Ornithological Notes. 



227 



during the autumn of the previous year ; but unfortunately 

 nothing but the head and wings were preserved. The bird 

 was new to the keeper, being the first of the kind he had 

 seen. 



(2.) Picus major. (Linn.) The Pied Woodpecker. — The 

 Pied or Greater Spotted Woodpecker exhibited, was taken 

 on Mr Trotter's property of The Bush, near Penicuik, on 7th 

 "November. Mr James Stewart, who shot the bird, was at- 

 tracted, at about 100 yards distance, by the noise made from 

 its tapping on the trunk of a large oak tree. The bird was 

 an adult male, showing the crimson occiput. It is one of 

 our permanent residents, but rare. 



Dr Smith brought under the notice of the Society in 1851, 

 a specimen killed in the neighbourhood of Dryburgh Abbey. 



(3.) Lanius excubitor. (Linn.) The Great Grey Shrike. 

 — Dr Smith noticed the capture of a Great Grey Shrike, 

 on the 9th of November, in the vicinity of Dirleton, East 

 Lothian. 



(4.) Perdrix cinerea. (Linn.) Common Partridge. — An 

 accidental variety of the Common Partridge was also exhi- 

 bited, showing pure white feathers in the scapulars, wings, 

 and tail. 



V. A large Cup-shaped Sponge was exhibited by John Alexander 

 Smith, M.D. 



A very large and fine specimen of a Cup-shaped Sponge, 

 Halichondria ventilabrum, attached by its base to a stone, 

 was exhibited. It was sent from Shetland, where it had 

 been dredged up from the sea bottom. The Sponge was 

 sent for exhibition, at Dr Smith's request, by Mr James 

 Carfrae, Princes Street, who was desired to make inquiries 

 as to the exact locality where it had been discovered.* 



* This sponge has since been acquired for the Museum of Natural History, 

 University. 



"VOL. II. 



