i8g 4 .] 



THE BRITISH NATURALIST. 



271 



Taylor, F.L.S., the first part of which is now issued to subscribers. 

 The aim of this work is to combine the information upon all the aspects 

 of the study, and so form a standard work of reference as well as a 

 reliable text-book upon British land and freshwater shells. The work 

 will be complete in two volumes, the first of which will embrace, besides 

 the general treatment of the subject, the morphology of the animals, &c, 

 their geological and geographical distribution, habits, parasites, enemies, 

 uses and development. The second volume will be devoted to the 

 treatment of species individually, the various organisms will be 

 described, observations on the habits and peculiarities of each species 

 will be given, with a full list of localities and complete synonymy. The 

 cost of each part is 5s. 



LEPIDOPTERA. 



Note on the Larv^ of Bombyx rubi (Fox Moth). — On Baildon 

 Moor, near Bradford, the larvae of B. rubi has been known to occur in 

 the autumn months for about twenty years. Previous to 1874, we can 

 bring no experience to bear upon the subject, neither can we find any 

 records. In 1874, however, it occurred in the greatest profusion ; one 

 could scarcely walk without treading them underfoot, and even non- 

 entomological pedestrians crossing the moor to Ilkley, a favourite 

 holiday resort, often gave us glowing descriptions of the " extraordinary 

 big caterpillars " they had seen. During the past session (September 

 and October) it has occurred in equal abundance, and the remarks upon 

 1874 are just as applicable to 1894. ^ n all the years intervening I have 

 not had personal experience, but in the years in which I have observed 

 it it has never been abundant — -nor indeed what we may call very 

 common. Mr. B. Illingworth, who has visited the locality every year since 

 1874, tells me that some years he has not been able to find any, and 

 other years it has only been moderately common. What is the 

 experience of other readers residing in localities where this species is 

 regularly found ? Such points as these, where there is an unbroken 

 chain of observations, are of interest and value. — J. W. Carter, 

 Manningham, Bradford, November 7th, 1894. 



ORNITHOLOGY. 



Richardson's Skua at Latchford. — A young specimen of the 

 Richardson's Skua [Lams parasiticus), Linn., was shot on the 3rd 

 October at the Latchford Locks, on the Ship Canal. This gull is a rare 

 visitor to this locality, and the specimen has been placed in the hands of 

 Mr. George Mounfield, for preservation. It will be added to the 

 ornithological collection in the Warrington Museum. 



