170 Natural History in the English Counties* 



History Society for the counties of Northumberland and Durham, and New- 

 castle, as the child, when nurtured and matured, emancipates itself from its 

 parent. It has to boast of a very superior collection (see Vol. II. p. 270.), 

 especially of birds, which formed the Allan Museum, well known to natu-^ 

 ralists, and which was purchased on very liberal terms by the assistance of 

 one of the members. It is gratifying to witness that the ornithological 

 school of the North, so long celebrated by the instrumentality of Bewick, 

 continues to produce so many excellent and intelligent disciples; and, 

 what is of more importance, that the commercial enterprise of a great 

 and prosperous neighbourhood does not extinguish a generous ardour for 

 science, nor quench the intellect in the love of gain. — ^^ 



The Third Meeting of this Society was held on Nov. 17th, John Buddie, Esq. in the chair. The 

 attendance was thin. Mr. Winch read a paper from the Hon. H. T. I.iddell, containing some de- 

 scription of a Honey Buzzard (Falco opivorus Lin.) lately shot by his keeper at Eslington, and 

 which he characterised as a remarkably scarce British bird. The hon. gent, said he had only met 

 with accounts of tliree specimens of it among all the ornithologists whom he had consulted. Mr. 

 Bewick has an engraving of it, but both that and his description are essentially different in many 

 points of marking and configuration from Mr. Liddell's specimen. The latter bird was killed 

 while pursuing a wood pigeon, and was so very fat that the grease trickled down its side from the 

 shot wounds : it is an adult bird, and was in the moult when shot. The collection of plants from 

 New South Wales, presented by Mr. Taylor, and announced last month, was exhibited, having 

 been carefully mounted by Mr. Winch. ' It was resolved, in the course of the evening, that a sub- 

 committee should be formed to consider the best mode of applying to the mineral interest of the 

 country for specimens, &c., of that peculiar and interesting science ; several gentlemen were named 

 for that purpose ; and on the motion of the Rev. Wm. Turner, who said that a very useful officer 

 was attached to the committees of the kind in Scotland, called a convener, Mr. Crawhall was re- 

 quested to take that situation, and calUhem together when necessary, which he did. A sketch of 

 a set of mineralised trees, which were found embedded in sandstone in a coal vein at Ruffside, was 

 sent by Mr. J. Dolphin of that place. It gave rise to considerable discussion between the Chairman 

 and other gentlemen around him, but the proceedings on this subject were nearly all of so tech- 

 nical and conversational a character, that any attempt at detail would be difficult. A few new 

 members were proposed. {Newcastle Courant, Nov. 21. 1821.) 



Lancashire. 



A Collection of Shells from Preston. — Sir, I send you a few shells of the 

 following species : — .Succinum undatum and anglicanum, Purpura Lapil- 

 lus, Tritow macula, ikfurex ^-rinaceus, Fusus bamffius Flemingy Turri- 

 tella terebra Flemings Turbo littoreus, Cardium echinatum and edule, 

 Venm gallina, Cypriwa islandica, Psammobia feronensis, Mactra solida, 

 Dentalium striatum and entalis, which I beg your acceptance of. Part of 

 them were obtained in a gravel pit, near Whittle Hills six miles south of 

 this town, at an elevation of 300 ft. above the sea ; the others have been 

 collected, at different places, from the marl which covers nearly the whole 

 country, from the shore at Blackpool to the foot of the mountains, a dis- 

 tance of at least twenty miles. From the elevated situation in which these 

 shells are found, it is not probable that they have been laid there at any 

 time since the deluge ; but an attentive examination of the districts of the 

 whole country can alone enable us to form a correct opinion as to the 

 period at which they were deposited. Whenever that may have been, or 

 whatever change may have taken place in the climate or temperature of this 

 part of the earth, they prove, beyond dispute, by their perfect identity with 

 the shells now found on our shores, that no perceptible change has taken 

 place in these species of animals since that time. The surface of the whole 

 kingdom being likely soon to be intersected and exposed by the cutting of 

 rail-roads, every geologist must be anxious that such an opportunity of exa- 

 mining the effects of the deluge on the surface of our country should not 

 be suffered to pass unimproved ; and if the Geological Society of London 

 would only encourage and direct the efforts of ardent individuals in the 

 country, they would obtain that accurate and extended information on the 

 subject whijsh such an opportunity and such aid can alone afford. I am. 

 Sir, &c. — Wm. Gilbertson. Preston, Dec. 10. 1829. 



These shells are so perfectly like those recently cast upon our shores, that 

 we feel doubts as to their being any other. They might have been con- 

 veyed upon the soil for the purpose of manure. At all events, we should 



