Reptiles. — Insects. 3563 



black tern {Sterna nigra) passed over this place, flying N.E. Two specimens of the 

 mule peregrine falcon {Falco peregrinus) were killed near Oxford in the beginning of 

 April ; and in the same neighbourhood a young shag (Phalacrocorax cristatus) occur- 

 red in January. This bird was shot while swimming in a pool of water adjoining the 

 Great Western Railway, and close to the town. About the same time as the last, a 

 fork-tailed petrel (Thalassidroma Leachii) was obtained in the usual manner, that is, 

 found dead, in Blenheim Park. And on the 12th of September a female of the great 

 snipe (Scolopax major) was shot in the Botley gravel-pits near Oxford. Owing to the 

 dry weather which prevailed so long towards the end of autumn, snipes and all kinds 

 of wild fowl have been unusually scarce. During the whole winter I met with but 

 one teal, and very few ducks, and have not so much as heard of a wild goose making 

 its appearance. — Id. 



Note on the Mouse- catching Propensities of Xema ridibundus. — A large colony of 

 brown-headed gulls nest every year at Scoulton Mere in this county, and are known 

 to have done so for the last two hundred years, as they probably may have done for a 

 still longer period. I am told that when a stack of corn is taken down in any of the 

 fields in the neighbourhood of this breeding-place, many of the gulls assemble round 

 the spot, and if not disturbed, devour the mice that have been killed during the pro- 

 cess, and also capture a great many of those which have escaped into the adjoining 

 hedge-rows.— J. H. Gurney ; Easton, Norfolk, July 21, 1852. 



Mode of the Tree Frog changing its Skin. — The readers of the ' Zoologist ' are pro- 

 bably aware that many years ago I discovered and described the mode in which toads 

 cast their skins and swallow them. I do not know that it has hitherto been noticed 

 that the tree frogs (Hyla viridis) employ the same mode of disposing of their left-off 

 garments ; but of this I have had repeated demonstration. — T. Bell ; Selborne, July, 

 1852. 



Insects impaled on Thorns. — In reference to the query of your correspondent, Mr. 

 A. R. Hogan, respecting insects being found impaled on thorns, I observed in tra- 

 velling through North Wales a few years since, several Coleopterous insects (the com- 

 mon cockchafer being the most abundant) and humble-bees impaled, some alive and 

 some dead, and near them the butcher-bird, I think the red-backed shrike, which 

 leaves no doubt in my own mind as to the cause of the impalement. — Charles Mus- 

 kett ; Norwich, June 1, 1852. 



Varieties of Arctia Caja. — Among a number of varieties of this moth, I have bred 

 three perfect specimens, two of which, male and female, came forth July 5, and the 

 third, a female, July 8, with their bodies and under wings of a beautiful yellow colour, 

 with the ordinary dark markings ; the upper wings are of the usual colour. — C. H. 

 Longley; Eaton Place, Park St., Oxford St., July 14, 1852. 



Capture of Diphthera Orion. — I have great pleasure in informing you that during 

 the present month I have had the good fortune to take five specimens of this rare and 

 splendid moth. — //. Cooke ; Hastings, June 19, 1852. 



