ATHENE A Journal of NATURAL HISTORY and Microscopy
Summer, 1962 No. 3
Published by The Oldham Microscopical Society and Field Club
ATHENE NOCTUA VIDALIl
Editor : L. N. KIDD, F.L.S., F.R.E.S.
Assistant Editor : R. J. STANTON, M.A.
Price 2/6 OLDHAM MICROSCOPICAL SOCIETY AND FIELD CLUB
ESTABLISHED 1864
Headquarters:
Werneth Park Study Centre and Natural History Museum, Oldham
President: A. HUMPHREYS, ESQ.
Meetings held weekly at the Society's Headquarters on Monday evenings at 7-30 p.m. Outdoor Meetings also held during summer months, usually on Saturday.
Members are entitled to borrow books from the Society's Library and to make use of the instruments.
Annual Subscription 10/- Junior Members (under 18) 5/-
Further particulars and copy of the current syllabus obtainable from: — The Hon. Secretary, Mr. L. N. KIDD, 7, Kinders Crescent, Greenfield, Nr. Oldham.
Further copies of ' Athene ' can be obtained from : — The Publications Secretary, Miss A. C. CHADDERTON, 78, Oldham Road, Grasscroft, Nr. Oldham, or from The Society's Headquarters
Orders should be accompanied by postal order or cheque for 2/6, plus 4d. postage. SNAILING WITH FRED TAYLOR
By JOHN ARMITAGE, F.R.P.S., F.R.E.S., M.B.O.U.
At an early age, I was profoundly interested in everytliing said and done by Mr. Fred Taylor the Oldham conchologist and ornithologist, and rambles arranged hy the local Natural History Society were invariably enriched by his presence and his lucid remarks concerning the birds and moUusca we encountered. Thanks to encouragement and expert guidance, which later developed into a lifelong friendship, I soon became conversant with the land and freshwater snails of the doughs, canals, ponds and marshes of a limited area in South-East Lancashire. In August, 1914—prior to becoming a student at the Oldham School of Art—I spent a holiday at Portland in Dorset, and returned with a rich haul of shells whose original owners were largely associated with the oolitic limestone. The First World War started, but during the three years that followed, it made little impact on me, and somehow my studies as an art student dovetailed beautifully with natural history pursuits. Watching Mr. Taylor, sometimes for hours on end, at work in a somewhat grimy countryside, dredging with metal scoop or rooting among decayed herbage, I realized gradually that relentless persistence often scored where a less thorough approach would have failed. On numerous occasions at his home, I observed Mr. Taylor's exacting procedure, laboriously boiling and cleaning his finds, later selecting and boxing choice shells of the finest quality and writing on the underside of each box the all-important data. There were always plenty of duplicates for his friends and admirers of the Conchological Society, whom he met on outdoor excursions in Lancashire and Cheshire during the summer months and at the Manchester Museum in winter. Certain kinds of land snails, both large and small, produce delicate shafts of carbonate of lime used in courtship and known as " love-darts," and Mr. Taylor was a positive genius at extracting them from the animals, cutting away the dart-sacs, dissolving away the fleshy parts in a weak solution of caustic potash warmed up in a test tube, and finally, after repeated washings, there were the darts, ready for mounting, that of each species being distinctive in form. Those Portland shells formed the nucleus of my growing collection amassed and hoarded with schoolboy enthusiasm; and, naturally, I was ever ready to receive and treasure my friend's duplicates—most of which to this day are in superb condition, and they have been appreciated frequently by my fellow-members of the Yorkshire Conchological Society, whose distinguished history goes hack further than the parent body in London.
sixty-three Mr. Taylor joined the Conchological Society in 1895, but Dr. J. W. Jackson, a contemporary of his and collaborator in matters moUuscan, tells me that from the records, there is evidence that he exhibited shells from the Oldham district at the Manchester meetings as early as 1892; and it was the Society's list of species and main varieties of the British land and freshwater mollusca published in that year which he used throughout his collection. A census of the country's snails together with a revised list was compiled in 1902, and a new list of British Non-Marine Mollusca was published in 1941, adding to the confusion of several subgenera and countless synonyms so baffling to the beginner. To the last, in ordinary shell-conversation, Mr. Taylor used the names printed in the 1892 list with its simple genera such as Helix, Hyalinia and Clausilia, and these names occur in his collection of local shells presented to Oldham in 1898, exhibited and described at the Conchological Society during the previous December, a paper enumerating 58 species being published in the journal for April, 1898. Fred Taylor (1871-1949) lived a full life in which most of his leisure was devoted to birds and their eggs and snails and their shells; and with his wife, I found them the most constant and unchanging of friends, although one was a specialist and the other a kindly and tolerant soul knowing practically nothing of her husband's wholehearted hobby, yet in almost daily contact with trays and drawers of specimens throughout their married life. Years after the first war was over, an enquiry at 42, Landseer Street was met with Mrs. Taylor's unvarying reply. I would open brightly with; "Good evening, Mrs. Taylor; is Mr. Taylor in?" The greeting was; "Hello, Jack; come in; yes, Fred's playing with his shells." Bird and snail lore mingled with Mrs. Taylor's amusing gossip (she was tremendously interested in folk), and this sort of thing continued on and off for about thirty-five years; and I still remember both vividly with gratitude and affection. Apart from the operculate shell Amnicola taylori which he discovered at the opening of the present century, Mr. Taylor took immense numbers of a few common species occurring locally, collecting them year after year from a certain length of a canal or a particular mill lodge, noting the annual peak period and occasionally finding the mollusc in great quantity with a certain proportion hearing distorted shells and a few of exceptional size. So, for example, he scooped up lots of the Great Pond Snail Limnaea stagnalis from Droylsden canal; and in 1940 he found giants and freaks unique in 50 years of collecting. Many were curiously malformed, and in my illustration showing five of the shells half-size, the first only is normal. No. 2 has a reflexcd lip; No. 3 has a pronounced raised ridge; No. 4 bears an outgrown lip; while No. 5 in addition to being abnormally angular in the main whorl is strongly banded with white and brown.
sixty-four Together, we dredged several mill lodges of the Oldham district; and down the years our collections of the North American Bladder Snail Physa heterostropha assumed formidable proportions, the largest and most colourful shells being found in the Bedford Mill lodge, while stunted and ill-nourished forms came from the contaminated lodge of a rubber works at Hollinwood. A bad habit among unenterprising naturalists is to revisit localities shown by pioneers to be productive and to avoid unworked areas because they might prove to be a waste of time. James Purdy, a fellow art student, and I were regular visitors to the snail-thronged ponds at Fitton Hill, a few favoured spots at Riversvale, and a shady, insignificant bank below the canal at Bardsley where the Hollowed Glass Snail Hyalinia excavatus could be found in plenty. Later, we turned up fresh and profitable collecting places to the great delight of Mr. Taylor; and some time I will recall our joint discoveries and the best of my late friend's trips further afield.
