stomach. — T. E. Gunn. 



A Flight of Locusts. — At Malta about noon on Saturday, the 9th inst., the sky 

 became filled with locusts, which appeared to be travelling from east to west over the 

 island. The maiu body preserved a high altitude, but many, perhaps tired by their 

 long flight, settled in different localities along their route. A light breeze was blowing 

 from the westward, so that the insects were proceeding head to wind. The town was 

 quite in a state of excitement. The boys were catching the locusts in their hats, and 

 the sparrows and jackdaws were feasting on. them in the air with evident satisfaction. 

 This extraordinary spectacle lasted all the afternoon. Daring the whole of this time 

 they never ceased passing for a moment, and towards sunset their numbers were con- 

 siderably augmented. In some parts of the country the fields and gardens were 

 covered with them. Most fortunately, for some unaccountable reason, they made no 

 long stay, and on the following morning, with the exception of a few stragglers, had 

 all disappeared. Nor do we hear of any serious damage having been done by them to 

 the crops, which have already suffered much from the continued absence of rain. A 

 similar visitation occurred at Malta in 1814, the year after the plague; and in 1850 a. 

 cloud of these insects appeared on the eastern side of the island and did some injury. — 

 Malta Times. 



