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The Naturalist. 



collection of bird skins, recently imported from Germany. Amongst 

 them were a large number of birds of prey, some of them very rare, 

 including : — The golden eagle (Falco ncBvius), the Gyr falcon {F. island- 

 icus), the honey buzzard {F. apivorus), Montagu's harrier {F. cineracens), 

 the snowy owl (Strix nycfea), the eagle owl {S. huho), the Lapland owl 

 {S. laponica), the red-crested whistling duck (Anas rujina), Steller's 

 western duck (A. dispar), the great northern diver (Colymbus glacialis), 

 the dotterell (Charadrius morinellns), the bittern {Ardea stellaris), the 

 waxwing {Boinbycivora garrula), &c. Mr. T. L. Smith : a beautiful 

 specimen of the common blackbird, spotted all over with white. The 

 specimen was a male bird in fine plumage, and was caught by him in 

 Burton Lane, where it has been noticed for three or four years. Mr. G. 

 Bacon ; the spotted crake {Gallinula porzana), shot on the banks of the 

 Ouse near Nunthorpe. Mr. J. Bipley : the hen harrier, shot near York 

 Nov. 22nd ; the stormy petrel {Tlialassidroma pelagica), captured on 

 Langton Wold in a very exhausted state, sent by Mr. Edson Nov. 22nd : 

 the sea auk Uria grylle), captured on Strensall Common, and which lived 

 for several days ; and two specimens of the hawfinch (Fringilla coco- 

 thraustes), shot near York. Mr. C. Helstrip ; a female specimen of the 

 blackbird, spotted with white principally about the head, shot near 

 Howden. Mr. G. J ackson : a box of insects, in which were four varieties 

 of grossulariata ; these specimens, instead of being white spotted with 

 black, were nearly all black, and were bred by Mr. Porteus, of Halifax ; 

 also Dianthecia irregularis and albimacula, Meliana flammea, Nonagria 

 hrevilinea, (captured at Horning Fen), Heliothis peltigera, Notodonta 

 carmelita, Agrotis agatlmia (bred), Acidalia contiguaria ; some fine 

 varieties of Ardia lubricipeda, Chora glahraria, Hadena atriplicis, and 

 Erastria venustula. The secretary, Mr. Wm. Brest ; a series of eighty 

 specimens, in very great variety, of Cidaria immanata, most of them 

 taken by himself at Bishox:)'s Wood, Sandburn, and Sherwood Forest : 

 and some fine varieties from Scoonieburn, near Berth ; also a hybrid 

 specimen of Smerinthus ocellatus and popidi. 



Yorkshire Naturalists' Uxion. — Exhibition. — In connection with 

 the annual meeting of the Union, held in Leeds in January, 1879, was 

 organised and kept open for a week a very extensive and valuable exhibi- 

 bition of natural history specimens and scientific apparatus. A series of 

 special articles on the various departments having been arranged for, to 

 be published from time to time in the Naturalist, it is unnecessary for 

 us here to enter into details. The credit of fiurst suggesting that there 

 should be an exhibition, as well as efiiciently supporting it in every 

 stage, is due to the Bamsley Naturalists' Society, and Mr. A. B. Kell, 

 C.E., of that town, on whose proposition it was that the Union resolved 

 upon the venture. The labour of getting up the aifr.ir — no slight task — 

 of course devolved upon the members resident in the town where it was 

 to be held. The result, however, of that labour was an exhibition the 

 like of which for extent, value, and interest has never been equalled in 