THE FORMATION OF COAL
By W. F. EDWARDS
Oldham is situated on the Eastern edge of the Lancashire coalfield, and in the past, many millions of tons of coal have been mined in our own locality. Although most of the workable coal has now been extracted, the story of how it got there in the first place is extremely interesting. If we are to believe geologists, this area was once a small part of a vast steaming swamp thickly covered by vegetation, but not vegetation of the kind that grows in Oldham today. There were no flowering plants and no trees with hard woody trunks and innumerable branches like our oak or ash trees, although some of the plants did contain woody tissues. Instead there were many plants resembling our present day clubmosses, Lycopodiales, except that they grew to about 100ft. in beight, others like modern horsetails, Equisetales, which grew to 50ft. or more, and large quantities of fern-like plants, Pteridosperms, some of which may have reproduced like true ferns, and others which may have produced seeds.
sixty-five These plants, and many others, are thought to have grown ahout 250 million years ago in an area which was gradually sinking, so that in various parts of the huge swampland, thick layers of dead vegetation very often became covered over by layers of mud and sand which was washed down by rivers. The layers of mud and sand preserved and compressed the dead vegetation and as the layers accumulated, the vegetable matter became coal and the layers of sediment became layers of rock, hence the term sedimentary rocks. As a result, in coal-bearing strata, we find many seams or layers of coal, one on top of the other, contained amongst very many more layers of shale and sandstone, etc. For the non-geologist, this is a very large chunk of theory to swallow withont some supporting evidence. We are asked to connect a hard piece of black shiny rock, which has been mined usually from some dark gallery many hundreds of feet down, with queer types of vegetation which once grew in the sunlight. Therefore, in order to appreciate it better, here are some facts which support the above theory : — CHEMICAL COMPOSITION OF COAL. Different kinds of coal can he compared with wood and peat showing the same main chemical constituents. Furthermore, they can be arranged in the following order : wood, peat, lignite (brown coal) bituminous, or house coal and anthracite (the hardest coal), showing a gradual increase in carbon content with a corresponding reduction in the percentages of hydrogen and oxygen. FIREDAMP IN MINES. Firedamp is the name given to an inflammable gas which is released during mining operations and represents one of the greatest hazards of the industry. Its main constituent is methane which is also given off from marshy places due to the decomposition of dead vegetation and in these circumstances is called marsh gas. MICROSCOPIC EXAMINATION OF COAL. There are several ways of doing this, and one method is to grind down a slice of coal until it is so thin that light will pass through it. This is a very tricky operation, but it has been carried out, and under the microscope, recognizable plant remains such as spores, cuticles and even cell structures have been identified. In another method, the coal is crushed and to the fine particles, corrosive acid and other chemicals are added which dissolves away most of the coal leaving the more resistant spores and cuticles which can again be examined by use of a microscope. This is a fairly easy operation which I have carried out myself successfully.
FOSSILS. In strata above and below coal seams, imprints of flattened portions of vegetation, such as stems, leaves, fruiting cones, and roots, etc., have been carefully preserved by nature and from these a picture of the life of those past ages has gradually been built up. Apart from this, however, is the important clue
sixty-six that fossil roots are formed just helow the seam, and fossil stems, leaves, and fruiting cones are formed above the seam. In fact, many seams have what miners call " pot-holes " in the strata just above the seam. These are the fossilised bases of tree trunks, usually with a thin layer of coal around them, and unless the miners are very careful these lumps of rock fall on their heads when the coal has heen extracted.
COAL BALLS. This is the name given to pieces of rock which started as plant material which has later become petrified, i.e., due to chemical action, the organic compounds of the vegetation have been replaced by mineral substances, usually calcite, and as the particles being replaced were so small the structure of these plants has been preserved down to the minutest detail. Not many of these coal balls have been found but from them an important part of the knowledge of coal measure vegetation has been learned.
There are other reasons for believing that the theory I have briefly outlined is a true one, but these can not be given in a short article of this type and I would like to say, in conclusion, that if one can accejit it then one can accept the evidence of fossils in rocks of all ages and hence the theory of evolution in general.
MICROSCOPICAL NOTES
By R. J. STANTON
Many experienced workers with the microscope daily make use of oil-immersion lenses when high magnifications are required. They reach for the oil-bottle, place a drop between objective and slide, and settle down to work without a thought of the optics involved. And why should they? One does not need to know how a lens works to make use of it. But this ingenious method of achieving high magnification deserves to be understood.
First it must be realised that one of the limiting factors in high-magnification work is the difficulty of passing sufficient light into the microscope, without affecting the definition. Obviously, the larger the diameter of the lens, the more light will be able to pass through it. But, in practice, we are restricted to using only the centre portion of the lens if we want a clear image. Rays passing through the lens at any distance from the centre are not brought to a sharp focus. So there is a limit to the aperture of an objective and hence the amount of light which can be accepted. But there is one special case in a transparent sphere where all the rays from an object, no matter how far from the centre they pass, are refracted to a true focus. Thus, theoretically, in this special case, there is no limit to the size of the aperture. This
sixty-seven special case is when the object is placed exactly at what is known as the aplanatic point. This is a point at a distance from the centre of the sphere equal to the radius of the sphere divided hy the refractive index of the material from which it is made. This, unfortunately, brings us up against an apparently insuperable difficulty—the aplanatic point is actually inside the lens. If we could place an object at this point, then a true point image could he formed, no matter how wide a beam were employed. But how on earth can we make a lens in such a way that the thing we want to observe is inside it? For a long time the question was only of academic interest— a pleasant topic for learned argument, without practical use. But then the oil-immersion lens was developed. The bottom lens of the objective is, in effect, the top half of a sphere. If this is placed the correct distance above the object, and the space between filled with some substance with the same refractive index as glass, then, optically, the slide, cover glass, substance and lens itself can he considered as one. So the object is, in effect, actually inside the lens. If the system is designed so that the object is exactly at the aplanatic point, then all the rays of light passing through it can he brought to a sharp focus. Not only is more light made use of, hut the resolution is increased.
