120 



THE YOUNG NATURALIST. 



considerable skill in skinning and plucking 

 their prey, often swallow some of the fur or 

 feathers of the animal or bird they have 

 seized, and these they disgorge in large 

 pellets. The Kingfisher and the Heron also 

 cast up the bones of the fish which they 

 swallow head foremost, and those parts of 

 the dragon-flies, beetles, etc., which they 

 cannot digest. These, as far as I know, are 

 the only British birds that eject pellets. — 

 N. Prescott Decie. 



19. 



Collecting Ichneumons. — I very seldom 

 find my flies dead on arrival home, when I 

 do I place them in a glass of cold water and 

 set them next morning, after giving them a 

 spirit bath. Does L.S. carry them in a 

 black satchel exposed to the sun? If so, 

 that may account for it. I always carry my 

 captures in my coat pocket, which is on the 

 inside, and made extra large for the purpose. 

 — G. C. BiGNELL, Stonehouse, Plymouth. 



The following queries have not been 

 answered. We will be obliged to any cor- 

 respondent who can reply to any of them — 

 Nos. 2, 12, 13, 16, 17, 20. 



TO CORRESPONDENTS. 



Ail communications to be sent to J. E. Bobson, 15 

 Northgate, Hartlepool; or to S. L. Moslet Beau- 

 mont Park, Huddersfield. 



A few numbers of the last part appear to 

 have been sent out without the plate. The 

 plate is sent with this month's part, to all 

 those who have communicated with us. 

 Should there be any others who have not 

 received Plate IV., will they kindly write. 



WANTED, &G. 



Mr. Mosley will be glad to have descrip- 

 tions of any striking varieties in the genera 

 Vanessa, Limenites, Apatnra, and Arge, for 

 the next part of his Illustrations of varieties 



of British Lepidoptera. Coloured sketches 

 would be still more useful. 



Wanted for Figuring, to illustrate British 

 Birds and Eggs : — 



Dartford Warbler . . Bird, Nest, Eggs. 

 Lesser Whitethroat ,, ,, 



Garden Warbler . . ,, 

 Wood Warbler .. ,, 



Chiff Chaff 



Long-tailed Tit 

 Crested Tit 

 Bearded Tit 



Gray Wagtail (Summer) ,, „ 

 Wood Lark . . ,, ,, 



Hawfinch . , ,, ,1 



Goldfinch . . 



Mealy Redpole ., „ 



Also young birds in down, or in nest plum- 

 age of many species. 



Wanted, to borrow for a short time, 

 the old "Entomological Magazine." — S. L. 

 Mosley. 



Ichneumons. — I am desirous of obtaining 

 as many Microgaster cocoons as possible, no 

 matter from what larvae, if from a known 

 larva, so much the better, with a view of 

 getting material for a good work on thi^ 

 very interesting group. 



If any of your readers will favour me 

 with cocoons, I will, if they desire it, return 

 some of them mounted, or make the best 

 return I can. Mr. Porritt obtained in 

 Wicken Fen, in May last, when searching 

 for the larvae of Chilo phragmitellus, some 

 cocoons of this group, in the reed stems ; 

 should any gentleman visit the locality in 

 May, I trust he will endeavour to obtain 

 some for me. — G. C. Bignell, Clarence 

 Place, Stonehouse, Plymouth. 1 



A Sea-squirt. — I shall be glad to seniOT 

 specimens of a " Sea-squirt " to any ovm 

 desirous of examining them. — John E.| 

 RoBso^^, Hartlepool. 



