8 



The Naturalist. 



once found a wren sitting upon the eggs of a white-throated warbler. 

 Some time about the end of last June, as I was coming through Bingley 

 Wood, I found a garden warbler's nest built in the midst of the fronds of 

 the common male fern {Lastroea filix-mas). The fronds were arranged in 

 a circle, and the nest was placed about eight inches from the ground ; it 

 was conspicuous for a considerable distance. It differed very much from 

 the usual place it selects for its nest, which is generally in a thick bush of 

 honey-suckle or wild rose. — E. P. P. Blttterfield. 

 Wilsden, Bingley, July 8th, 1876. 



The Skylark. —Some time ago, I saw at a bird-catcher's shop in 

 London twelve cages full of larks, all taken the night before by one man. 

 I was told there were 96 of them. What a drain on the species this must 

 be if there are many men who catch the birds at this rate ; and yet there 

 seems no diminution in their numbers, but rather contrariwise. The 

 solution is that the gaps are replenished by a vast band of migratory sky 

 larks which pour into our country in the fall of every ysar, from the 

 north and from the east, and of these many press on still further south, 

 but return with returning summer, or as early as February and March. 



Northrepps Hall, Norwich. J. H. Gurney, Jun. 



Camphor Cell for Cabinets. — For the benefit of collectors of insects 

 I may mention that I have found the following a capital plan for the 

 introduction of camphor in cabinets as a mite destroyer. At one of the 

 ends in the inside of the box cut a small hole, say lin. x^in., and |in. into 

 the wood, so as to allow ample space for the camphor ; then at the mouth 

 of the receptacle thus formed have two grooves — one at either side, so as to 

 permit a piece of perforated zinc to slide therein, care being taken not to 

 interfere with the closing of the glass lid. By this means the lid of the 

 case will prevent the zinc slide from moving about, and the camphor has 

 full access of scenting power, without being a nuisance and superfluous 

 block to the collector. I have adopted this arrangement with my 

 cabinet, and can testify to its being a valuable acquisition and an 



ornament to the estate." S. D. Baiestow. 



Woodland Mount, Huddersfield, July 11th, 1876. 



Cratcegus laciniatus. Ster. — I was much interested by your note on 

 this plant in last number, and now enclose a sprig which I gathered on 

 2nd instant, in a hedge in this neighbourhood, where it seems to be the 

 prevailing form. Part of the hedge had been cut down, and the young 

 shoots were growing vigorously, with very fully developed leaves, and 

 yet cut down to the midrib, as shewn in the separate leaf enclosed. Is 

 this your lacinatus 1 — J. P. Soutter. 



Bp. Auckland, 4th July, 1876. 



[The sprig and leaf alluded to, we should unhesitatingly refer to G. laci- 

 niatus. They are of more than the usual size. — Eds. Nat.] 