The substance chosen to fill the space between the lens and the slide (and so form part of the lens) is an oil--usually cedarwood oil—which has the same refractive index as glass. So there is no mystery about oil-immersion. It is simply the practical application of a fundamental law governing the refraction of light. It is often desired to achieve dark-ground illumination. Transparent objects appear brilliantly lit against a dark background. With high powers, special equipment is needed, and this cannot he discussed here. For low powers, however, with objectives up to about 2/3in. focal length, good results can he achieved with very simple means. Before dealing with these, it is necessary to explain the principles of this method of illumination. Normally, light is focussed on the object hy means of the condenser. It passes through the object and enters the micro• scope, and the object is seen mainly because the denser parts of it absorb light and so reduce the amount transmitted. With dark-ground illumination, on the other hand, none of the light passing through the slide reaches the eye directly—this is why the background appears black. Light passing through a transparent object is refracted inside the object, however, and turned aside from its original path. The object therefore appears as if lit from within.
We could get this result if we sent a pencil of light through the object from below at such an angle that it passed outside the objective lens; as this light does not actually enter the lens, we
sixty-eight would not see it if wc looked down the microecope—hut the object itself would be brilliantly illuminated. In practice, we use a hollow cone of light so arranged that the direct light misses the lens. If no object is in view, we seen nothing, as we are looking at the dark interior of a cone, hut light scattered by any object in the field reaches our eye, and the object appears bright. It is easy to produce such a cone—simply black-out the centre of the condenser. This is done by means of a " patch stop." These can be purchased in sets of various sizes to suit different lenses, or can easily he made from thin metal or even cardboard. Successful results have been obtained by using pieces of glass or perspex which fit the stop-holder of the condenser and which have a circular piece of black paper stuck to their centres. To obtain dark-ground illumination, it is only necessary to swing the stop into position and open the condenser to full aperture. The beginner is assured that there is no difficulty whatsoever in getting good results if four simple rules are observed. These rules are:—
THE CONDENSER MUST BE IN PERFECT FOCUS, so that the rays of light pass exactly through the object. To repeat what has been said in previous notes, the condenser must be adjusted until the image of the light source is sharp when looking into the microscope. This is done, of course, without the " patch stop " in position. THE CONDENSER DIAPHRAGM MUST BE FULLY OPEN. We do not wish to use light from the centre of the condenser, so it is necessary to open the diaphragm to admit light round the edges of the stop. It goes without saying that the condenser must he accurately centred. THE SLIDE MUST BE CLEAN. Any dust or marks on the cover glass or even the bottom face of the slide will catch the light and spoil the effect. THE PATCH STOP MUST BE THE CORRECT DIAMETER to suit the objective in use. This last rule is really very important and needs further discussion. Dark-ground illumination of a sort can he obtained by the crudest methods; a finger held between mirror and condenser will act as a stop. But the best results can only he had with a stop of the right size. The size is fairly critical, but can be selected from a bought set by trial and error. One of the advantages of making one's own stops, however, is that they can be made exactly the right diameter to suit the objective. To find this diameter can be a tedious process, but the writer uses a method which is simple and effective. Place a circle of clear glass or perspex in the stop-holder of the condenser. Roll a small piece of plasticine into a ball and stick it as nearly as possible in the
sixty-nine centre of the glass or perspex. Squeeze it gently. As it flattens, its diameter obviously increases. By alternately squeezing and observing the results, a point will be found where the object is illuminated but the background begins to darken. Go on squeezing, but only a little at a time, until the background is quite dark, and the ohject well lit. The disc of iilastlcine should now be measured, and the stop made the same diameter.
Dark-ground illumination is very simple to achieve, and it is well worth while knowing how to go about it, as it increases enormously the scope of the instrument.
Some Aspects of the Botany of a Cheshire Wasteland By P. NEWTON
Ten years ago my attention was drawn to an area of special interest at Plumley, near Knutsford. A friend, Mr. L. Booth, brought to me specimens of an orchid which I felt quite certain were Orchis praetermissa Druce, but, to make sure, they were forwarded to the Royal Botanic Gardens where identity was confirmed. The interest of this find was enhanced by the fact that one plant of unusual vigour proved to be a hybrid between praetermissa and probably Orchis fuchsii Druce. This was later confirmed. On eventually visiting the area concerned, it was most thrilling to find literally hundreds of the Marsh Orchids with their Spotted Orchis companions and robust hybrids, often up to a foot or more in height, with thick stems and varied leaf markings of spots or rings, or in many cases no marks whatever. A few years later, a rough estimate of some 2,000 specimens, quite possibly more, was made, and over the intervening years the quantity has fluctuated, never recently reaching beyond a possible thousand, or usually rather less. The area also possessed several other jjlants of interest, some unique, I believe, for Cheshire, but before enlarging on this aspect a brief description of the ground would serve a useful purpose. In shape, it is roughly rectangular, measuring some 700 yards by 500 yards. The north-eastern corner has a large mound of old lime, in height about 15ft. to 20ft., deposited many years ago when a large chemical works once utilised the site and dumped surplus material. To the east lie two sheets of water, overlying soft lime, which at the time of writing are being filled, but about which more details will be given later.
seventy The greater portiim of the ground is rough, mainly of scrub birch, sallows, brambles, other odd shrubs and irregular small sheets of water, often absent in drier periods. Remains of the old works in the form of small shafts, remnants of concrete stanchions, brick towers and odd hits of ironwork occur here and there. In general, apart from the lime hill, the area is of a uniform height of around lOOft. above sea level.
There is little protection from winds and, generally speaking, these can sweep across from all compass points. One larger area of sallow to the west would retard a little, however, the east heing entirely open, though this will he more sheltered in about a year's time when the previously mentioned filling material has been banked.
