1 78 Biros, 





again when thoroughly dry. And to put each specimen alive in a separate box requires 

 time, fills the pockets inconveniently, many of the specimens will die and become stiff, 

 and all will damage themselves considerably by flying about; the boxes in which they 

 are placed being constantly rolling over and over whilst in the pursuit of other game. 

 The thought at length occurred to me to adapt the botanical vasculum to entomologi- 

 cal purposes; and to this end I had made a small japanned tin box, about 9 inches 

 long, 6 inches wide, and If deep. In the bottom of this box T put a thin sheet of 

 cork, securing it by means of several tin points projecting from the sides. I then filled 

 the box with warm water, and let it stand several hours, until the cork was well satu- 

 rated with moisture, when, the superfluous water being poured off", the box was ready 

 for use. Under the bottom, and also upon the Imige side, are two tin loops, through 

 which, when I reach the hunting ground, I put two straps; one of these I pass round 

 my neck, and the other round my waist, thus securing the box upon my breast with 

 the lid opening from below. Here fixed, it leaves both my hands at perfect liberty, 

 and does not cause any impediment to swift pursuit of insects on the wing. I used 

 this box the whole of last season, and after a long day's chase in the hottest weather, 

 I have never failed to bring home the smallest moth through which a fine pin could 

 be passed, as flexible as if just killed : in fact I have frequently kept moths perfectly 

 pliant in this box, until they have been covered with a fine flourishing crop of fungi 

 I have also a smaller box, made on the same principle, to put into my pocket when 

 taking only a short walk. When not in use I keep water standing in them, so as con 

 slantly to have them ready for the chase. This kind of box is by far the best for re 

 laxing dried specimens of insects of any I have tried ; and for this purpose, as well as 

 that for which I first had it constructed, I cannot sufficiently recommend it to the no 

 tice of entomologists. — Id. 



ISote on the use of the Lantern in capturing Moths hj night. Many modes in which 

 the lantern may be used with eff*ect, have lately been pointed out, but one which I 

 found very eff'ectual last season, I have never seen noticed. It is — to choose the mar- 

 gin of a wood, well hedged, and the ditch filled with herbage, by the side of which I 

 walk, holding in my left hand a small pocket lantern, with a bull's eye glass, secured 

 by a ribbon round my neck ; and in the other hand a hoop net. The moths will ever 

 and anon make their appearance from among the trees, and will skirt along the hedge 

 and if the lantern be turned towards the wood, they may be struck with the net the 

 moment they appear within the illuminated disk. By this means I have caught m 

 ny species which could not be allured by a stationary lamp. — Id. 



Notes on the capture and appearance of some of our rarer British 

 Birds, in the County of Derby. By J. J. Bkiggs, Esq. 



Golden Eagle, (Falco chrysaetos). According to Glover, the his- 

 torian of the county, the earliest notice of this bird being met with 

 in Derbyshire occurred in the year 1668, when Wilhighby (a native 

 of it) found an eagle's nest in the Woodlands, near the river Derwent 

 in the Peak. He describes the nest as being composed of large 



