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THE NATURALISTS’ JOURNAL. 
have got some Ova. Perhaps some of our friends will write to me if they 
want a few, and exchange for Ova or Pupse. —James Grime, 243, Holliwell 
Rd., Bolton. 
Braphos Parthenias at Reading.- -I have taken four orange underwings 
(B. Parthenias) flying high over beeches. — J. R. White, Talbot J^odge, 
Castle Street, Reading. 
Butterflies at Gloucester.— Vanessa C. album was flying at Longhope on 
March 24th. On the 26th it was fairly common at Wainloads Hill, also on the 
29thatBarnwood. On April 2nd, Argynnis Euphrosyne was seen at Painswick, 
as was also G. rhamni and A. cardamines. — A . Lionel Clarke, Gloucester. 
BOTANY. 
Plants seen in flower in March . —At Fivehead, Somerset, saw the follow¬ 
ing in flower: Primula veris, P. officinalis , Anemone nemorosa, Ranunculus 
fcaria , Lamium purpureum , Fragraria vesca, Hyacinthus non-sc)'iptus, 
Tussilago farfara, Euphrasia officinalis , Stella? ia graminea, Calthapalustris . 
Flowei'S i?i April. Alliaria officinalis , Vinca minor , Arum maculatum, 
Oxalis acetosella, Myosotis palustris, in addition to the foregoing.—Rev. A. 
C. Denman, m.p.n.s., Fivehead, Taunton, Somerset. 
MAMMALS. 
Otter on the Severn. —A fine dog otter was discovered on the morning of 
Sunday February 4, lying on the railway near Gatcombe, Herefordshire, having 
evidently been run over by a train. Otters are very rarely seen on the Severn 
but are more numerous on the Wye. 
BIRDS. 
Ea?'ly breeding of the Wren. — On February 4th a wren’s nest was found in 
a pigstye at Donington, Gloucestershire, the hen sitting.—A. Lionel Clarke. 
Motacilla alba at Highgate. —I thought it might be of some interest to the 
readers of your journal to know that I saw a splendid specimen of the white 
wagtail (Motacilla alba) here on February 24th ; it was in company with a 
pied and a grey wagtail. This is rather a rare species in this neighbourhood ; 
I have never seen it here before. — B. R. Harrison, Highgate, n. 
ORNITHOLOGICAL NOTES FROM FIFESHIRE. 
Several of our summer migrants have come ; the cuckoo was heard on the 
2nd. I have noticed a large flock of Wheatears during the last few days. 
They arrived in a grass field about mid-afternoon, flying straight against the 
S.E. wind. They fed for about an hour and then resumed their flight. On 
the 4th April, two eggs of the long-eared owl were found in a rook’s nest 
containing four eggs of the latter. I believe it is rather uncommon to find a 
hooded crow’s nest built on a tree inland; one was found some two years ago 
at Greigston about fourteen miles from the coast. Further more I am inclined 
to think that the carrion and hooded crows sometimes mate, as young birds 
have been found in one nest, some black like the carrion crow and others 
marked like the hooded. 
At Anstruther there may be seen a rook’s nest built in a very unusual place, 
vfz., in a chimney can on the top of the Commercial Hotel. It seems that 
last year a pair of rooks were seen to be chased from a rookery which is quite 
opposite. The same occurance happened this year although they endeavoured 
to build, but alas ! the others ultimately succeeded in destroying their nest, 
after which they were foiced to find more peaceful quarters whence they took 
up their abode in the chimney can. Moreover, the smoke was issuing from the 
can in which the nest is built,when they began their operations, but, through 
the kindness of the proprietorof the Hotel, I am glad to say he ordered the fire 
to be left unkindled during the rook’s sojourn above. I yesterday noticed the 