And so to a little more about the flowering plants. Little work has been possible on the grasses, mosses, ferns or liverworts which occur sparsely here and there, hut it is the more colourful " flowers " which attract in this oasis.
Perhaps enough has already been written regarding the orchids, which are the main delight, and among which are no doubt many other odd varieties yet to be decided. A few otber plants arc unique to Cheshire, notably Stemless Thistle, Circium acaule (L.) Scop. About four of these survived hut are now unfortunately lost. Anottier plant. Ploughman's Spikenard, Inula conyza DC. was found in 1961 and, heing unaffected by present developments, should continue to appear, whilst Aaron's Rod, Verbascum thapsus L. still occurs and at present looks like giving a good display this year. Hawkweeds, which cause many botanical headaches, occur rather frequently along one lime bank, most of which is now lost, and among many sent to Cambridge were three rather scarce in Cheshire, Hieracium vulgatum (Fr.) Almq., H. lachenalii Gmel. (H. sciaphyllum auct.), and H. praealtum Vill., the latter species in 1955 heing the first record for North-west England. H. aurantiacum L. also occurs in quantity in one place, probably a garden escape.
Thale Cress, Arabidopsis thaliana (L.) Heynh. also turned up, anotber plant sparsely distributed at least in North Cheshire. Yellow-wort, Blackstonia perfoliata (L.) Huds. is in good strength together with Common Centaury, Centaurium minus Moench., whilst the Quaking Grass, Briza media L. is worthy of note here.
Fragaria x ananassa Duchesne—Garden Strawberry—grows quite freely in very rough areas of grass and shrub, possibly an escape, but the only record of it 1 possess. Meadow Craneshill, Geranium pratense L. grew in one spot, this plant also very local in Cheshire hut often plentiful in some habitats. Mare's-tail, Hippuris vulgaris L., was noted in 1960 in a small pool, possibly overlooked previously, but disturbed in 1961.
seventy-one Another lime species, Purging Flax, Linum catharticum L., grows on a shoulder of lime, and is at present safe from disturbance. Lousewort, Pedicularis sylvatica L., also is of note, hut there is only a little here, and it is not over-abundant in the county. Polygonum cuspidatum Sieh. & Zucc. (P. sieboldii de Vriese) was noted in 1960, another possible escape, and also of interest as a county rarity is Cowslip, Primula veris L. This plant is not at all general in Cheshire, a few plants here and there being the most one can usually expect. Two plants of sparse distribution were also observed. Wild Mignonette, Reseda lutea L. and Dyer's Rocket, R. luteola L., both, as far as can he said as 1 write, now lost to the site due to the work going ahead there. Wall-pepper, Sedum acre L., found in one spot, is also scarce, usually on railway hanks hereabouts. Bladder-Campion, Silene cucubalus Wihel was also observed. This is only a very brief list of plants, hut no doubt it shows the interesting nature of the ground. Much work needs yet to he done, hut this will he hampered by the tipping of clays and loams in the pools area. The new motorway passing through the nearby countryside of necessity displaces earth, and it is this surplus which is being spread on this area. The Nature Conservancy, who were consulted, are to he thanked for their work in having the loads deposited in a spot where the least spoliation of the Orchids will occur. Many thousands of loads, amounting to countless tons, will no doubt he deposited in the next 18 months, hut at the moment the only major loss has been a length of the lime hank housing the Hawkweeds, the Resedas and the Stemless Thistle. All other plants should continue in the other and greater remaining area.
It will he interesting in the coming years to watch the colonisation of the tipped soils. There is always a possibility that dormant seeds may by chance he on the surface and one can look forward to the experiment of Nature carpeting virgin soil. I hope that it will he possible to write a further note one day about this wasteland.
IN MY OPINION By STENTOR I agree with no man's opinions: i have some of my own.—Turgenev.
Britain, we like to think, is a country of animal lovers. The foreigner raises his eyebrows when he hears of firemen risking their lives to retrieve some animal from a cliff-face or rescuing cats from trees. Great publicity is given to these incidents. But are we really so concerned about the welfare of animals? Let us look at the facts.
seventy-two Out of some quarter of a million tortoises imported into tliis country annually, only one per cent survive for more than one year. Goldfish are given away as prizes at fairs, and most of them perish through lack of attention. Field sports, in spite of what their protagonists say, cause much terror and pain to wild life. Many of us have yet to be convinced that some of the methods used by farmers to supply the demand for eggs, veal and poultry are without cruelty. Song birds are destroyed with great suffering by agricultural chemicals which have been thoughtlessly applied. Sv.ans and their eggs are frequently harmed by youths, and schoolboys have been found torturing young birds by sticking nails into their flesh, impaling them on thorns, using them as targets for air-guns, or roasting them alive.
Cases of cruelty, neglect or indifference to suffering can be found everywhere. Much is being done to improve matters, but we needn't be quite so smug about our kindness to dumb creatures.
Proposals have been made in the Midlands to preserve stretches of little-used canals as nature reserves, as they represent a variety of habitats ranging from open water to marsh. Canals are always of great interest to naturalists and many of us felt the urge to protest when certain stretches of our local canals were recently filled in. There is now a move to fill the Hollinwood Canal, once a fruitful source of material for the naturalist. But these changes are inevitable, because we cannot deny that a canal which is derelict and serves no commercial purpose cannot economically he repaired and can be a source of great danger to children. The changes brought about by the closure and gradual silting up of a canal on the fauna and flora of an area are of great interest, and I think we should remember that there is really no such thing as a static state in Nature. The balance is very easily upset, and when man interferes by radically altering con• ditions a new association of plants and animals quickly springs up.
The same thing has happened many times in many places. For instance, most local naturalists are familiar with the sand• hills in the Southport area, and their rich fauna and flora. We should remember that their character has been materially changed by the work of men. To quote from a paper by Eric Hardy, "The building in 1884 of the old Cheshire Lines Railway from Liverpool brought mignonette and mountain cranesbill along its banks to the Borough of Southport and the building of the Lancashire and Yorkshire line up the coast greatly extended the range of the American evening primrose."
