Botany. 415 



made. It was first observed about 9° 15' a. m., on the weather-bow, about four 

 points ; and it then appeared like a large vessel lying on her beam ends. 



The Robertson was hauled up so as to near it ; and running at the rate of 

 eight knots an hour, she at 12 noon got abreast of it, distant about a mile to lee- 

 ward. On observation at this time it was discovered to be the head and snout 

 of a great fish swimming to windward ; and although it was tried to get closer 

 to it, this could not be done, as the fish, without much apparent exertion, kept 

 swimming as fast as the vessel sailed. 



Immediately above the water its eye was seen like a large deep dark hole. 

 That part of the head which was above the water measured about 12 feet, and 

 its breadth or width 25 feet. The snout or trunk was about 50 long ; and the 

 sea would ripple over one part, leaving other parts of it quite dry and uncover- 

 ed. The colour of the parts seen was green, with a ligh t and dark shade ; and 

 the skin was ribbed, as represented in the sketch. 



Scolopax Major — A fine specimen of S. major, (Great or solitary Snipe), 

 was shot on the 8th of September, by Mr Selby, upon the moor near Twizell 

 House. It was in perfect plumage, and very fat, its weight six ounces. Its 

 flight was observed to be different from that of the common snipe fS- gallinago), 

 and somewhat resembled that of the woodcock. It uttered no cry when flush- 

 ed P. J. S. 



Northumbrian Noctuadce Among the various nocturnal Lepidoptera, taken 



this year at Twizell House, Northumberland, are the following, considered of 

 rare occurrence, or which have only been met with in distant localities. Deile- 

 phila elpenor, D. porcellus, Hepialus velleda, Notodonta dromedarius, Leiocampa 

 dictcea, Demas coryli, Nemeophila plantaginis, Triphcena fimbria, Cerigo texta, 

 Lytcea umbrosa, Agrotis valligera, A. suffusa, A. sagittifera, Orthosia litura, 

 Caradrina glareosa, Calocampa exoleta, Hadena remissa, H. adusta, H. ge- 

 nista, Euplexia lucipara, Apamea nictitans, A. didyma, Miana literosa, M. stri- 

 gilis, M. minima, Scotophila porphyrea, Miselia compta, Polia occulta, P. her- 

 bida, P. chi, Acronycta menyanthidis, Thyatira batis, Xanthia gilvago, Leu- 

 cania comma, Cucullia absinthii, Plusia iota, P. percontationis, Heliothis peU 

 tigera, Sfc P. J. S. 



BOTANICAL. 



Botanical Society of London — By the advice and sanction of some eminent 

 botanists, it is proposed to form a Society under the above name ; the objects 



