OFFICIAL NOTICES. 
1 19 
Migrants at Weston-super-Mare. — The summer-like temperature of 
March and April, which brought to such early maturity the flowering shrubs and 
fruit blossoms, did not, I believe, draw to our shores earlier than usual the spring 
migrants. The swallow, last seen in this neighbourhood on November iith, 
did not arrive much, if at all, before March 31st. The marvellous swift, scream- 
ing with joy, was here numerously on the evening of May 5th. The advent of 
the summer warblers agreed also more closely with the calendar than the appear- 
ance of the winged ancl wingless insects, which the great warmth of the spring 
of 1893 awakened so early. The drought has told hardly on the thrushes, mak- 
ing their chief food scarce, and a difficult task the rearing of their young. I see 
them eating with avidity the green ivy-berries. The mother of three, born in my 
garden at the end of the month, omitted the customary duty, owing to the rlry 
weather, of lining the nest with clay. 
T. P. 
A Carnivorous Caterpillar. — Caterpillars usually live upon vegetable 
diet, but the greeny yellow caterpillar of the Dun Bar moth preys upon smaller 
caterpillars, twisting his fat green body round them in a fatal embrace, and then 
biting into the skin and sucking out the juice. The first time I remarked the 
operation going on I fancied it was an accident, but I have since found many 
indisputable cases of it. 
^ Southanipstead Park. Berks. Emma Elizabeth Thoyts. 
The Cuckoo. — Every one is familiar with the cuckoo’s song or cry, but it 
may not be generally known that while on the wing the bird utters a curious 
gurgling sound between its calls. What is the reason for this ? Is it part of its 
song ? 
E. E. Thoyts. 
A Query. — -What bird or insect is it that at this season bites through the 
stalk of sycamore leaves, which in a garden near this town are littering the 
ground ? 
St. Alba?ts. Edward Liddell. 
Early May. — Miss E. II. Hickey writes on April 24th, “To-day I have 
seen May in full bloom on Hampstead Heath ; ” on the same day we saw a bush in 
full flower in a hedge near Pangbourne, Berks. 
OFFICIAL NOTICES. 
Excursion to Selborne on Saturday, June 24th, 1893. 
Train leaves Waterloo at lo. 15 ; Clapham Junction, 10.26 ; arriving at Alton, 
12.5 ; conveyances will be in waiting (tickets transferable) for drive to Selborne — 
.about five miles. Carriages at 6.30 for return to Alton. The last train leaves 
at 7.44. 
Lunch at 1.30; Lord Selborne in the chair, supported by Lord Northbrook, 
the Earl of Stamford, and Sir John Lubbock. 
Archceology : Mr. T. W. Shore of the Hampshire Field Club will conduct a 
party over the church and to other places of interest. 
Field Parties will visit the Hanger, &c., under the guidance of various 
naturalists. 
The I Takes : Mr. F. M. Read has most kindly offered to open his house and 
grounds for the inspection of members of the Selborne Society only, during the 
day. See also p. 1 12. 
A. J. Western, Sec. 
At the Council meeting held on Wednesday, May 3rd, Mr. Archibald Clarke 
was appointed to represent the Selborne Society on the Organising Committee of 
the National Society for Checking the Abuses of Public Advertising. Mr. Britten 
has also been placed on the Committee. 
A. J. Western, Secretary. 
