Short Notes and Queries. 



167 



level of the sea, and is in a wood, near to a lake, at the bottom of a gill or 

 one of those narrow valleys. The other species of bats are but stragglers 

 compared with this species : of the Long-eared Bat (Plecotus auritus), 

 which is in some parts of Yorkshire the commonest bat of all, he has only- 

 met with a few examples, while of the Whiskered Bat he has only seen 

 one, the one which I had lately the pleasure of recording in the Naturalist. 

 I made particular inquiries as to the season of the year when these bats 

 occur, as Dr. Dobson, the great authority on bats, is of opinion that there 

 is reason to suppose the horse-shoe bats may perform an annual north and 

 south migration. Mr. Ingleby, replying to these inquiries, says he has 

 found them both in summer and in winter, and as will be seen above, the 

 specimens sent to Dr. Laver were collected in January. It is to be 

 remarked, however, that the winter of 1875-6 was a very mild one. — 

 Wm. Deis'ison" Roebuck, Sunny Bank, Leeds. 



Arrival of Wheatear, 1881-82. — So much has been written, and 

 much more said, — in proof of which a profusion of examples have been 

 adduced both from the botanical and ornithological world — relative to the 

 mildness of the past winter, that I may perhaps be pardoned if I place on 

 record a fact or two in connection with the spring migration of the wheat- 

 ear, as the date of their arrival in this neighbourhood as compared with 

 the year 1881 will not justify the construction which has usually been 

 placed upon ornithological occurrences so far this year. In the year 1881 

 I saw three wheatears on the 26th of March, although in some places 

 there was a depth of several inches of snow. The following day (27th) 

 they were very common, and generally distributed. I may remark, en 

 passant, that they are the more common in this locality at the spring 

 migration than later in the summer. During the present year (1882) the 

 first wheatear was seen on the 8th of April ; I looked in vain for them 

 until yesterday (April 15th), when I only saw one, so that they are very 

 scarce even yet. This is all the more striking as the spring of 1881 (at 

 least the earlier portion of it), compared with the present spring so far, 

 was remarkable for its severity, and moreover the species in question is 

 of such extensive distribution, penetrating to very high latitudes to 

 breed, that it was not unreasonable to have forestalled its early appear- 

 ance this year. This is, however, a paradox in its natural history that 

 requires elucidation. — E. P. P. Butterfield. Wilsden, 16th April. 



Occurrence of the Torpedo (T. hehetans) on the Yorkskire Coast. 

 — A specimen of this fish — the first recorded example, I believe, for the 

 shores of this county — was captured alive among the breakers on the 

 beach at Easington, on the 14th of April, and kindly sent to me for 

 identification. In length it measured 2ft. 5in., and was 1ft. 5in. across 

 the pectorals at their greatest width. It was in a dying condition when 

 caught, and no shock was felt by its captors. — Wm. Eagle Clarke, 

 Leeds. 