Since we cannot hold up these changes, whether they be the closing of a canal, the building of a reservoir or the spread of housing estates, we should use the opportunity to make a study of their effects on plants and animals. Such a study can be of real scientific value.
seventy-three In his Presidential address to the North Western Naturalists' Union last year, Mr. Gordon Blower made a plea for ecological studies as opposed to 'species hunting.' Many of us are so busy searching for the rarities that we have no time to rellect on why a plant or animal is found in a certain place and how climate and neighbouring species affect it. It is not enough to be able to recog• nise a rare species. We should ask ourselves, "Why is it rare'? Is it because of pressure from other species which share the same conditions, or because it cannot adapt itself to changing environ• ment?" By all means look for new records, but remember that there is more to the study of natural history than the accumula• tion of trophies.
Field studies are always rewarding, and they can be done even in an industrial area like ours. Forty years ago it was uncommon to sec a Black-beaded Gull in Oldham. Now this bird is abundant. Much has to be done in investigating the causes of this change in habitat. How have Blue Tits learnt so universally to peck milk bottle tops? The Bose-bay Willow Herb is found on every piece of waste ground in the district, but in the 1880s it was recorded only from rocky places in Greenfield. Why has it spread, and is it now declining? The Himalayan Balsam of our rivers and canals, which arrived within recent memory—where was it introduced in this area, and how far is it spreading? These and many other questions make fascinating subjects for study and serve to remind us of the changes constantly taking place around us. Some plants and animals die out and others take their place. It is for us to note and record these happenings as they occur.
Prince Philip has long shown an interest in natural history. He is Patron of the Council for Nature and President of the Zoological Society of London. And the recent publication of bis book of bird photographs shows his mastery of a difficult subject, although he himself is modest about his achievement. Naturalists are proud to have the Royal Family associated with their interests. It is unfortunate, however, that Prince Philip's actions in destroy• ing declining species on his overseas tours occasionally fall short of the ideals of the organisations with which he is connected. These remarks are not intended as a personal criticism—the fault no douht lies with those who organise tiger and rhinoceros hunts for their distinguished visitor. But it seems strange that he should be cbairman of the British Committee of the World Wildlife Fund, which aims to raise money to save the wild life of the world, and, at the same time, takes part in expeditions to destroy the same wild life.
Naturalists' Trusts are being formed all over tbe country. In this area the Derbyshire Naturalists' Trust has already been inaugurated, and a meeting of interested people was held earlier this year in Manchester to discuss the formation of Trusts for
seventy-four Cheshire and Lancashire. These Trusts are already in process of formation, and committees have been appointed to make arrange• ments for the holding of inaugural meetings and to launch public appeals. This is welcome news as it is vitally necessary to conserve and safeguard the areas of natural interest which are being threatened by building development and neglect. Elsewhere in this issue is an article on a Cheshire site which could well be extinguished by uncontrolled tipping. In this case the Nature Conservancy was fortunately able to persuade those responsible to confine the tipping to certain areas. This is the sort of work that would be done by a Naturalists' Trust—often landowners and local authorities are not aware of the scientific value of sites— and it is the task of the Trust to speak up when necessary. It is to be hoped that the Trusts find wide support and that sufficient funds will be available to help them to do their work properly.
THE THREE-SPINED STICKLEBACK Gasterosteus aculeatus L.
BY WM. E. THOMAS
Would it be safe to say that thousands of people have started their studies of pond life with the capture and keeping of the humble stickleback? It is a fish to be found in ponds, rivers and streams almost everywhere in the British Isles. How many have been caught, put into a jam jar and taken home? In most cases they suffocated before reaching home because no one told us then that to put one or two in a jar is much better than to over-crowd them and have them die on the way. Aquarists, students and people who should know better look down on the stickleback, mostly because it is so small compared with other fish and also because it is so common. What we over• look is that it is quite alone in this country in its habit of showing parental care. The male of the species not only builds a nest but also looks after the fry when they are hatched. We may admire the salmon, trout, char, rudd, roach, dace, pike, perch, chub, gudgeon and other fish, but we must admit that none of these take the slightest interest in any of the fry, and apart from some members of the salmon family which cover their eggs, neither do any take the slightest interest in the eggs. Most fish spawn in masses and which male fertilises which eggs is anyone's guess. They take no further interest thereafter. How different the stickleback. The male at least takes a great share in the process of reproduction. He builds the nest, entices the females to enter and lay their eggs, he fertilises them, fans and aerates them until they hatch, takes charge of the young fry
seventy-five and protects ttiem from tiarm. It is therefore very strange that more of these little fish are not kept hy students of pond life and aquarists in general. They can he very attractive, heing better coloured than most British fish, and during the breeding season, the male with his hlood-red throat and heightened hues is very smart. To those who would try to rear sticklebacks successfully, it is necessary to have a tank established early in the year. A 24in. X 12in. X 12in. tank will do. A gravel bottom, an aerator or filter, clean pond water and plants well set before introducing the fish are essential. The fish should spawn in May or June, so it is of importance to have everything ready before this time. Do not handle the fish; catch them with a fine net, transfer them carefully to the jar to take home, and then gently into the tank. Do not have too many fish; the best number would he, say, one male to five or six females. The males are easily identified hy their red throats and brighter colours. The females to select are the ones with bellies swollen with eggs. Sticklebacks are not fussy over food and take dry bread crumbs, white worms, tuhifex, daphnia, tly larvae, small maggots or chopped small earthworms. Don't over feed or the decaying food will foul the water. These fish prefer the water clear. After a while the male will start to build several nests, until he is satisfied with a selected spot. He builds with small sticks and pieces of weed which are glued together hy a secretion which is supposed to come from the kidneys. Once the nest is formed, he entices the females to enter and lay their eggs. He then fertilises them and broods them hy fanning and keeping a current of water passing over them. He guards them at all times and against all comers. At this stage one may have to move the females from the tank, especially if it is small.
