Short Notes and Queries. 



23 



to Meigen, and differs so considerably from the male, that it might easily 

 be described as a distinct species, and even be placed in a different genus. 

 The chief points of distinction between the sexes are these : — 1st. The eyes 

 in the female are only very slightly pubescent, while they are decidedly 

 hairy in the male. 2nd. The palpi in female are of a dark piceous colour 

 at their extremities, while they are yellow in the male. Besides these two 

 special points of difference, the apex and free edge of the scutellum have 

 a yellowish-red tinge in the female, which can be scarcely seen in the 

 male, except in a very strong light. The frontal space (as is usual in 

 these flies) is wider in the female than in the male, occupying in the 

 former about one-third of the width of the head. In all other points 

 of colour and structure the two sexes resemble each other. In conclusion, 

 I beg to return my thanks to Mr. Mosley, as well as to Mr. Porritt, for 

 placing these specimens at my disposal. — R. H. Mea.de, Bradford, July 19 



Occurrence of Boletohia fidiglnarm. — One of our men has just 

 brought me a female Boletohia fuliginaria, which he caught on the 

 wharf. In getting it into a box he unfortunately damaged the right side 

 upper wing, but in other respects it is perfect, A male specimen was 

 taken on the same premises about twenty years ago, and is still in the 

 captor's cabinet. — J. R. Wellman, London, Aug. 15th. 



Unusual Nesting-place of Wheatear. — During an ornithological 

 ramble to Adel last spring, I obtained eggs of a wheatear from a hole in 

 a bank which overhangs one of our beautiful streams. The hole was once 

 the nesting-place of the sand martin. The nest was placed at the far end 

 of the hole, which was about 3ft. in length. I only know of another 

 similar instance on record, and that is given by the Hev. F. 0. Morris in 

 his work on the nests and eggs of British birds. I also procured eggs of 

 the dipper, from a boy who had found them near the same stream a few 

 days previously. He discovered the old bird on the nest, and took bird, 

 nest, and the five eggs. He kept the bird in a cage for some time, but 

 being unable to procure food for it, he was persuaded to let it go ; and 

 not knowing the value of the nest, he destroyed it. The dipper's nest 

 and eggs are seldom found in this neighbourhood. — Walter Raine, 

 Leeds, Aug. 18th. 



The Cuckoo.; — In last month's Naturalist (vol. v., p. 11,) Mr. Hanson 

 states that ^' during the present year cuckoos have occurred in greater 

 numbers than he has ever observed before," and asks if the same has been 

 noticed in other districts. My brother and I have observed the same in 

 this district, and consider it a rare and unusual occurrence. I have 

 several times seen two, three, and once saw four together, but have 

 never seen so many as seven. The cuckoo does not pair, and it is 

 unusual to see even male and female together. If two males meet in the 

 course of their wanderings, they frequently fight with intense animosity. 

 I once heard a cuckoo sing while flying, and noted it down as a very 

 unusual occurrence. I found several eggs of the cuckoo last spring, and 



