86 



The Naturalist. 



number of species as follows : — Phanerogams, 560 ; ferns, 25 ; mosses, 

 286 ; hepaticee, 81 : fungi, 261 ; lichens, 55 ; algse, 81.— H. T. S. 



HuDDBKSFiELD Naturalists' SOCIETY. — Fortnightly meeting, October 

 22nd, Mr, James Yarley in the chair, who gave a paper on Game Birds 

 and their Food," including the following, which he minutely described : 

 Rasores, or gallinaceous birds, which present the closest resemblance to 

 our common poultry ; the Phasianidce, of which Phasianus colchicus, the 

 common pheasant, was introduced to Europe by the Argonauts about the 

 year 1250, from the banks of the river Phasis, in Colchis, in Asia Minor : 

 hence their name. The Tetraonidoe, which include the grouse, partridges? 

 quails, and their allies of a smaller size. Tetrao urogallus, the Caper- 

 caillie, is one of the largest species of this family, and was formerly 

 common in Scotland and Ireland, but was extirpated nearly a century 

 ago. Attempts are now being made to reinstate this noble bird in Scot- 

 land, and they have, so far, been successful. Tetrao ietrix, the black 

 grouse. Lagopus scoticus, the red grouse, is distinguished by having the 

 feet feathered to the extremity of the toes, and is the best known species 

 of the British Isles, to which it is exclusively confined. Lagopus vulgaris, 

 the ptarmigan, is met with in this country only on the mountains of Scot- 

 land, where it dwells among the grey rocks of the highest ranges. 

 Perdix cinerea, the partridge, is generally distributed over Britain, and is 

 found almost all over Europe. They feed upon seed, tender herbage, and 

 insects. The Scolopacidoe, including woodcock and snipe. 



Meeting Nov. 7th, Mr. Varley in the chair. — Messrs. Ellis, Bickerdike, 

 and Midgley laid on the table a number of entomological specimens from 

 Sussex, viz : — N. Dahlii ; ruhi ; triangulum ; N. C-nigrum ; T. janthina ; 

 P. meticulosa ; T. stahilis ; X. cerago ; silago ; A. segetum ; suffusa ; and 

 N. joucaria (sic), Mr. Yarley showed a male and female specimen of 

 D. Templi, from Tinker's Monument. Mr. G. H. Stather read a paper 

 on his " Reptile Pets." 



Hull Field Naturalists' Society. — Meeting 24th Oct. — Mr. Moore 

 showed the spotted crake, recently captured, and also a specimen of the 

 red-necked phalarope, shot on a pond near Withernsea, and brought to 

 him in the flesh. The bird was in winter plumage, and the red collar 

 faintly discernable. The sex had not been noted, Mr, Boult showed 

 Xanthia gilvago, which is of very rare occurrence in this district. Mr. 

 Dobree, specimens of Dianthoicia conspersa, taken in Shetland, the white 

 markings being entirely changed to dirty grey ; also specimens brought 

 from the Amur river of Thyatira batis, the general colouring being much 

 darker, and the markings more difi"used than in British specimens ; also- 

 Hadena pisi, from the same country, of which the ground colouring was 

 much lighter, and the markings almost entirely lost. The exhibitor 

 expressed the opinion that the same causes were operating in these 

 specimens which had led to the loss of the conspicuous white colouring of 

 the male of Hepialus humuli in high latitudes. — N. F. Dobree, Pres. 