After ahout ten days the eggs should hatch and a little fine food for the fry can he added. Infusoria is the best, hut not too much or again the water will he polluted. See that there is food for the male, as during the incubation period he will have eaten very little or even nothing at all. When the fry are visihle to the eye, it is a pretty sight to watch the male with his brood, as he takes the greatest care of them until they fend for themselves. One or two don'ts. Don't have the water too deep and keep the gravel or compost away from the front of the tank. Don't wait until too late in the year to collect your fish. Don't give too much food at one feed. Keep the water clean hut don't disturb the nest sites too much. If healthy, plump fish are taken there is no reason why a successful breeding should not take place. Try it, and good luck with your efforts.
seventy-six The Separation of APHODIUS PRODROMUS (Br.) from A. SPHACELATUS (Pz.) (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae)
BY COLIN JOHNSON, F.R.E.S.
These two dung-beetles, which are amongst our commonest species during spring, are often confused because of their great similarity and variation. Their elytral pattern is generally more or less constant (fig. 1), so they are easily separated from the remain• ing thirty-nine British species. The only other British species with which they could possibly be confused is A. consputus Crtz., a rare species chiefly confined to south-east England, and from which they differ in the main in having the head and clypeus unicolorous black. (A. consputus has a bright yellow patch just forward of each eye). Both species occur commonly, often abundantly, from Feb• ruary to May, in all kinds of dung; cow, horse and sheep, although I have found them most abundant in the latter two. GENERAL DESCRIPTION Length 4-7 mm. head and clypeus black. Pronotum black with a bright yellow patch in the anterior angles, usually spreading at least as far as the posterior angles; sides and hind margin with a fine continuous border which may be interrupted in the middle of the latter. Base of elytra and greater part of interval two pale yellow, paler than the rest of the elytra (fig. i); elytra hairy, much more in the males than the females. All legs yellowish-brown, paler or darker. KEY TO SPECIES 1. Elytra hairy for at least the apical two-thirds of their length. Base of pronotum obviously wider than the base of the elytra (fig. ii) Males 2 Elytra not hairy, at least on the basal two-thirds. Base of pronotum as wide as the base of the elytra (fig. iii) Females 3
2. Head with a distinct fronto-clypeal suture, with indications of being 3-tuberculate; fine but strongly punctured. Edge of head in front of eye not strongly angulate (fig. iv). Pronotum with punctures of two distinct sizes, the smaller ones being fine and evenly distributed, the larger ones being distributed much more sparsely Male sphacelatus (Pz.) Head without a fronto-clypeal suture, but with very fine and sometimes almost imperceptable puncturation. Edge of head in front of eye strongly angulate (fig. v). Pronotal punctura• tion as on the head, and often, in addition, with larger punc• tures very sparsely distributed but absent on the disc. Male prodromus (Br.)
seventy-seven 3. Edge of head, in front of eye more rounded (fig. vi). Head evenly punctured. Fronto-clypeal suture present. Female sphacelatus (Pz.) Edge of head, in front of eye more angulate (fig. vii). Head with puncturation very fine and sparse on the disc, dense and even elsewhere. Fronto-clypeal suture absent. Female prodromus (Br.) Both of these species can be separated without first sexing as in the key, by the structure of the hind legs, and this character is therefore useful in order to check the determinations. However, a calibrated eye-piece is required for the microscope (the ideal instrument), since the lengttis of the relative tarsal joints cannot be gauged accurately otherwise : 1. Basal segment of the posterior tarsus equal in length to the next three segments together prodromus (Br.) 2. Basal segment of the posterior tarsus less in length than the next three segments together sphacelatus (Pz.) Another separation, based on colour, is often used, but this is not very satisfactory because a variety of one is coloured as the typical form of the other species, therefore the separation is valid only for typical forms of each species : 1. Posterior margin of pronotum yellow or reddish-yellow sphacelatus (Pz.) 2. Posterior margin of pronotum dark brown or black prodromus (Br.) or sphacelatus (Pz.) ah. punctatosulcatus St. References 1. Britton, E.B., 1956, R. E. S. Handbooks for the Identification of British Insects: V (II), Scarabaeoidea. London. 2. Paulian, R., 1959, Faune de France (63), Coleopteres Scarabeides. Paris.
Figs i-vii: (i)-Elytral pattern of sphacelatus; (ii)-Pronotum of sphacelatus (Male); (iii)-Pronotum of sphacelatus (Female); (iv)-Head and clypeus of sphacelatus (Male); (v)-Head and clypeus of prodromus (Male); (vi)-Head and clypeus of sphacelatus (Female); (vii)-Head and clypeus of prodromus (Female).
seventy-eight NOTES AND RECORDS
The names of recorders are ahhreviated as follows : —
A.C.C. = A. C. Chadderton I.M. = I. Morley. A.D.W. = A. D. Wright. J.M. = J. Millward. C.D. = C. Dishrey. J.O.C. = J. O. Clarke. C.E.S. = C. E. vShaw. L.N.K.=L.N. Kidd. C. J. = C. Johnson. M.B.H. = M. B. Horan. D. M. = D. Mallinson. M.H. = M. Holthy. D.W. = D. Wright. N.J.B. = N. J. Brearley. F.B.S. = F. B. Stuhhs. O.S.W. = 0. S. White. F.M. = F. Meadowcroft. P.G.R.B. = P. G. R. Barhier. F\Md. = F. Murgatroyd. R.L.S. = R. L. Selhy. F.S. = F. Slater. S.C. = S. Charlson. F.St. = F. Stocks. T.W. = T. Wilkinson. H.C. = H. Clegg. V.S.C. = V. S. Crapnell. H.W.=H. Walker. W.J. = W. Jaques. Y.N.U.Rep. = Yorkshire Naturalists' Union Ornithological Report for 1960.
PLANTS Trailing Tormentil Potentilla anglica Laich. Recorded from several parts of the area including Walmersley (F.S.), Strinesdale Reservoir hank (C.E.S.), Piethorne (C.E.S.). Bell Hole, helow Bell House Moor (L.N.K.).
Pirri-pirri Bur Acaena anserinifolia (J.R. and G. Forst.) Druce. This alien plant of the rose family was particularly fine on Sowerhy Bridge tip in 1961, where it was first noted in 1959 (C.E.S.).
New Zealand Willow-herh Epilobium nerterioides Cunn. Seen growing in the rockery garden and on a path at Springfield Park, near the Rochdale/Heywood boundary, February, 1962, (C.E.S.).
Hop Hamulus lupulus L. Seen at Ringley, near Kearsley (F.S.).
