

NATURAL HISTORY MISCELLANY. 329 
t in latitude are likely to differ paani in size, while presenting no 
appreciable differences in other character: e few cases where thi 
does not apparently occur, are only the ened to a general law 
Hence we should expect to find the specimens of Scops asio collected i 
Florida, Texas, Mexico, and other southern points, smaller than those of 
the Northern States and Canada. Before this law was fully recognized — 
and 
was the character of smaller size, and in this category seems to me to 
be the true place of Scops Maccallii Cass.; leaving then but one Scops— 
our well-known Screech Owl—to America north of the tropics.—J. A. 
ALLEN. 
PERCHING SNIPE.— Mr. W. A. Pope has observed the Scolopax Wil- 
sonitin Prince Edwards Island, “setting on the top of a tree at least 
thirty feet from the ground.” — Land and Water 
Have our ornithologists observed this peculiarity in the snipe? 
Tae DISTRIBUTION oF OUR BIRDS IN THE BREEDING SEASON. 
Agassiz has issued a circular, in which he asks for the coöperation 
of ornithologists in secur ing specimens of birds and complete local lists, 
With full notes in reference to the times of their migrations, time of nest- 
ing, and relative abundance. A series of specimens of birds of any local- 
ity in the Southern and Western parts of the continent, with or without 
appended, are much desired. ee may be sent to the Museum 
of Comparative Zodlogy, Cambridge, Mas 
SaLt-water Insects. — Dr. J. L. Leconte writes us regarding the sup- 
ist: “Your Staphylinide larva is probably that of Micralymna Stimpsonti 
Leconte te (New Species of Cole eoptera, Smithsonian Miscellaneous Col- 
lections, p. 57). It is much larger than the Greenland species, which is 
also in my collection. It ought to be common where it occurs.” We hav 
received from Professor A. E. Verrill specimens of the “puparium,” Or 
Pupa-case, of the fi so abundant in Mono Lake, Cal., where it was col- 
a by Professor B ‘Aided It is a species of Ephydra, are > 
that figured (Fig. 4b) in the July NATURALIST, and is n ied 
ot — thus writes regarding another salt-water insect: sag 
sea-insects, you do not refer to our singular Californian 
Eyini s, s two norms found below — mark 
TURALIST, VOL. 1 
