iio 



THE NATURALIST. 



infest them. Its food consists of reptiles, insects, &c. Mr. Tristram says 

 it was found in the marshes near Jaffa, in considerable numbers. Mr. 

 Young sajs, it is commonly called in Egypt " the Ibis," which is a totally 

 different bird. The Egret is remarkably tame, and if one of a flock were 

 shot, it generally happened that the whole flock persisted in flying over 

 niy head, or wheeling round and round as if to invite the fate of their 

 comrade. I have not unfrequently seen a pair of egrets on one buffalo's 

 back." 



19. Ardea eussata, Waigl. — Paifous -backed Egret. 

 Ardeola mssata, Temm. 



Ardeola hicolor, Vieill. 



An interesting fact connected with this species is, that it was once 

 shot in England, in the year 1805, near Kingsbridge, L>evon. Of its 

 habits and manners we have no certain account, but its food is said to 

 consist of small fish, frogs and various insects. 



20. Totanus hypolecjcos, Temm. — Common Sandpiper, 

 -Actitis liypoUucos, Macgill 



Fringa liypolcucos, Linn. 



Called by the natives Beccasine," " Doves and Beccasines" were 

 the most delicate dish to be met with on the Nile. 



20, Harwood Terrace, King's Road, Fulham, 



OK A FEW OF THE LOCAL FLOWEES OF HIGH WYCOMBE. 



By Jas. Britten* 



The following Paper was read at the Meeting of the High Wycombe 

 Natural History Society, on 22nd January, 1886 : — 



" Having been requested by the Secretary to read a paper this evening, 

 I have put together a few notes on one or two of the rarer flowers tu be 

 found in our woods round Wycombe. Our locality is upon the whole a 

 favoured one for botanical treasures, and has not been so thoroughly worked 

 as many other parts of England. The total number of British species of 

 flowering plants is upwards of 1500 ; of these we have within a radius of 

 live miles certainly 700 ; probably further search will discover more. The 

 Tour plants to which I shall direct your attention are the Coral-root, the 