Fig Ficus carica L. Seedlings, presumably from imported figs, are found in this country usually on waste ground. A plant which is stated to have been growing at Heywood sewage works for about forty years, fruited in 1961. Another in a wall at Philips Park cemetery, near Clayton Vale, introduced with cinders and potato peelings in 1958, was still there in 1962, (C.E.S.).
Cowslip Primula veris L. About a dozen plants in a colony at Shaw, May, 1962, and a single plant in a field at Waterhead, Oldham, (C.E.S.).
seventy-nine Common Centaury Centaurium erythraea Rafn. Found recently at Ringley, near Kearsley (F.S.). Buckbean Menyanthes trifoliata L. Noted recently at Buckhurst, near Walmersley (F.S.). Purple Toadflax Linaria purpurea (L.) Mill. Found near the Elk Mill, Chadderton, 28.7.61, together with the hybrid L. purpurea X repens = L. x dominii Druce (C.E.S.). Musk Mimulus moschatus Lindl. In the dried up bed of a canal at Stoneclough, Kearsley. Probably an escape from the lock- keeper's garden (F.S.). Common Cow-wheat Melampyrum pratense L. Near a tip by side of Cragg Vale Road, 10.8.61 (F.Md.). Banewort Sambucus ebulus L. In plenty at Clayton Vale, Sept., 1961, (C.E.S.). Also reported from St. George's churchyard, Stalybridge (C.E.S.). Large-flowered Water-Thyme Egeria densa Planch. Seen in flower at the Fox Mill lodge, Hollinwood, on 28.11.61 (J.O.C.) and in May, 1962 (T.W.). Twayblade Listera ovata (L.) R.Br. The plant mentioned in Athene No. 2, p. 55, appeared again this year growing hy a pile of coke in Werneth Park, Oldham. Orthodontium lineare Schwaegr. Found at Walmersley, near Bury (F.S.). This moss which was first observed in 1920, near Greenfield, has since been found in numerous other parts of England, and is said to be rapidly extending its range. Frog-spawn Alga Batrachospermum sp. In a pond at Roundthorn, Oldham, 21.5.62, (J.O.C.). This alga belongs to the class Rhodophyceae whose members are chiefly marine. Most species of Batrachospermum are said to prefer deep water in which there is a slight current. The material from Roundthorn is probably B. moniliforme Roth.
MOTHS Yellow-line Quaker Agrochola macilenta (Hiihn.) One at m.v. lamp, Greenfield, 7.10.61 (L.N.K.). No other recent records. The Golden Plusia Polychrisia moneta (F.) In addition to the records published in Athene No. 2, p. 56, we have been informed that one was taken at Lees, near Oldham, in July 1930, (F.B.S.). The Burnished Brass Plusia chrysitis (L.) Two at m.v. lamp, New Moston, 17.5.62 (R.L.S.). This is the earliest record we have for the species in our area.
eighty Grey Pine Carpet Thera obeliscata (Hiibn.) One at m.v. lamp, Greenfield, 7.10.61 (L.N.K.). We bave no previous records for tbe area.
CADDIS FLIES (Trichop+era) Stenophylax permistus McLacb. Taken at m.v. lamp, Greenfield, 7.10.61, (L.N.K.).
BEETLES (Coleop+era) Common or Green Tiger Beetle Cicindela campestris L. Tbe date of tbe record for Hyde, published in Athene No. 2, p.58, was given as May, 1961. This should bave read May, 1959. Agathidium varians Beck. Taken in the Etberow Valley, 19.11.61, (C.J.). The first published Cheshire record for 45 years. Hypnoidus dermestoides (Herbst). Several were found in tbe Etberow Valley, 29.5.61 (C.J.). Tbe first record for Cheshire.
BIRDS
Great Crested Grebe Podiceps cristatus. One at Ogden Reservoir, near New Hey, 19-20.4.62 (N.J.B.). Two seen at Castlesbaw Reservoirs about the beginning of May, 1962. Little Grebe Podiceps ruficollis. Four on a dam in Greenfield, 24-25.12.61, (A.C.C.). Four at Hollingwortb Lake, 19.4.62, (N..1.B.). Cormorant Phlacrocorax carbo. One at Blackmoorfoot Reservoir, 27.12.60, (D.M., O.S.W., Y.N.U. Rep.). Pintail Anas acuta. Recorded for Blackmoorfoot Reservoir in Y.N.U. Rep. for 1960. Sboveler Spatula clypeata. Twelve at Blackmoorfoot Reservoir, 30.12.60, (Y.N.li. Rep.). Scaup-Duck Aythya marila. Wbitebolme Reservoir, 23.10.60, (V.S.C.). A male and female at Blackstone Edge Reservoir, 23.12.61 (N.J.B.). Tufted Duck Aythya fuligula. Twenty-two at Wbitebolme Reser• voir, 18.11.60, (V.S.C., Y.N.U. Rep.). Twelve at Baitings Reser• voir, 13.1.62, (N.J.B.). Pochard Aythya ferina. One male at Hollingwortb Lake, 10.3.62, and two males and a female at tbe same place, 17.3.62, (N..LB.). Five at Baitings Reservoir, 13.1.62, (N.J.B.).
