RECORDS AND OBSERVATIONS. 
153 
Tape-worm in the wild rabbit .—With reference to Mr. Swanton’s remarks 
in the N. J. for March, I may state that I experienced the same thing last 
year. I shot a good number of wild rabbits—from about two months old to 
full-grown—and I am sure that in fifteen out of twenty, there were one or more 
tapeworms. I have no doubt the dr) season was the chief ^ause of the abund¬ 
ance of the parasite, for if the weather had been wet, the eggs would more 
than likely have been washed from off the grass.—W. Berwick, Stravithie, 
N.B. 
A freak of nature. —Mr. W. Howlett, naturalist, of Newmarket, writes to 
the Bury Free Tress 5—“One of the most remarkable freaks of nature that 
has ever come under my notice has just been sent to me—a a full-grown calf, 
with six perfectly shaped legs, two heads, and two tails. It is not an ugly, 
disgusting looking object; quite the reverse. It is a very prettily marked and 
well shaped animal, and quite as large as any calf would be a fortnight old.— 
SV. G. C. 
BIRDS. 
Hybrid between house and tree sparrows. — A hybrid between the common 
sparrow and the tree sparrow was exhibited for the Rev. J. G. Tuck at a recent 
meeting of the Linnman Society, and the fact may be interesting to “ Ram¬ 
bler.”—A. H. Waters. 
The same bird is recorded in “ Science Gossip ” for March as having been 
exhibited at a meeting of the Norfolk and Norwich Naturalists Society on 
January 30th last; it was shown by Mr. Southwell on behalf of the Rev. 
Julian Tuck.—Ed. 
The rook .—During this winter I have had four rooks brought to me, to be 
preserved, with the base of bill covered with bristles and feathers similar to the 
Carrion Crow. I have never had one before and should be glad to know if 
any of your readers have noticed it. — G. Bristow, St Leonards. 
Early nesting of robin. —In the “ Weekly Record ” (a local paper) dating 
March 1st, I read that a robin’s nest containing three eggs could be seen in a 
cow-shed on Lower Berry Court Farm, Donhead St. Mary, Wilts.—E. W. 
S wanton, Bratton St. Maur. 
INSECTS. 
P. rapee in January (See N. J., p. 136).—Is Mr. Clarke sure this was 
a hybernated individual and not an early emergence ? I never knew P. rapse 
to hybernate as an imago and it would be most interesting if an undoubted 
instance of its doing so could be adduced.— A. H. Waters. 
Early recoids. —The following moths have already appeared at Wimbledon 
—Phigalia pedaria, Hybernia progemmaria, H. leucophaearia, Pterophorus 
monodactylus, Anisopteryx eescularia, and Seienia illunaria.—W.C., Feb. 24. 
X. xerampelina (centre-barred sallow ) at Beverley in 1893.—Several speci¬ 
mens of this exceedingly local moth were taken at sugar last September by 
Mr. Chapman, of that town, within sound of the Minster bells.— William 
Hewett, Howard street, York. 
Gonepteryx rhamni. —It may perhaps interest some readers to know that I 
found a female specimen of the brimstone butterfly on November 27th, 1893. 
H. Goode, Northampton. 
Coleoptera in the Hastings district. —During the winter 1893-4, I “bottled” 
the following species of Coleoptera, among many others unworthy ot mention. 
Among the fallen needles, etc., at the toot of Scotch firs : Metabletus obscuro- 
guttatus and Scymnus hsemorrhoidalis occurred rather commonly. Trachyph- 
loeus scaber, scabriculus, and myrmecophilus were taken somewhat plentifully 
at the roots of grass on the sea-cliff. Bledius atricapillus, together with the 
cannibal Dyschirius thoracicus, and Trogophlseus halophilus occurred in the 
rock of the cliffs. In fir-stumps I found the handsome Rhagium bifasciatum, 
reposing with elegant ease in his woody bed; and at the roots of an oak-tree 
I took one specimen of Lithocharis brunnea. Of course tufts of grass and 
