NOTES AND NEWS. 59 



NOTES AND NEWS. 



At a meeting of the Natural History Society of Glasgow, held in the 

 Society's rooms, 207, Bath Street, on Tuesday, March 31st, Mr. John 

 Paterson exhibited a Bittern, Botaurus stellaris (L.), killed on 17th February 

 by coming against the telegraph wires near Banton, Stirlingshire ; also a 

 Buffon's Skua, Stercorarius parasiticus (L.), shot about thirty-five years ago 

 in Dalserf parish, opposite Mauldslie Castle, Lanarkshire, and not previously 

 recorded. Mr. Paterson also showed, on behalf of Mr. M'Culloch, taxider- 

 mist, a common Scoter, (Edemia nigra (L.), a bird abundant on some parts 

 of the British Coasts, but seldom met with in Clyde estuarioe waters. The 

 specimen shown was from the Dorling Sandbank, near Campbeltown. 

 Thanks were moved to two gentlemen who had enabled the Society to add 

 the '• Ornithologist " to its list of scientific journals. 



Mr. R. B. Lodge, of Enfield, has sent us some specimens of his photo- 

 graphs (from life) of wild birds and their nests. We understand that in 

 many cases Mr. Lodge has used a Dallmeyer Tele-photo lens. He has 

 certainly produced some clever photographs. 



As some of our subscribers are desirious of starting an " exchange 

 basket " we shall be glad to hear from a few odlogists who wish to be 

 included in the round. Those who are unknown to us are asked to refer to 

 a known correspondent. 



In the " Naturalist's Journal '' for April, Mr. S. L. Mosley continues his 

 "Annotated Catalogue of British Birds, Nests, and Eggs," which he is 

 publishing as a mouthly supplement. The author says that "bound up 

 separately in limp cloth it will be very convenient for the field oologist to 

 carry in his pocket, by which he will be able to identify the birds before 

 disturbing the eggs." Truly a most useful guide but here is the full descrip- 

 tion of the Black Redstart, "Adult 6 in. ; $ head and back dark slaty -grey. 

 ? brown in these parts. Eyes dark brown." Will this serve to "identify 

 the birds before disturbing the eggs?" This same Black Redstart is dubbed 

 Sylvia tithys, yet even half-forgotten Macgillivray, and others before his day, 

 used the generic designation Ruticilla of Brehm ; Mr. Mosley, however, is 

 evidently uncompromising, for we find no lesst ian eighteen common species — 

 a truly wonderful assortment — grouped in this "happy family" (or genus) of 

 Sylvia. 



In the " Zoologist" for March (p. 101), Mr. F. Coburn, of Birmingham, 

 records the obtaining of an adult male example of the Redthroated Pipit 

 (Ayithus cervinus) near St. Leonards on November 13th last. It has been 

 examined by Professor Newton and Dr. Sharpe, and is now in his possession. 



Mr. G. E. H. Barrett-Hamilton sends word that he saw Wheatears in 



