386 
MISCELLANY. 
had I the wings of a Dove, I might soar away, but never could I be more delight¬ 
fully at rest in mind, than when capturing a new Wasp, or some other sweet 
creature. Those who attempt to teach mortals the art of flying, are indeed use¬ 
ful members of society, since by its means we should be enabled to capture, both 
alive and dead, many lovely M children of the sun ”, which seldom or never con¬ 
descend to visit us here below, and several of them, I doubt not, armed with 
stings and other weapons of defence. Man was undoubtedly created with the 
special view of studying the sublime, the ever-varied pleasure afforded by the 
insect race. Without them, let us never forget that we should be mere grovel¬ 
ling mortals, toiling on in the dull cold routine of ordinary life, without other 
object than the satisfying of our carnal desires. Oh ! God be praised that the 
high desires of entomologists have been thus far crowned with success ; and may 
that Being who tempers the wind to the shorn caterpillar continue to favour with 
his divine inspiration the gifted mortals who are now and ever wandering the 
longitude and latitude of this insect-blessed land, in search of those creatures 
which, as is, or ought to be, well-known, form the chief essential of sublunary 
bliss.—i Life and Adventures of John Rumshaw. 
Distribution of the Mountain Linnet (Linota montana *).—-The Moun¬ 
tain Linnet, as its name would imply, prefers high hills and mountains, or, at 
least, an interchange of moor and fell. Dr. Latham sent Col. Montagu a nest 
and eggs taken in Yorkshire; and according to Mr. Neville Wood, this bird 
breeds in some parts of Staffordshire and in Derbyshire, exhibiting its partiality 
to the higher grounds. This is probably about the Southern limit of its breed¬ 
ing ground in this country. 
Mr. Thompson says it is not uncommon in certain localities in Ireland. Mr. 
MacGillivray states that “ it is plentiful in the Hebrides, and in Winter fre¬ 
quents the corn-yards in large flocks, clinging to the stacks of Oats, and picking 
out the seeds. Its flight is rapid and undulated, and it wheels over the fields 
previous to alighting, uttering a soft twitter at intervals. When disturbed it 
betakes itself to tall trees, or to a distant field; but it is not shy, and may, 
therefore, be easily approached when feeding. In Spring it forsakes its Winter 
haunts, and disperses over the hilly tracts, where it forms its nest on the ground? 
among short Heath, or on the Grassy slopes of craggy spots. It is neatly con¬ 
structed, being composed externally of fine dry Grass, fragments of Heath, and a 
little Moss, internally of fibrous roots, wool, and hair. The eggs are bluish 
white, marked towards the larger end with light brown and purplish red, some¬ 
times with a few blackish dots.” 
Sir William Jardine sends me word that the Mountain Linnet is abundant 
* The name TAnaria is inadmissible, having been pre-occupied in Botany.— Ed. 
