MISCELLANY. 
217 
her, and the work is announced to be “ complete/’ in 5 vols. We regret this cir¬ 
cumstance, and still morejThe probable cause of it, although we had long anticipated 
it. —Mr. Beale has published a second edition of his Natural History of the 
Sperm Whale. Though dated 1839, we have perused its contents ere the 44 old 
year” is entirely spent. It will be reviewed at a future opportunity. 
CHAPTER OF MISCELLANIES. 
ZOOLOGY. 
Anecdote of a Robin Redbreast ( Rubecula familiar is). —Among the many 
traits of character of the Robin, it is well known that its relish for the society of 
Man in the shrill blasts of Winter stands prominent. A remarkable instance of 
this occurred in St. Andrews some time since. A lady residing in the suburbs 
observing from time to time poor Robin hopping about her window, apparently 
soliciting the friendly shelter of some one, was induced to open the window, when 
Robin quickly accepted the preferred hospitality, entering and devouring some 
food most greedily, and seemingly well pleased with its quarters. It perched in 
the room during the night, and was allowed to escape next morning. Next night 
it again made its appearance, and again received a welcome. Night after night 
he returned to his quarters during the Winter; and, strange to say, he invariably 
heralded his arrival to his 44 lady love” by tapping on the window.— George Tod 
|/no place is named in the date], March 1 , 1838. 
Occurrence of Geotrupes stercorarius in December.— -I was not a little sur¬ 
prised on the first of this month, when on the road between this place and St. 
Andrews, about the middle of the day, to see a specimen of Geotrupes stercorarius , 
an insect familiar to almost every one under the common name of Dor-beetle, and 
whose 44 drowsy hum” falls so often on our ears during the evenings of Autumn* 
It was flying about with its usual heavy flight, but I could not distinguish any¬ 
thing like the humming noise. Indeed I have generally remarked that this 
humming sound is not produced during its diurnal flight. It was rather a mild 
day, but without sunshine, and there were many other insects, both Coleoptera 
(Aphodius) and Diptera , sporting about. My brother informs me that he saw a 
specimen of the Dor-beetle two or three days previous to the 1st of Dec., and 
which, in attempting to secure, he drove into the burn.— Henry Buist, Law 
Park Cottage , near St. Andrews , Dec. 11, 1838. 
Composition for repairing Entomologial Specimens.-— The following com¬ 
position is used by Andrew Melly, Esq., to repair damaged insects, and has 
