Botany. 415 
made. It was first observed about 9 15' A. M., on the weather-bow, about four 
points ; and it then appeared like a large vessel lying on her beam ends. 
The Robertson was hauled up so as to near it ; and running at the rate of 
eight knots an hour, she at 12 noon got abreast of it, distant about a mile to lee - 
ward. On observation at this time it was discovered to be the head and snout 
of a great fish swimming to windward ; and although it was tried to get closer 
to it, this could not be done, as the fish, without much apparent exertion, kept 
swimming as fast as the vessel sailed. 
Immediately above the water its eye was seen like a large deep dark hole. 
That part of the head which was above the water measured about 12 feet, and 
its breadth or width 25 feet. The snout or trunk was about 50 long ; and the 
sea would ripple over one part, leaving other parts of it quite dry and uncover- 
ed. The colour of the parts seen was green, with a ligh t and dark shade ; and 
the skin was ribbed, as represented in the sketch. 
Scolopax Major A fine specimen of S. major, (Great or solitary Snipe), 
was shot on the 8th of September, by Mr Selby, upon the moor near Twizell 
House. It was in perfect plumage, and very fat, its weight six ounces. Its 
liight was observed to be different from that of the common snipe ( S- gallinagoj, 
and somewhat resembled that of the woodcock. It uttered no cry when flush- 
ed. P. J. S. 
Northumbrian Noctuadce Among the various nocturnal Lepidoptera, taken 
this year at Twizell House, Northumberland, are the following, considered of 
rare occurrence, or which have only been met with in distant localities. Deile- 
phila elpenor, D. porcellus, Hepialus vetteda, Notodonta dromedarius, Leiocampa 
dictfea, Demas coryli, Nemeophila plantaginis, TripJuena Jimbria, Cerigo texta, 
Lytaa umbrosa, Agrotis valligera, A. suffusa, A. sagittifera, Orthosia litura y 
Caradrina glareosa, Calocampa exoleta, Hadena remissa, H. adusta. H. ge- 
nista, Euplexia lucipara, Apamea nictitans, A. didyma, Miana literosa, M. stri- 
gilis, M. minima, Scotophila porphyrea, Miselia compta, Polia occulta, P. her- 
bida, P. chi, Acronycta menyanthidis, Thyatira batis, Xanthia gilvago, Leu- 
cania comma, Cucullia absinthii, Plusia iota, P. percontationis, Heliothis pel- 
tigera, $c P. J. S. 
BOTANICAL. 
Botanical Society of London.* BY the advice and sanction of some eminent 
botanists, it is proposed to form a Society under the above name ; the objects 
