NOTICE OF SOME EAEB BIRDS SEEN RECENTLY. 173 



Noctua, struggling in the grasp of Lithobius forcipatus. Grasp- 

 ing the wall with its hind legs, the Lithobius held the moth with 

 the greatest ease, although it made the most violent efforts to 

 escape ; but on Mr. H. taking hold of the moth the centipede, 

 baffled of its prey, fell to the ground, and disappeared. The 

 Lithobius (called by many people the British centipede) is one 

 of the Myriapoda : when full grown it is nearly two inches long, 

 depressed, glossy brown, with long legs, and is an exceedingly 

 active creature. During the day it lies concealed beneath stones, 

 logs of wood, decayed bark, &c., issuing thence at night to prey 

 on insects and other small game. It abounds all over our dis- 

 trict. 



VIII. — Notice of some Rare Birds seen recently. By the Right 

 Hon. Lord Ravensworth. 



On the 22nd of September, 1868, a Roller {Coracias garrula) 

 was seen in a plantation near Thrunton Mill, in the parish of 

 Whittingham, Northumberland, and was shot immediately after- 

 wards by William Cochun, Esq., then residing at Eslington 

 House. This beautiful species is extremely rare in England, 

 so rare, according to Bewick, as hardly to deserve the name 

 of a British bird. Other examples, however, have since been 

 recorded — notably one in the woods of Howick, the seat of Earl 

 G-rey. 



The specimen in question is not quite so brilliant as some 

 others ; but on dissection it proved to be a male bird, and is 

 thought an adult specimen. It was shy and restless, but ap- 

 peared somewhat bewildered and lost. 



On the following day, September 23rd, a fine specimen of the 

 greater Spotted Woodpecker {Picus major) was shot close to 

 Whittingham by the same gentleman, and another was remarked 

 in the pine woods under Thrunton Crags. This is also a bird 

 of rare occurrence, though by no means so uncommon as the 

 Roller. 



