46 
NOTES AND NEWS. 
powerful grip. The cormorant came to the top of the water 
with its burden, but was unable to keep its head above water, 
since the weight of the oyster, being over half a pound (the 
usual weight of a Tenby oyster), destroyed its equilibrium. 
The cormorant kept up a series of struggles, now being dragged 
under water, now coming up again, but was unable to dis¬ 
lodge its opponent. Whilst in this state it was seen by a 
passer-by, and captured and killed. Doubtless the cormorant 
in the end would have been conquered by its assailant had it 
not been killed immediately after being seen. Its beak was 
found to be broken, and the muscles of the throat were much 
drawn up and contracted by its violent efforts to release itself. 
Such a case to my knowledge has never been heard of before, 
and will therefore prove interesting to all naturalists. The 
bird with the oyster is at present in the hands of Mr. Jefferys, 
of Tenby, who is preparing it. 
Lubricipeda Larvae and their Food.— The varied nature of 
the food of the Buff Ermine Moth is astonishing. Severals pecies 
of larvae will feed indifferently on various kinds of 11 low plants,’' 
but you find lubricipedce not only on almost every common weed 
but even on trees and shrubs. Most remarkable, too, the nature 
of their food has no influence on their colour. I cannot dis¬ 
tinguish the slightest difference between the imagos produced 
from individuals feeding on -lilac in their larval state and imagos 
produced from larvae feeding on dock and other low plants. It 
is the same with Marnestra per sic aria: larvae; moths bred from 
caterpillars feeding on lilac, red-currant, parsley, rhubarb, horse¬ 
radish, cabbage, horehound, and various wild plants, do not 
differ to any extent as far as I can see. 
Cambridge . Albert Waters. 
The Birds of London.— The Editor of the Naturalists' 
Journal intends shortly to publish, by subscription, a hand¬ 
book (now in preparation) of the birds of London and its 
vicinity. This work will, as far as possible, include all the 
species both commonly or irregularly occurring within a radius 
of some twelve miles round London, with as full an account as 
possible of their distribution, time of appearance and departure, 
if visitors, &c., &c., together with a descriptive introduction 
and many valuable footnotes. The price to subscribers will be 
is. 6d. (including postage), of which a deposit of 6d. should be 
paid on application; and as soon as the names of fifty sub¬ 
scribers have been received, the work will be sent to press. 
Immediately it is issued, the price will be raised to as., and no 
more subscriptions received. If further particulars are desired 
a stamped envelope should be sent. 
As many as 4,061 muscles have been counted in the body 
of a moth, • . 
