Insects. — Birds. 3919 



pretty little spiders named Drassus nitens, which were confined in a phial, having 

 become feeble and greatly emaciated, drank with avidity a few drops of water which 

 were introduced to them, and speedily resumed their strength and former plump ap- 

 pearance.* Though the imbibition of water is thus capable of prolonging the lives of 

 some species, still there is no doubt that those spiders which select close and dark situ- 

 ations for the construction of their webs, find some living prey upon which they can 

 feed, though they may not be able to meet with winged insects ; and further observa- 

 tions are required to clear up this interesting subject. My own idea is, but it is only 

 supposition, that they prey principally upon small species of Acari ; for numbers of 

 these minute and little-known Arachnidans may be found wherever decaying organic 

 matter exists, particularly about dead wood, skins, &c, where they afford food to vari- 

 ous insects and other animals besides spiders: for instance, to the little book-scorpion 

 (Chelifer museorum, Leach). — R. H. Meade ; Bradford, Yorkshire, April 19, 1853. 



Are Telephorus rusticus and T. lividus the Male and Female of one Species P — This 

 question I am induced to put in consequence of my having, for some seasons past, so 

 very frequently taken in copula these two insects, hitherto looked upon as distinct spe- 

 cies. The time for their appearance is again come round, and perhaps, by a little care- 

 ful observation, this may be noticed in other districts. May not such affinities exist 

 among other members of this family ? And by carefully noting and recording from 

 time to time such facts as present themselves, might not some one be tempted to un- 

 dertake a general revision of this group? — John Scott ; London Woi'ks, Renfrew, May 

 7, 1853. 



Note on the Impalement of Geotrupes stercorarius. — When going home a few even- 

 ings ago, I met with a case of accidental insect-impalement. It was almost dark, and 

 numbers of Geotrupes stercorarius were booming about. One louder and more con- 

 tinuous buzz than the rest arrested my attention ; this I found to proceed from a Geo- 

 trupes impaled on the point of a sharp upright thorn, which had penetrated between 

 the dorsal segments of the abdomen, near its apex. The beetle was wheeling round 

 and round, with expanded wings, and making violent efforts to escape, but only fixing 

 itself the more firmly at every turn. Most probably it had been struck down during 

 flight by a twig, and falling with open wings into the hedge, had exposed a vulnera- 

 ble part to the pointed thorn. I examined the beetle closely, but found it quite unin- 

 jured except where the thorn had entered. — Thomas J. Bold; Angas's Court, Bigg 

 Market, Newcastle-on-Tyne, May 3, 1853. 



Occurrence of the Gray-headed Wagtail (Motacilla neglecta) near Penzance. — A 

 specimen of this bird has again come under my notice during the past week. It was 

 observed in Marazion Marsh, and proved to be an adult male, in good plumage. — 

 Edward Hearle Rodd ; Penzance, May 23, 1853. 



* Lib. cit. p. 332. 



