Eeports of Societies. 



139 



blind I found a bird fluttering against the window. I threw up the sash 

 and a sparrow immediately flew into the room, and after flying about for 

 a minute, settled down in a corner, where it remained all night. — 

 T.— Doncaster, 23rd Feb., 1877. 



Blackheaded Bujsttino. — About the middle of last January I happened 

 to be in the vicinity of Castleford, where I saw at least half-a dozen 

 black-headed buntings flying about an osier bed. To many of your 

 readers perhaps the fact may not be worth recording, such a sight in 

 winter being not an unfrequent occurrence ; this bird, however, is but a 

 very rare visitor in this neighbourhood, and that only in winter." I believe 

 it never breeds with us, ''the softly swelling hills" obviously being 

 unsuitable as breeding haunts. — E. P. P. Bcjtterfield, Wilsden, March, 

 1877. 



Hydrilla palustris. — I took a specimen of Hydrilla palustris in 

 Norfolk last season. — Thomas Eedle, London, March 8th, 1877. 



Barnsley Naturalists' Society. — Meeting Mar. 5th. — The president, 

 A. Kell, C.E. gave an opening address for the coming season. He 

 remarked that it could not be expected to have recorded on that occasion 

 so many rare birds as had been noticed at previous meetings, — as the 

 buzzards, bitterns, great snipes ; yet observers would find much interest 

 just now in watching the movements and changes of plumage in so many 

 of our birds, so different from the winter season that some have been 

 considered of different species. The pied and grey wagtail are assuming 

 the black patch on the breast, the greater and lesser redpoles rose tints 

 on head and breast, plovers, dunlins, &c. , black on the breast. He said 

 that now was the best time to master our resident birds before the spring 

 migrants come, and while the trees are bare. He called attention to 

 noting the dates of arriving and departing birds in excursions with the 

 Yorkshire naturalists, commencing on Easter Monday, and in rambles 

 and observations about home. There is much information needed, 

 judging by the questions asked as to what are home birds and what are 

 foreign migrants. The example was given of T. Edward, the Scotch 

 naturalist, struggling under difiiculties until the honest shoemaker is now 

 rewarded with a small pension. The president presented»the Society 

 with ''Edwards' Life," and "Darwin's Expression of the Emotions." 

 Mr. W. J. Cope gave another volume of the "Entomologist." Mr. Kell 

 showed some beautiful eggs. 



Bradford Naturalists' Society. — Meeting Feb. 20th, the president 

 in the chair. — Evening devoted to conversation and the exhibition of 

 specimens. A number of early flowering plants were exhibited in bloom. 

 Mr. Baxter exhibited a fine pair of the larvae of Cossus lignijperda from 



