48 



News from the Magazines. 



They were only able to capture one specimen, but saw others 

 which were too nimble for them. 



Mr. Soar gives an enlarged figure of the creature's proboscis — 

 by which these mites are recognised, and hence called ' snout 

 mites' (' Schnabel milben'). 



Many minute mites are best examined when alive, as colour 

 is evanescent. A good plan to keep them alive for some time 

 is to use a plug of cottonwool, instead of a cork, as a stopper for 

 the tube in which they are confined, as this is not air-tight, 

 and can be kept moist with a little water. Under these con- 



Proboscis of Bdella hexopthalma (x 60). 



ditions the mites will live a long time, whilst if allowed to 

 become dry, they die and shrivel up and can only be examined 

 with difiiculty. 



If they are not to be kept alive, they may be placed at once 

 in some preservative solution, and may then be examined at 

 leisure. Mounted specimens are desirable as records, but do not 

 always shew clearly all the points necessary for identification. 



o :- 



' Jays in London ' (British Birds, December igii, p. 192). 



A Spoonbill was shot at the mouth of the Welland, Lincolnsliire, on 

 November 13th — (Field). 



We learn from The Museums Journal that Dr. Tempest Anderson of 

 York recently opened a new Museum at Batley, Yorksliire. 



A report of the annual meeting of the Entomological Section of the 

 Yorkshire Naturalists' Union, by Mr. Porritt, appears in The Entomologist's 

 Monthly Magazine for December. 



The slipper limpet or boot shell, an importation from America, which 

 is now found on English Oyster beds, is describe 1 in The Zoologist, No. 845, 

 l)y Dr. J. Aluric. This species was recorded as found in Lincolnshire, in 

 the pages of The Naturalist, for 1888. In the same issue of The Zoologist 

 Mr. A. W. Brown refers to the boring habits of Pholas crispata, and the 

 editor draws attention to ' The Angler as a Factor in the Distribution of 

 Earthworms. ' 



Naturalist, 



