336 



Field Noti\ 



out of each segment its internal* contents, wash carefully to get 

 rid of the preservation, then digest for an hour or two, first in 

 weak spirit and water, then in stronger spirit, then in rectified 

 spirit or absolute alcohol, and lastly in oil of cloves, until the 

 whole is clear and transparent ; finally mounting in Canada 

 Balsam thinned with Benzole — using httle or no pressure. 

 The result will be an useful and beautiful slide, and therefore 

 a joy for ever ! 



With regard to the life history of these mites, more investi- 

 gations and records are desirable. We know that they deposit 

 eggs, and that these eggs produce six-legged larvse, which are 

 very active, and in this stage parasitic ; the human subject not 

 being free from their attacks, as shewn by the number of 

 ' Punch ' for September i8th, 1907, page 215, where there is a 

 striking and amusing picture of the result of visiting a harvest- 

 field by a party of ladies and gentlemen. These larvae are very 

 small, and of a bright red colour. A lady friend of mine re- 

 siding in Gloucestershire kindly furnished me with some good 

 specimens last year, and Mr. vSoar has favoured me with a good 

 figure from one of these specimens, which speaks for itself. 



These mites appear to be fairly common, not only in Eng- 

 land, but all over the Continent. 



BIRDS. 



Bird Notes from York District. — January 3rd — Large 

 flock of Golden Plover in Clifton Ings ; January 24th — Large 

 tiock of Bramblings near York ; January 30th — A White Fronted 

 Goose shot at Earl Cottingwith ; January 31st — A white variety 

 ,^ of the common Wild Duck shot on the Malton Road, near 

 York ; March 17th— Eight Hawfinches seen together ; April 

 29th — Cuckoo first seen ; April 30th — Swallow first seen at 

 Wigginton ; May 2nd — Wheatear and Yellow Wagtail at 

 Heworth ; May 6th— Willow Wren first seen ; May 8th — 

 House Martins and Whitethroat first seen ; May 9th — Swifts 

 hrst seen ; Grasshopper Warbler and Landrail heard ; May 

 i6th — Sedgewarblers and Whinchats arrived. The season is 

 very late, and all migratory species are much later in arriving 

 than even last year. — Sydney Smith, York. 



* The fact that ' Punch ' is quoted in this note probably accounts for 

 the compositor originally setting this word up as 'infernal.' — Eds. 



Naturalist, 



