398 



Miscellaneous. 



hills, near Edinburgh. This theory, as applied to Scotland, is com- 

 paratively new ; and in the animated discussions to which it has 

 just given rise, has been combated, or strictly scrutinized, by Messrs. 

 Greenough, Sedgwick, Murchison, Whewell, Phillips, and De la 

 Beche. We have no doubt that the traces, as stated by the Professor, 

 exist in all the above-named localities ; but while such is the case, 

 it becomes most important to ascertain if these appearances, at so low 

 an elevation, could have been produced by any other action than that 

 of ice. 



On a new Species of Hygrocrocis. — In a discourse "Dello studio 

 degli organismi inferiori e dei principali fatti per esso scoperti," Dr. 

 Guiseppe Balsamo Crivelli, Prof. Nat. Hist, at Milan, has given the 

 description of the following new species of Alga : — 



Hygrocrocis punicea, filamentis hyalinis in peticulum dense im- 

 plexis, ramis divaricatis aliquando ramosis, articulis diametro 

 duplo longioribus. 

 Upon paste made from starch. 



Anthus Richardi. — Extract of a letter from Mr. S. Mummery of 

 Margate. — " I was out following my occupation of bird- collector on 

 the 25th of November of the present year, along the shore between 

 Birchington and St. Nicholas Coast Guard Station, in the Isle of 

 Thanet, when I met a gentleman, a lover of natural history, who 

 directed me to a locality called Minnis Pond, where he had seen a 

 bird unknown to him, and described it to be like a Water Wagtail 

 in shape, though not in colour. Some time had elapsed before he 

 fell in with me ; but as soon as he stated to me what he had seen, 

 we proceeded together to the spot. The Minnis Pond is situated in 

 a bay just where the chalk cliff terminates, and the shore gradually 

 falls to the level of the marshes behind the beach, forming only a bank. 

 Several heaps of sea-weed have been collected near the pond, where 

 they lie to rot, which continually harbours numerous insects. The 

 spot therefore is a favourite resort for many small birds, as Wagtails, 

 Pipits, Stints, &c. 



" On arriving we could not see anything of the bird, but our pre- 

 sence disturbed several Larks and Rock Pipits ; at last one flew up dif- 

 ferent from the rest, and something like a Wagtail. On its settling 

 about forty yards from me I shot it, and it proved, on being ex- 

 amined by several naturalists, and compared with the work of Mr. 

 Yarrell and Mr. Jenyns, to be Richard's Pipit, a very rare bird, and 

 to answer exactly to their descriptions. Our opinion has been 

 confirmed by the Rev. J. Streatfield, and I have stuffed the bird, 

 which is a male specimen. 



" I have also been able to obtain for our lately -established museum 

 a pair of Black- throated (?) Redstarts ; and having been a collector of 

 birds for seventeen years, I have a good collection of skins and stuffed 

 specimens for sale or exchange. 



" I am, Sir, your obliged and obedient servant, 



" Stephen Mummery, Naturalist." 



" 3, Back Road, Margate, Kent, 

 Monday, December 14, 1840." 



