I 
1I.__X()T1CE8 ANJ) ANTiC'JPATlONH. 
I'lie Natural History of the Birds of Africa, Translated from the French of F. 
Le Vaillant, with copious Notes and Synonymes, by J. Rbnnie, A. M., Professor 
of Natural History, King’s College, London, will, we understand, shortly appear. 
8vo. 
A Conspectus of Butterflies and Moths, with descriptions of all known British 
species, amounting to nearly 2000, by the same Author j is also nearly ready. 
A Translation of Le Vaillant’s Birds of Paradise, and the Parrot j uniform with 
Montagu’s Ornithological Dictionary, is in preparation. 
llI._COLLECTIOX8 AND RECOLLECTIONS. 
NATURAL HISTORY. 
Abstinence of Fish. —If you think the following worthy of insertion, I can 
vouch for the truth of it:—A fisheraiau caught two Chars, (^Salmo alpimis,) and a 
Trout, (Salmofarioy) in Coniston Water. He put them into a Minnow-can, the 
lid of which was perforated, and placing it in a Beck^ (one of the feeders of the 
lake,) left it there. The night proved wet, and the quantity of rain which fell 
caused a very high flood. The can was carried away, and never seen again for 
rather more than a year. When it was found, the fish were in it, and alive ! 
One Char was much emaciated, the other and the Trout were in tolerable condi¬ 
tion. All the food they could possibly have obtained, must have been a few 
insects or larva?, which might have occasionally washed in through the small 
holes with which the can was pierced. I ought to add that there were a few 
Minnows in the can at the time it was lost. 
Coniston^ December 22, 1831. J. B. 
The Date Tree. —Phoenix Dactylifera, (Date or Dactyl Tree,) is a very dura¬ 
ble tree ; but if it happens to be injured by some instrument so as to cause a decay, 
it is cut down at the root, and is then burnt on the spot, and its ashes are covered 
with a layer of earth; from the middle of which, a new shoot soon arises, and be¬ 
comes strong in a few years. As the Greek word for this Palm, is Phcenix, it is 
probable that the fabulous history of the Arabian bird of that name reviving from 
its ashes, is founded on this circumstance.— Travels by the Abbe Mariti. It is re¬ 
markable, that where Date 'frees grow, water is always found near. 
F.J.G.W. 
HORTICULTURE. 
The Pink-eyed Potatoe of Wales. —Both the early and late are common in 
Glamorganshire, and better varieties of this valuable esculent do not exist. The 
Early variety admirably succeeds the Early Prolific and the Ash-leaved Kidney j 
the Late variety should not be used until towards the return of spring : they are 
excellent bearers, are very mealy, and last until June, when young potatoes take 
their place. 
IV.—SOCIETIES, 
CONNECTED WITH HORTICULTURE AND NATURAL HISTORY. 
OXFORD BO'rAMCAL NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY. 
Established August 3ist, 1831. 
‘‘The obji'c.t of this Society is to jironiote the Study of Natural History in general, and more 
particularly, Hofaiiy and Horticulture. This object it will endeavour to accomplish : 1.—By 
reading Original Communications, or Extracts from works of value and utility on these sub¬ 
jects. :2.—J^y occasional Lectures. 3.—By the purchase of periodical and other books relative 
