1 8 ORNITHOLOGICAL, ENTOMOLOGICAL, AND CRYPTOGAMIC NOTES. 



Variety of the Crow (Corvus cor one). — An interesting variety of 



this bird was shot near Settle, in West Yorkshire, on the 27th or 28th of October, 

 and examined by me when in the flesh. In general tint it was of a light silvery 

 grey, with a slightly brindled appearance. The head and throat were darker than 

 the back and under surface, while the tail and wings were lighter and approaching a 

 dove shade. A closer examination revealed the cause of the brindled appearance, 

 and of the distribution of the shades of colour ; inasmuch as each and every feather 

 was found to be barred with several bands alternately dove colour and smoky 

 grey ; and thus where feathers were smallest and the bars closest the plumage was 

 darkest and vice versa. Five bars were counted on one of the feathers from the back, 

 while on the primaries they were much more numerous, though not so close. The 

 usual glossy plumage of the species gave a soft silky appearance, and added to the 

 beauty of the specimen. This bird presents a very remarkable departure from the 

 uniformity of colouration in the feathers of every member of the Corvidce, in 

 maturity and all stages of immaturity. Can it be explained by the strong 

 probability that the Crows — the most highly developed of birds — are descended 

 from speckled progenitors, and that this individual has reverted to the plumage of 

 some remote ancestral type? — Wm. Eagle Clarke, Leeds, October 30th, 1885. 



Flamborough Bird notes. — I think nearly if not all the Swallows 

 (Hirundo rustica) have taken their departure, as I have not seen any since 

 October 18th. On that day I saw several skimming over some sea- weed at the South 

 Landing, no doubt in search of food. We have had great arrivals of migrants this 

 month. Hooded Crows {Corvus comix) were the first to arrive on October 6th, 

 also numbers — enough to till the hedgerows — of Crested Wrens {Regulus cristatus); 

 likewise several Ring Ouzels ( Turdus torqiiatus) were seen on the Headland. 

 Large quantities of Woodcocks {Scolopax 7'iisticula) arrived on the 22nd and 23rd. 

 One of our farmer's sons bagged six couple ; another one bagged fiVe. The game 

 keeper of Rev. Lloyd Greame, Sewerby, informs me that he also shot twelve 

 couple. They were seen in nearly all the gardens in the village. The other day 

 I shot three Little Gulls {Lanes minutus), and two Stormy Petrels (Proce/Zaria 

 pelagica), all splendid specimens. — Matthew Bailey, October 28th, 1885. 



Since writing, three Swallows were seen November 1st.— November nth, 1885. 



CR YPTOGAMIA. 

 Barbula squarrosa in Westmoreland.— I have great pleasure in 



recording the occurrence of this moss in Westmoreland. According to the localities 

 given for it in Dr. Braithwaite's ' Moss Flora ' (Part ix, p. 228), it appears not to 

 have been found hitherto further north than Derbyshire. I discovered the moss at 

 Brigsteer, near Kendal, in October last. It was growing amongst loose stones in 

 exposed places. I have lately found it on the coast, near Arnside, and in some 

 quarries at Kendal, always on the limestone. — C. H. Binstead, B.A., Broom 

 Close, Kendal, November 26th, 1885. 



LEP1DOPTERA. 

 Varieties of Ephyra punctaria and Numeria pulveraria near 



Barnsley.— Strolling through a wood in this neighbourhood in the early part of 

 June last, I accidentally disturbed a Geometer from a small birch bush, which 

 settled amongst the grass, and at first sight I did not recognise it. It, however, 

 turned out to be a curiously-marked Ephyra punctaria. In the general type we 

 have the very distinct transverse brown line commencing half-way along the costal 

 margin, passing through to the inner margin, and joining a similar line in the hind 

 wing. Now, in the specimen I have, the brown transverse line commences as usual 

 on the costal margin, but instead of passing right down the fore wing, turns off 

 elbow fashion and terminates at the base of the wings ; it also shows a decided dark- 

 brown line on the outer edge or border, heaviest at the tip. Placed beside an 

 ordinary specimen, it looks very striking. 



I have also bred a solitary specimen, a female, of Numeria pulveraria, in which 

 the broad transverse central band of umber-brown is entirely absent on one wing 

 (the left). 1 unfortunately kept it too long in the cage, expecting a male, so that it 

 is not quite so perfect as I should like. — -John Harrison, Barnsley, Dec. 9th, 1885. 



Naturalist, 



