72 THE ZOOLOGIST. 
Martins In DrcemBEeR.—On the 18th and 19th November last, the 
afternoon being warm and bright, I saw a Swallow flying about the College 
grounds. I watched it for some time on both occasions, so am quite sure 
I was not mistaken. This is not the latest stay of Hirundines that 
I can remember. On December 8rd, 1878, a remarkably warm day, I saw 
three Martins flying about in the grounds of St. John’s College, Cambridge. 
What would probably happen in cases like this? Do the birds migrate or 
do they linger on till cut off by the cold?—M. Vaueuan (Haileybury 
College, Hertford). 
(‘They probably perish for want of food.—Ep.} 
Norrarrn Stone Cras.—I have recently received for the Royal 
Aquarium several consignments of the Northern Stone Crab, Lithodes 
aretica, from the Northumberland coast, where it occurs not infrequently. 
Both sexes are represented, and may easily be defined by the curious 
arrangement of the abdominal segments of the female. Most of the females 
are now carrying their ova, which appears to be well developed. I shall be 
glad to communicate with any student of Marine Zoology, for I frequently 
have duplicate fresh specimens which might be useful, and which are dead 
on arrival from the coast.—Jonn T. Carrineron (Royal Aquarium). 
Kyorry Cusuion Sranriso.—Mr. E. Howard Birchall, of the Tyne- 
mouth Aquarium, has forwarded to me, for this Aquarium, about a dozen 
very beautiful examples of the Knotty Cushion Starfish (Gontaster equestris), 
taken off the Northumberland coast. ‘The late Prof. Edward Forbes, in 
his ‘ History of British Starfishes,’ describes this species as “one of the 
rarest and most beautiful of our Starfishes.”. The specimens sent by 
Mr. Birchall are pretty even in size, and from six to eight inches in 
diameter. They are of a rich orange-red colour; but I fear that none of 
the specimens are sufficiently “strong alive” to hope for their recovery 
after their long journey from Shields to London.—Joun T. Carrineron 
(Royal Aquarium, Westminster). 
Epping Forest and County or Essex Naturatists’ Fignp Crus. — 
A meeting for the foundation of this Association, the objects of which had 
been made known by advertisements and circulars, was held on the 10th 
January, in the rooms of the Art Classes, at Buckhurst Hill, Mr. R. Meldola, 
Secretary to the Entomological Society of London, in the chair. A resolution 
to found the Club was proposed by Mr. N. F. Robarts, seconded by Mr. W.C. 
Barnes, and carried unanimously. Draft rules, carefully drawn up by 
Mr. C. Browne, M.A., barrister-at-law, to meet the objects of the promoters, 
