232 MISCELLANEOUS NOTICES AND OBSERVATIONS. 



request that he would be good enough to name them. These 

 Fungi were all obtained from the colliery workings of Newton 

 Cap Pit, mostly from the pit-props, but in part from the surface 

 of the coal itself. The species, as determined by Mr. Berkeley, 

 are as follows : — Agaricus fascicular is, Corticium lacteum, Ozo- 

 nium auricomum, Polyporus annosus, Merulius lacrymans, Poly- 

 porus trebeus. — George S. Brady, Sunderland, February, 1866. 



Flock of Starlings on the Sea-coast, near Hartley. — On the 28th 

 of June last, I noticed a great number of the common Starling 

 (Sturnus vulgaris) at the north end of "Whitley sands. They 

 were in a flock of several hundreds, and appeared to have been 

 dwelling there for some time, as everything upon which they 

 could perch was whitened by their droppings. The object of 

 attraction was, I think, a large bed of decaying Algse, which 

 swarmed with myriads of flies and their larva?. I have often 

 seen large flocks of Starlings inland, but this is the first time 

 that I have noticed them on the coast. A fortnight later I found 

 them still there, but in very diminished numbers. — Thomas John 

 Bold, Long Benton, July 10th, 1865. 



Zoological Notes. — A friend informed me in August, that he 

 had found two caterpillars of the death's head moth (Sphinx 

 atropos) at the adjacent village of Billingham; and I myself 

 found at Norton a chrysalis of the same moth, which had unfor- 

 tunately been injured. It was of a dark red colour, and 2-| 

 inches in length. All these specimens were noticed among pota- 

 toes, the flowers of which the caterpillars eat. I may state, that 

 although I have observed several caterpillars of this insect, I 

 have never but once, many years ago, seen the perfect moth, 

 and that was taken by my father on a jasmine shrub in our gar- 

 den here. 



On September 26th, I shot a Great Cinereous Shrike (Lanius 

 excubitor), whilst perched upon a high willow tree. Being a 

 very good specimen I have had it well preserved. This species 

 is rarely observed in this district. 



On October 5th a fine Hake (Merluccius vulgaris) was taken 

 among the rocks at "Whitburn. Its shape is handsome, especially 



