494 Miscellanea. 



Hypnum heteropterum. On damp rocks at Edin's Hold, 

 Brockholes wood, Hoardweil, and Dunse Castle. 



Cryph^a heteromalla. I know of only one station for this 

 moss here now. The old willows on which it grew have been 

 cut down. The station for Leucodon sciuroides at Marygold has 

 also been destroyed. 



MISCELLANEA. 



Goldfinch (Carduelis elegans). — Three Goldfinches were seen 

 in October, on the hill above Preston. 



Squirrels eating Fungi. — I have been watching the Squirrels 

 to find out if they really eat Eungi. One day I had a fine view 

 of one actually at this occupation. It was sitting on the ground 

 with a sort of grey-coloured fungus, which it was busy eating. 

 Something gave it a start, when it took up the nearest tree, and 

 finished its meal, and afterwards dropped the stalk, which was 

 all it had left. I saw another of the same kind of fungus laid in 

 the fork of a branch, the half of which was eaten, but I have not 

 seen any of the beautiful red ones, that were stuck in similar 

 situations, with pieces bitten out of them. 



[On this habit, Mr J. A. Harvie Brown remarks in a letter : 

 " I have learned that Squirrels also gnaw the small fungi on 

 trees, which cover the bark. The stalks of fungi appear to be 

 usually chosen by the Squirrels for nibbling." — J. H.] 



