MISCELLANEA. 153 
in this state, so late in the season, a proof of its mildness. This 
has been an unusually good autumn for the Mung, I have seldom 
found the common mushroom, so fine or so abundant; during 
the summer I have noticed many plants of the curious Phallus 
impudicus, which is scarce here. I have also met with a 
slender variety of Hrvum tetraspermum with the leaflets, more 
linear and acute, and less numerous than in the normal form, 
there being only three pair instead of five, as is usually the 
case.—John Hogg, Norton, September 28, 1861. 
Departure of Swallows.—I must record the early departure 
of the swallows from this vicinity. In general most of them 
depart about the 20th September, but this year the greater num- 
ber had gone by the end of the first week in September. This 
at first surprised me, as the weather has continued so very fine; 
but on consideration, I apprehend the true cause to have been the 
want of winged insects, and—most likely owing tothe great dryness 
of the summer—fewer gnats, which form a chief portion of the 
food of these birds, than would have been produced in wetter or 
ordinary years. Many swallows, probably however, only those 
of the second broods, remained after that period, but they have 
now also left, having, except a few stragglers, disappeared by the 
24th instant.—Jbid. 
Scarcity of the Corncrake. —The scarcity of the common 
corncrake in this district has been remarked by me for the last 
three or four years. During the months of May and June in 
those years I have scarcely ever heard the well known harsh note 
of these birds, nor have I during those autumns, whilst shooting, 
met with any of them.—Jbid. 
Winter Visitors.—Our last winter’s acquisitions in orni- 
thology were very poor, only some wild swans (Hoopers) and a 
few of the less common Anatide. This, I concluded, was caused 
by the intense severity of the frost which induced the birds from 
the north of Europe, not to remain here, but to proceed on their 
migration further southwards, until they had arrived in a warmer 
country where food might be obtained.— did. 
Occurrence of Tengmalmi’s Owl.—A good specimen of this little 
owl, Noctua Tengmalmi, was shot last month, November, near 
WO@lle Wo IPAto Ws R 
