24 



The Naturalist. 



judging from the situation of the nest, I should say it was impossible for 

 the cuckoo to have laid her egg in the nest ; she, therefore, must have 

 laid it on the ground and then carried it to the nest in her bill. I have 

 found both the eggs and young of this bird in pipits' nests, within a few 

 yards of each other. I find that incubation lasts about fourteen days, 

 and the young bird is able to fly within a month. I also noticed the 

 nestling had a low plaintive chirp. It was very interesting to watch the 

 foster-parents feed the young monster. I have a fine series of the 

 cuckoo's eggs in my collection, and find they difier considerably both in 

 ground colour and markings. One which I took from a meadow pipit's 

 nest is similar to the skylark's, while another taken from a hedge 

 sparrow's is similar to the dark variety of the pied wagtail. — W. Raine. 



MicEOScopic Organisms at Bramhope. — Mr. Jas. Abbott has reported 

 to the Leeds Naturalists' Club that a gathering made at a prolific pond at 

 Bramhope, near Leeds, contained the following organisms : — (Edogonium 

 tumidulum, (E. vesicatum, Spirogyra nitida, Oscillatoria, Ulothrix mucosa, 

 Hyalotheca dissiiiens, Staurastrum furcigerum, Arthrodesmus confluens, 

 Cosmarium margaritiferum, Epithemia turgida, Pandorina morum, Volvox 

 glohator and Ophiocytium majus. 



CoNCHOLOGiCAL NoTES FP.OM NoRTH Wales. — I wish to make the 

 following observations on the MoUuscan fauna of that part of N. Wales 

 in which I have been staying for the last few weeks ; they include the 

 following from Cadnant, a thickly wooded dell, running inland from 

 the Beaumaris road, about a quarter of a mile from Menai Bridge : 

 H. hispida and sericea, occurred commonly, H. aculeata, V. pellucidnm, 

 rarely ; Z. fulvus, Z. cellarius, Z. alliarius, Z. nitididus, commonly ; 

 C. rugom, and var. tumidnla, also C. minimum. From the river Cadnant 

 were taken, A. fluviatilis, common and large, approaching in form 

 to gihhosa, and S. putris. In a prolific pond near Treborth station, 

 P. hypnorum, the finest specimens we have ever yet seen, many being 

 suspended by moUuscan threads when taken. L. peregra, and one 

 specimen of var. picta, in a ditch on the Llanfair road. From Llangefni 

 river, P. alhus, vortex and spirorhis, beneath the leaves of the water lily. 

 V. piscinalis, common on the supports of the bridge ; H. ai-hustorum 

 occurred but rarely on the river bank. At Tro-sy-Canol, a farm near 

 Menai Bridge, amongst the decayed grass were found, Z. cellarius, and 

 the var. albida, Z. alliarius, C. lubrica, common, having a very dark rich 

 brown colour, with an occasional specimen of var. hyalina, L. peregra, 

 var. ovata, and L. palustris, common. In the ditch on the roadside at 

 Ty-Mahr, H. rotundata and H. nemoralis are found in large numbers at 

 Menai Bridge. Amongst the stones in the disused marble quarries at 

 Point Lynas, H. aspersa, H. virgata, and H. caperata were found, but 

 not in any number. H. caperata and var. orjiata are common on the 

 rocks of the island of Llandisilw. P. marginata, common in the ruins 

 of the'old mill, Befellgod valley. — S. H. Hirst, Headingley, Aug. 16th. 



