164 



Notes — Lepidoptera and Ornithology. 



advantage of the detachable end is that if, as often happens in 

 sweeping when thorns are about, a bag is torn, it is easy to put 

 on a fresh one. A tear in the upper part of the net, if not too 

 large, does not much matter, near the end it is fatal, but with 

 detachable bags all is well. 



Easily-Manipulated Boxes. — Instead of the ordinary glass- 

 topped boxes, which are not very easily manipulated with one 

 hand without a good deal of practice, I use old match-boxes, 

 with a partition glued across the middle, and a couple of ^-inch 

 holes punched in the top and covered with a strip of mica 

 (Fig. 4). Open the match-box half-way. Hold it between the 

 side points of the first and third fingers with the thumb and first 

 fingers at each end ready to close it when the open portion has 

 been placed over an insect. It can then be opened half-way on 

 the other side to receive another occupant, the first side remain- 

 ing closed on its prisoner. 



NOTE— LEPIDOPTERA. 



Gonepteryx rhamni in Nottinghamshire.— On 18th April, during: 

 a cycle ride from North Collingham to Spalford in mid-east Notts, I saw 

 seven specimens of the Brimstone Butterfly on the wing - . Three were in 

 the parish of North Collingham, three at South Scarle, and one at Spalford. 

 We may, therefore, hope to see this beautiful species commonly in the 

 district in the late summer, although it is usually rare in Notts. I may add 

 that I saw two specimens at Thorney, in the same neighbourhood, early in 

 August last.— J. W. Carr, Nottingham, 5th May 1900. 



NOTE— ORNITHOLOGY. 



Curious Site for a Blackbird's Nest. — At the railway station of 

 Netherton, a village three miles from Huddersfield, a pair of Blackbirds 

 ( Turdus meruld) have chosen a curious site for their nest. The low front of the 

 station is supported in the centre by an iron pillar, at the top of which, in 

 front and outside, is a projecting- ledg-e. On this ledge the birds have built 

 their nest, and have now been closely sitting- for some days. The nest is 

 near the booking- office and in perhaps the busiest part of the stone-built 

 station, with trains constantly passing- or stopping- immediately opposite the 

 nest at only a few yards distance for numerous passeng-ers to enter or depart. 

 But what adds to the remarkable character of the site is the fact that a large 

 station lamp, similar to an ordinary street lamp, is fixed to. the iron 

 pillar, the lamp itself projecting in front of, and on a level with, the 

 nest, a space of about half a yard separating them. To g-et to the rtest 

 the birds have practically to go around the lamp, and, although it is lighted 

 as usual every night, and the nest and sitting bird are fully exposed to the 

 view of every passenger by the trains, the birds evince no fear whatever. 

 The station-master and porters are much delighted with the birds and nest, 

 and I believe will not allow them to be molested if they can help it. I may 

 add, too, that as the nest is about a mile from my own residence, and as I 

 pass it in the train several times daily, I also shall watch its future career 

 with much interest. — Geo. T. Porritt, Crosland Hall, Huddersfield, 25th 

 May 1900. 



Naturalist, 



