4478 Birds, fyc. 



Occurrence of the Bee-eater in Essex. — A beautiful specimen of the bee-eater was 

 shot in the garden of a mill close by the river's side, in the parish of Feeting, in this 

 county (Essex), about Midsummer-day, which came into my possession, and is now at 

 Mr. Harbour's, bird-stuffer, Reading, for preservation. — Thos. Catchpool, jun. ; Col- 

 chester, 14th of 9th mo., 1854. 



Occurrence of the Glossy Ibis at Scilly. — I have just received information of the 

 capture of the glossy ibis on Trescoe, one of the larger islands at Scilly. The bird 

 was observed picking up food at the edge of a pool : it appeared to be very tame, 

 and was made to rise with some difficulty : this appears to have proceeded from its great 

 emaciation, the body being a mere bag of bones. My informant is John H. Jenkin- 

 son, Esq., who is on a visit to Mr. Smith, the Lord Proprietor of the Islands. He 

 writes me that the plumage is immature, being that of a bird of the second year, the 

 brown of the head and chin being streaked with white; upper parts of the plumage, 

 including the tail, glossy greenish bronze, with faint purplish tints. — Edward Hearle 

 Rodd ; Penzance, September 19, 1854. 



Amphipeplia involuta. — This, although given as a species in the splendid work of 

 Messrs. Forbes and Hanley, is mentioned as being probably only a permanently de- 

 formed variety of A. glutinosa, a suggestion which is very probable, as we know how 

 extremely liable all the Lymneae are to be affected in form by peculiarity of situation. 

 This supposition, however, is strengthened by the fact of an involute specimen having 

 occurred among the ordinary form of A. glutinosa. Out of about 500 specimens 

 taken this autumn some few have a more truncated spire than usual, and one has this 

 part literally turned inside outwards; for instead of any spire it has a deep umbilicus, 

 with the upper part of the outer lip projecting high above it. This local and periodical 

 species has now been found near Norwich three separate times within the last ten years, 

 and each time in a different locality. It has also been limited to a very small space 

 in the ditch or stream where it occurs. It would be very interesting to know if any 

 of the Trish specimens have been transferred to any other locality, and, if so, whether 

 the form has been retained ; and also whether any great variation in the shape occurs 

 among them in their native habitat, and whether they may be obtained in every suc- 

 cessive year. If any of the correspondents of the ' Zoologist' can furnish me with 

 examples of these, I should esteem it a very great favour. — W. K. Bridgman; 69, 

 St. Giles Street, Norwich, September, 1854. 



On the want of some Systematic Record of the New Additions continuously made to 

 our Entomological Fauna. — It must have struck many entomologists that, to be 

 au fait with the present extent of our Entomological Fauna, one requires to have a 

 distinct recollection of every scattered notice that has appeared of any novelty during 

 the last ten or twenty years : this may not be a difficult matter for any one who has 



