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The Naturalist. 



unless the old bird is actually snared upon her eggs. In conclusion, I 

 may say that the eggs in the possession of Mr. Lumb will, I think, prove 

 to be those of the dunlin or the common snipe. — Wm. Eagle Clarke. 



Bitten by a Viper. — We regret to announce that the veteran president 

 of the Wakefield NaturaHsts' Society, Joseph Wainwright, Esq., F.L.S., 

 when endeavouring to capture one of the above venomous reptiles at 

 Wentbridge, on Saturday, the 18th June, was bitten by it in the finger. 

 None of the party had any ammonia, and it was consequently some time 

 before any proper assistance could be given, and we understand that Mr . 

 Wainwright therefore lies in a very critical condition. We are quite sure 

 that all our readers will join us in expressing our sympathy, and earnest 

 hope that no serious consequences will ensue, and that Mr. Wainwright 

 may be speedily restored to health. — Eds. Nat. 



Tetradontium Brownianum at Staley Brushes. — In the report of the 

 Manchester Cryptogamic Society in last month's Naturalist, Mr. Cash is 

 mentioned as having discovered Tetradontium Brownianum in Staley 

 Brushes. This is really not a discovery, as I and several of my 

 friends have known the above moss to occur at Staley Brushes many 

 years back. On referring to my herbarium I find that my specimens 

 from that locahty are marked ''Feb., 1867." I also beg to report the 

 occurrence in this district of Plagiothecium Borrerianum^ with good 

 fruit. It was found so far back as May, 1872, by Messrs. T. Ashtonand 

 J. Nield, in a wood near Marple. I have much pleasure in stating that 

 it still produces fruit in the same locality, as I and my friend Mr. Holt 

 gathered good specimens on the 5th of June. — Jno. Whitehead, Dukin- 

 field, 17th June, 1881. 



NOTICES OF BOOKS, &c.— ''Insect Variety: its Propagation 

 and Distribution, by A. H. Swinton. London : Cassell, Petter, & Galpin, 

 1881." — There can be no doubt that the mass of our amateur and local 

 naturalists, so-called, are simply so in name, and content themselves 

 with collecting specunens, naming or getting them named for them, 

 exchanging such specimens with other collectors, and placing them when 

 so named in cabinets, drawers and herbaria, and here their work, good 

 in- its way, stops. More especially we believe is this the case with 

 entomologists — and chiefly so amongst lepidopterists. There be many 

 estimable collectors who can tell us, from wing-markings and similar 

 superficial data, what is the name of any insect and its comparative rarity 

 and value. But how few amongst them can go any further, or know 

 anything of insect economy, anatomy and physiology, or the connection 

 and bearing of entomology with other cognate sciences. This is a grave 

 error on the part of such persons, and one which we hope to see, ere 

 long, eliminated ; and any assistance or incentive to study the whole life- 

 history of this exceedingly interesting class of animal life should be 

 welcomed by all true naturalists. Such a help and incentive, not the 



