NOTICES OF NEW BOOKS. 79 



Eenfrewshire for its size — it is the twenty-seventh in area 

 of the thirty-three Scottish counties — presents a considerable 

 variety of physical conditions, which affords diversity for the 

 flora and fauna. The poverty of the latter in some respects is, 

 however, rather remarkable ; thus, among the butterflies, only 

 fifteen species are recorded, and only seven of these are really 

 common ; even the ubiquitous small Tortoiseshell (Vanessa 

 urtica), which may be seen at times even in London streets, is 

 noticed as abundant in " some seasons." The moths are 

 better represented, but it is curious to read of that confirmed 

 Cockney insect, the Vapourer (Orgyia antiqua) — whose larvse 

 amounted to a plague in London parks a few years ago — as 

 "local ; fairly common on moorlands." Among the Amphibia the 

 usually scarce Palmated Newt (Molge palmata) is noted as equally 

 common with the familiar Molge vulgaris, the Common Newt. 



Among the notes on birds, the building of the Mistle-Thrush 

 (Turdus viscivorus) on the tops of tombstones, with tree sites 

 available, is noteworthy, as is the persistent residence of the 

 Blackbird (T. merula) even in severe weather, when the Mistle- 

 Thrush and many Song- Thrushes (T. musicus) emigrate. A 

 very remarkable record also is that of six Gannets (Sula bassana) 

 viewed passing over Thornliebank on June 29th, 1892, this 

 place being about midway between the Firth of Clyde and the 

 Clyde estuary, and so many miles from either. The lingering of 

 the Wild Cat (Felis catus) up to as late a date as 1895 is a 

 noteworthy record for the local Mammals. 



EDITORIAL NOTES. 



Me. Patterson's notes (' Zoologist,' 1914, p. 4) on several abnor- 

 mally-coloured Plaice occurring at the same place and time, and being 

 of the same size, are of great interest. He is no doubt right about 

 their being of the same brood, for in animals which lay such numerous 

 eggs as teleostean fish there would be a probability of several ab- 

 normal specimens occurring at once. Even with such comparatively 

 infertile creatures as birds, whole abnormal broods may occur. 

 When in India we were told of the existence of a pair of the 

 common Ring-necked Parrakeet (Palceomis torquatus) in the Patna 



