108 THE YOUNG 



of it is published without being tampered 

 with. I think the editors would know my 

 handwriting as well as another individual 

 concerned in the matter. I shall be content 

 with their verdict, providing Mr. Gregson 

 sends the said letter. As far as I am con- 

 cerned I consider both Centonalis and Autu?n- 

 7mna good enough for my British collection, 

 and possibly Mr. Gregson will think so too 

 some day. I shall keep a double row of 

 each in case of an emergency. — R. Harbour, 

 I, Landport Cottages, Deal. 



As the size is made an important item 

 in this matter we append the sizes of 

 Mr. Bond's specimens, with which he has 

 kindly furnished us. 



Smallest Hampshire male, if inches. 



Largest ,, ,, 2 ,, 



Smallest ,, female ,, 



Largest „ ,,2 



Kentist male, over 2 ,, 



Mr. Tugwell's bred pair 



rather more than 2 ,, 



the female rather the largest. — Eds. Y.N. 



NOTES AND OBSERVATIONS 



By Geo. F. Wheeldon. 



January 21st, 1882. Vitrina pellucida. 

 — Found two under some bricks in a dell 

 between Selly Oak and King's Norton this 

 afternoon. I believe they are rather com- 

 mon here, but the empty shells are more 

 often found. 



Mercurialis perennis. • — Found some 

 plants of the Dogs Mercury in flower on the 

 sides of the same dell. This is early, as I 

 believe they do not generally flower till 

 March or April. 



Rosa canina. — Saw a piece of the Com- 

 mon Dog Rose in leaf at the same place. 



HiBERNiA RUPicAPRARiA.— Found a newly 

 emerged specimen on the surface of a pond 

 near Selly Oak. This was the first I have 

 seen this year. Although I went out at 

 night not a moth was to be seen where there 

 were plenty last year. 



NATURALIST. 



January 22nd, 1882. Hyacinthus non- j 

 scRiPTUs. — Saw a few bluebells just appear- i, 

 ing above the ground in a wood at Selly 

 Oak this morning. This, I believe, is early. 



CoRYLUs AVELLANA. — Saw a hazel-tree in 

 full bloom in the same wood. On other 

 hazel-trees the flowers wers just appearing, 

 and on one or two others the flowers were 

 about half grown, but this was the only one 

 in full flower. ; 



Stellaria MEDIA. — Saw some chickweed 

 in flower in Nunnery Lane. 



Senecio VULGARIS. — Also saw plenty of 

 groundsel in flower in same lane. These 

 last two are to be seen in flower all the year 

 round. 



Ulex europceus. — Saw a patch of furze 

 in flower on the railway embankment at 

 Selly Oak this morning. I have seen pieces ( 

 of this in flower nearly all the ye^r round. 



Limnea stagnalis. — Found ten in a pond i 

 at the edge of a wood at Selly Oak. I could k 

 have taken fifty more if I had wanted them. 



Helix rotundata. Found sixteen under oi 

 some bricks and among dead leaves in the c- 

 same wood this morning. They also were e): 

 very plentiful. a: 



CiNCLUs AQUATicus. — The following is an n' 

 extract from a Birmingham paper of 25th «i 

 January, 1882: — "One day last week Mr. b 

 Pedlingham, of Handsworth, shot upon his spe 

 property a beautiful example of that curious siia 

 and deeply interesting bird, viz., the Water %w 

 Ouzel {Cinches aquaticus). This species is lies 

 noticeable for walking under the water to ' \k 

 capture its food, where it sustains its power 

 for a considerable period, running most L 

 nimbly and beautifully upon the pebbly t k . 

 bottom of running-ever so quickly-streams, !^ 

 anon rising to the surface, again diving and : , 

 pursuing its wonted avocation. This fact Ui:t^ 

 or curious economy of bird existence was I»efo 

 for some time much disbelieved, but is no I prettv 

 longer a vexed question amongst the real 

 students of nature. This bird is of extremely 

 rare occurence in the Midlands, being found , 3 liecji 



I 



