82 



MISCELLANEOUS NOTES. 



1086, is Rodestain, Rodestan, and Rodestein. In Kirkby's Inquest, 

 A.D. 1277, it is Ruddestan, Rudestane, and Rudstane). Rudd was 

 a common Icelandic personal name, and, under ordinary circum- 

 stances, Rudston would be perfecdy correct to designate the enclosure 

 (tun) of a man of that name : but the spelling in Domesday Book, as 

 also in Kirkby's Inquest, clearly points to the word 'stan' or 'stone.' 

 It may have been Rudd's Stone (Ruddestan). But here again the old 

 spelling suggests an alternative, for it is ' Rodestan.' Hence some 

 have imagined that ' rode ' meant ' red,' though the stone is not red : 

 others that it meant 'rood' as in rood-screen and rood-loft. The 

 writer thinks that the first part of the word may mean 'famous' from 

 'hrod ' Icelandic for fame or renown, and that the name was given by 

 the Danes when they saw, and wondered at the great stone, already 

 erected by earlier inhabitants. 



On the wolds we find V-shaped hollow ways leading from one 

 point to another, now for the most part filled up 'by the gradual 

 accumulation of soil, and only showing a slight terrace on a dale side. 

 These represent ancient British tracks. In the face of a chalk 

 quarry, one hundred yards or less from the monolith, there is an 

 appearance of such a hollow V-shaped way, 5 ft. in depth, from 

 which the writer has obtained oyster-shells and bones of great age. 

 The direction of this hollow is straight for the monolith, but till 

 further excavations are made it is unwise to build any theory upon it. 

 Meanwhile, the stone itself may well be brought before the notice of 

 the Boulder Committee, as having, probably, more interest attached 

 to it than any other boulder in the county. 



NOTE—LEPIDOPTERA. 



The Supposed Yorkshire Nepticula tormentillse ; and the occurrence of 

 another Species New to the County. — Mr. Eustace R. Bankes informs me that 

 the Yorkshire locality where he took the supposed larvae of Nepticida tor?nei2iillir 

 (Nat. xii. pp. 12 and 59) in October last, is Ingleborough (Clapham) ; and that both 

 in 1886 and 1887 he also found rather commonly round Ingleborough larvae of 

 Lithocolletis sorhiella Frey ( = aJ(cnparieUa Scott), and bred the perfect insect 

 last spring. He also found the same species sparingly at Richmond, Yorkshire. 

 It has not hitherto been recorded for the county. But it now seems clear (Ent. 

 Mo. Mag., xxiv. 187) that the supposed A'. toinnentillcB from the Yorkshire 

 and \Vestmorland moors is not that species at all, but an entirely new one, for 

 which we still want a name. — Geo. T. Porritt, Huddersfield, Felj. 13th, 1888. 



NOTE— MAMMALIA. 



Otter in Lincolnshire. — In The Lincoln, Rtitland, and Stamford Mei-airy of' 

 27th January, 1888, it is stated that a fine dog-otter {Ltiira vulgaris) was found in 

 Dunston Fen on Monday, the 23rd of January, on the farm of Mr. James Clifton. 

 It was captured on the banks of the Carr-dyke and is now in the possession of 

 Mr. J. v^mith, chemist, Lincoln. — J as. Eardi.ey Mason, Alford, Feb. 6th, 1888. 



Naturalist, 



