8024 



Quadrupeds. 



evening took twenty-nine T. munda, besides other things. The following evening we 

 took twenty-two of the same species in like manner. Other evenings have been nearly 

 as productive. I think the above is worthy of notice, as in previous years, when only 

 the sallows have been searched, the capture here of one or two T. munda was con- 

 sidered satisfactory for one evening. It would therefore seem to be worth while trying 

 " sugar" for some of the rarer species of this family out at this season. — R. Anderson; 

 York, April 17, 1862. 



Errata in " Notes on the Entomology of the Isle of Man." — P. 7896, line 20 from 

 top, for Holiman read Holmian ; line 10 from bottom, for Nortto read North; line 6 

 from bottom, for pretty read petty. P. 7921, line 11 from bottom, for yeild read yield. 

 P. 7922, line 6 from top, for emptying read untying. 



Hymenoptera and Diptera. — I take the liberty of reiterating my earnest entreaty 

 that entomologists will kindly capture and preserve what Hymenoptera and Diptera 

 come in their way when in pursuit of the more popular and attractive Lepidoptera and 

 Colenptera. I have been occupied very frequently during the winter in arranuinir and 

 naming my specimens, greatly assisted, as far as regards bees, &c, by Mr. Smith, of 

 the British Museum ; and I trust before long not to have a single specimen un- 

 named. — Edward Newman. 



Young Badgers. — So little is known of the breeding habits of some of our native 

 quadrupeds that a notice of the reproduction of the badger may be acceptable to the 

 readers of the ' Zoologist.' On the 14th of last month, at the Zoological Gardens, 

 Regent's Park, were born four little badgers. 1 They were produced alive, but unfor- 

 tunately shared the fatei of so many animals born in captivity : they were all killed 

 by the mother in the course of a day or two. Their average weight was just three 

 ounces. The measurements of the largest of the litter were — Extreme length 

 7 inches; length of the head 1| inch; length of tail 1^ ; height at shoulder 

 1\ inches. These young animals were born blind, but well covered with short grayish 

 white hair, the two dark facial stripes being faintly marked. The anterior limbs were 

 very stout, larger and apparently better developed than the posterior. The head was 

 not so much elongated proportionately as in the adult, and altogether there was a 

 striking resemblance between these little badgers and the newly-born polar bears, 

 except in size, the bears being nearly double the length of the badgers. The struc- 

 tural affinity between these animals would lead one to expect a close correspondence 

 in their breeding habits, but such does not appear to be the case. The young badgers 

 were not remarkably small, and the mother showed no loss of appetite either before or 

 after littering, as has been observed in the black, brown and polar bears. The time of 

 year at which the badger brings forth, although early, is more in accordance, than in 

 the bear tribe, with our ideas of the general breeding season ; but it must not be for- 

 gotten that captivity and its attendant annoyances often materially affect the repro- 

 ductive habits of all wild creatures. The essential differences between the bears and 

 badger in this respect cannot, however, be due to confinement, but must be con- 

 sidered as characteristic distinctions. In 1852 a badger was born in the Gardens so 

 early as the 20th of February. I have not been able to ascertain the period of gesta- 

 tion. — E. W. H. Holdsworth ; 18, Osnaburgh Street, April 10, 1862. 



