82 



THE NATURALIST, 



which, he regards as V. BritanniGa, — remarkable for the material of which it 

 was constructed, and for the locality in which it was found. This nest, 

 which was exhibited at a meeting of the Entomological Society, was found 

 near Croydon, built in a sparrow's nest, and attached to the lining feathers. 

 " The smallness of the nest," says Mr. Shuckard, and also of the tier of 

 cells, as well as the pecuKar material of which it appeared composed, led to 

 a discussion, the tendency of which seemed to support the opinion that it 

 was most probably the nest of a Polistes, a social-wasp not yet found in this 

 country, but if not of Polistes, certainly not yet determined or known." 

 The nest was ovate, about an inch and a half long, with a tier of cells inter- 

 nally, originating from a common pedicle. It appeared to be constructed "of 

 the agglutinated particles of a soft white wood, probably willow, very imper- 

 fectly triturated ;" whence the externally rough granulated appearance^ 

 "The nature of the material," continues Mr. Shuckard, "and its unfinished 

 execution, as well as the situation in which it was found, appear to me to be 

 its own peculiarities, and I must necessarily consider it merely an accidental 

 variation in material and locality from the usual nests of the Vespa Britannica 

 of Leach." Mr, Shuckard concludes his paper by stating that he strongly 

 suspects the identity of Vespa holsatica and Vespa Britannica. 

 Headingley, Leeds. 



NOTES 0^ NOEFOLK OEISTITHOLOGY. 



By T. E. Gunn. 

 From January 1st, to April 30t?i, 1866. 



Buzzard. An immature male was killed in the vicinity of North 

 Walsham on the 2nd of January. Its stomach on dissection proved to be 

 fully extended with a compact mass of rabbit fur, in the interior of which 

 were the two halves of an ear-wig. 



Sparrow Hawk. During March and April three nice adult males with 

 the red breasts were kiUed by a friend of mine in the neighbourhood of 

 Wymondham : they are now in my collection. 



Peregrine Falcon, January 16th, an immature female shot at 

 Cautlay. 



Great Grey Shrike. One specimen obtained during the latter part of 

 March. 



