THE BRITISH NATURALIST. 



in 



which it would be very interesting to have records of in our two 

 counties — Lancashire and Cheshire ; the above five species, however, 

 are especially note-worthy, and it would be worth while for all 

 Entomologists to keep well on the look out for them during the 

 coming season. 



General Notes. 



Post-card Notes. — Do you not think a post-card question every 

 month in your valuable Magazine would elicit much valuable 

 information, which could be tabulated in succeeding numbers of 

 the " British Naturalist " ? For instance, " How has the warm, dry 

 March influenced insect life so far as your experience goes ! " Many 

 would write an answer to such a question on a post-card who would 

 never sit down to write a Magazine article. Post-card Competitions 

 have been so successful in connection with weekly and monthly 

 periodicals, that entomologists may well try the experiment. — W. 

 Macmillan, Castle Cary. 



[Post-card notes have no doubt been successful when prizes have 

 been given in connection therewith. Mr. Macmillan's suggestion, 

 however, is a very good one, if readers will take it up. I will find the 

 space if they will supply questions and answers. — Ed. B.N.] 



The Brambling in Worcestershire. — Among a number of little 

 birds shot in a rick-yard of a farm in the parish of Bockleton, in West 

 Worcestershire, one day in the latter part of February last, was a 

 Brambling or Mountain Finch. This is the first time that this species 

 has been noticed in that neighbourhood so far as I am aware. The 

 specimen subsequently came into the possession of my sisters and has 

 now been very nicely set up for them by Mr. Ashdown of Hereford. 

 The other birds killed on the same occasion were nearly all Green- 

 Finches and Yellow-Hammers. It is to be hoped that such useless 

 and cold-blooded murder is not often perpetrated. — F. E. Prescott- 

 Decie, 14, Kensington Gate, London, W. 



Variety of Saturnia pavonia-minor. — I have bred a specimen of 

 Pavonia-minor this spring, which has the left wings like those of the 

 male except the costal margin of the hind-wing, and the right wings 

 are like those of the female ; the body resembles the female but small, 

 the antennae are more pectinated than the female but not so much as 

 the male, the white blotch on the tip of the front wings is larger and 

 brighter than usual, the span of wings is about the same as a large 

 sized male. From the same brood I have also a cocoon with an opening 

 at both ends. It contained but one pupa. — F. Milton, 184, Stamford 

 Hill, London, N. 



