144 THE ZOOLOGIST. 



EDITORIAL GLEANINGS. 



Me. W. F. R. Weldon, Professor of Zoology at University College, 

 London, has been elected Linacre Professor of Comparative Anatomy at 

 Oxford, in succession to Professor Ray Lankester, resigned, but now 

 directing the Natural History Department of our British Museum. 



The Manchester Microscopical Society does not limit itself too severely 

 to microscopic work. Its ' Transactions,' of which the last Annual Report 

 for 1897 (issued July, 1898) is now before us, contains a number of most 

 interesting natural history communications. Mr. W. F. Keeble gives his 

 "Impressions of Tropical Life" during a stay in Ceylon, from which we 

 extract the following quite original observation : — " One of the strangest 

 sights I ever witnessed was an ant-army marching beneath shields of 

 butterfly wings. The heavy tropical rain which prunes so vigorously the 

 trees, and breaks down branches, leaves, and flowers, had no doubt 

 surprised a flight of butterflies and destroyed them ; the ants had found 

 them, disarticulated each wing, and were bearing off the gaudy treasure, 

 though for what purpose I do not venture to suggest." 



We extract the following note from * The Halifax Naturalist ' and 

 Record of the Scientific Society, vol. iii. 1898-99 : — 



Natural History Notes from Churchwardens' Accounts. — The 

 following extracts, quoted in the Rev. Mark Pearson's ' Northowram ' 

 from * Ye Olde Towne's Books,' show that Foxes and Polecats formerly 

 existed in the parish, though they are now, and have probably for a long 

 time been, exterminated — 



" May 11th, 1677. — The account of Joshua Crowther, Church-warder 

 for ye yeare just past: — June 7th, paid for a Fox head, £00 01s. OOd. 



" May 30th, 1688. — John Morris, who was Church-warden last year : — 

 For 8 Urchins (Hedge Hoggs) and 1 Polecat, £00 01s. 06d." 



" Hedgehogs, it might be mentioned, are still not uncommon in the 

 district, though not often seen. In the grounds at Warley House they 

 were recently so numerous as to be a pest, and they may be met with in 

 woods in the Ryburn Valley, and about Hebden Bridge." 



