148 



THE YOUNG NATURALIST, 



them, and directly after death I cleaned out the contents of the stomach and 

 abdomen. To do this I obtained a fine long darning-needle, threaded it 

 with a short piece of thread, tied the ends together and in the loop thus 

 formed I placed some soft darning-cotton, and according to the size of the fly 

 I used one, two, or three pieces, after thus preparing the cotton, I passed the 

 needle into the fly directly under the head, through the stomach and abdomen 

 and pulled the cotton through until it passed out clean, I then cut the cotton 

 off close to the insect at both ends. ]f Mr. Mackay will adopt this method 

 he will never have cause to complain," that they will not keep their colour" 

 this plan of preserving them has another great advantage, for it is a support 

 for the long body, which has a very great tendency, if not so treated, to break 

 off. If the specimens are intended for a museum, where they do not always 

 get that care they ought, I should advise that the last part of the cotton 

 which is intended to remain in the fly, should be damped with Carbolic acid, 

 no insects will touch them afterwards, — G. C. Bignell, Stonehouse, Plymouth. 



The Honey Buzzard at Hartlepool. — A specimen of this rather rare 

 bird was obtained here a few days ago. It flew into one of the fishing boats 

 a few miles out at sea, and was so fatigued it allowed itself to be captured. 

 Mr. Selby considered the " Honey Buzzard " to be one of the rarest of the 

 Palconidse, and in his catalogue of the Birds of Northumberland and Durham 

 published in 1831, only records two specimens. Mr. Hancock in his cata- 

 logue published in 1874, states that between 1831 and 1868 twenty-five 

 individuals have come under his notice in the two counties. The species has 

 been known to breed in the district, and probably does so frequently. This 

 specimen is now in the possession of Mr. James A. Mann. — John E. Robson, 

 Hartlepool. 



Yariety of the Kestrel. — A fine variety of this bird has come into my- 

 son's possession. The plumage is all light reddish fawn in colour, and the 

 black markings, are much fewer than usual, and what there are, are smaller. 

 It was shot in one of the Denes near here, where the Kestrel is not un- 

 common. It is a female. — John E. Eobson, Hartlepool. 



TO CORRESPONDENTS. 



R.W. — The London Catalogue of British Plants is published by George Bell & Son, 

 Covent Garden, and the price is 6d. per copy. They also supply the Botancial 

 Labels you enquire about, price 5s. The Labels were issued in harmony with the 

 6th edition. 