eighty-one Goldeneye Bucephala clangula. Twenty at Whiteliolme Reservoir on 5.1.60, and twenty-four there on 6.11.60, included ten males (V.S.C., Y.N.U. Rep.). Two males and a female at Whiteholme Reservoir, 23.12.61, and a female at Warland Reservoir the same day (N.J.B.). A female at Baitings Reser• voir, 13.1.62 (N.J.B.). A male at Hollingworth Lake, 17-19.4.62, (N.J.B.). Velvet-Scoter Melanitta fusca. One at Blackmoorfoot Reservoir, 14.3.60, (CD. in Y.N.U. Rep.). Red-Breasted Merganser Mergus serrator. One male at Blackmoor• foot Reservoir, 26.11.60 (P.G.R.B. in Y.N.U. Rep.) and a second male at the same place, 24.12.60, (C.D., D.M. in Y.N.U. Rep.). Sheld-Duck Tadorna tadorna. Seven at Piethorne Reservoir, 20.4.62 (N.J.B.). Whooper Swan Cygnus cygnus. Twelve seen at Blackstone Edge Reservoir, 26.11.61 (D.W.). Bewick's Swan Cygnus bewickii. Seven at Ringstone Edge Reser• voir, 26.11.61, (V.S.C.). Common Buzzard Buteo buteo. One seen at Turton, near Holcombe. flying northwards. Its mewing cry was distinctly heard (M.B.H.). Merlin Fatco cotumbarius. Recorded near Whiteholme Reservoir, 23.9.60, and 12.11.60, (V.S.C. in Y.N.U. Rep.). One seen here, 17.8.61, (N.J.B.). Ringed Plover Charadrius hiaticuta. One at Whiteholme Reser• voir, 5.8.61, and two there on 24.8.61, (I.M., V.S.C.). Two at Warland Reservoir, 26.8.61, (I.M., V.S.C.). Grey Plover Charadrius squatarota. Two at Whiteholme Reservoir, 17.9.60, (V.S.C. in Y.N.U. Rep.). Golden Plover Charadrius apricarius. Birds were observed on various occasions during 1961, by Halifax Naturalists on their visits to local hreeding sites (I.M.). Ahout 100 seen at Wild House, Milnrow, 17.3.62 (N.J.B.). Turnstone Arenaria interpres. One at Whiteholme Reservoir, 1.9.60, and another there on 17.9.60, (V.S.C., l.M. in Y.N.U. Rep.). One seen at Warland Reservoir, 10.8.61, (l.M., V.S.C.). Green Sandpiper Tringa ochropus. One at Whiteholme Reservoir, 22.7.61, and another at Warland Reservoir, 10.8.61, (l.M., V.S.C.). Common Sandpiper Tringa hypoteucos. A late bird at Whiteholme Reservoir on 23.10.60 (V.S.C., l.M. in Y.N.U. Rep.).
eighty-two Spotted Redsliank Tringa erythropus. One at Whiteholme Reser• voir, 25.8.60, (V.S.C., I.M. in Y.N.U. Rep.).
Greenshank Tringa nebularia. The following records are for White• holme Reservoir:—Eight on 25.8.60, and a single bird on each of the following dates^l9.8.61, 24.8.61, 31.8.61 (I.M., V.S.C., N.J.B.). Two at Warland Reservoir, 26.8.61 (I.M., V.S.C.). Knot Calidris canutus. Twenty-four at Whiteholme Reservoir, 1.9.60 (V.S.C., I.M. in Y.N.U. Rep.) and one at Warland Reser• voir, 10.8.61, (I.M., V.S.C.). Great Black-backed Gull Larus marinus. One at Blackmoorfoot Reservoir in autumn, 1960, (Y.N.U. Rep.).
Herring Gull Larus argentatus. Sixty-five birds noted near school grounds at Limehurst, Ashton-under-Lyne (T.W.). Reported at the Society's meeting on 11.12.61. Black Tern Chlidonias niger. Three at Blackmoorfoot Reservoir, 28.8.60, and another there on 10.9.60 (Y.N.U. Rep.). One at Whiteholme Reservoir, 27.10.61, (N.J.B.).
Common/Arctic Tern. Eleven Terns were seen at Whiteholme Reservoir, 19.8.61, in an east to west movement (I.M., V.S.C.).
Stock-Dove Columba oenas. Birds were back at their breeding haunts in derelict farms at Birtle by the beginning of Feb• ruary, 1962, (M.B.H.). In 'The Birds and Mammahof Bury,' Mr. Horan states that the species is migratory in this district, and when the breeding season is over, little flocks may be seen feeding in the pastures and hayfields, many migrating southwards in autumn. In mild winters a few are said to remain in the vicinity of their nesting haunts the whole year round, except in hard weather.
Barn Owl Tyto alba. Single birds were seen in Greenfield on 24.12.61,'7.1.62, (A.C.C.), and 18.5.62, (L.N.K.).
Short-eared Owl Asia flammeus. Near Whiteholme Reservoir, 31.8.61 (I.M., V.S.C.), and another at this locality, 17.4.62, (N.J.B.). Kingfisher Alcedo atthis. One observed on several occasions by stream near Lily Mills, Shaw, during January, 1962, (F.St.). The species has been seen many times by anglers at a pond near New Hey, into which runs the above stream. One seen near Greenfield, 21.2.62, (A.C.C.), whilst a flash of blue in Holden Clough on 20.4.62, betrayed the presence of another (L.N.K.). One observed sitting on a piece of rusty iron pro• jecting from the canal in the centre of Stalybridge, 22.4.62, remained there for about five minutes (S.C.).
eighty-three Green Woodpecker Picus viridis. There are several records for Holden Clough the dates being as follows:—26.11.61, c. 19.2.62, (J.M.), 22,4.62, (J.M., H.C.), 12.5.62, (J.M.). This species reported by another observer at Bardsley 20.3.62, and about 27.3.62, on which occasion two were seen. One bird seen at the same locality, 6.5.62. With regard to this bird in the Bury area, Mr. Horan states 'almost wiped out as breeding species by shooters. Now nesting only at Redisher in very private enclosures.'
Swallow Hirundo rustica. An exceptionally early migrant seen on 19.3.62, at Pilsworth, Hollins, near Bury. The bird was seen at close range by Mr. J. Greenwood as it perched on overhead wires (M.B.H.).
Carrion-Crow Corvus corone. This species continues to increase in the Bury area and pairs are reported as nesting at Naden, Holcombe, Walmersley, and Pilswortb (M.B.H.). Birds have continued to frequent the Asbway Gap area of Greenfield (H.W.). Two seen in Holden Clough (J.M.) were reported at the Society's meeting, 19.2.62.
Jay Garrulus glandarius. Again breeding in Summerseat Woods, and birds seen at Bamford Woods and Holcombe (M.B.H.). One seen in Holden Clough several times from 22.10.61 to 18.11.61, and two seen there 3.2.62, (J.M.). The species was also observed in the clough by members of the society on 1.4.62.
Coal-Tit Parus aler. In the last issue of 'Athene' mention was made of Coal-Tits visting a garden at Werneth, Oldham, during the period 30th September to 23rd October, 1961. The species continued to visit this garden until 6th April, 1962. Three birds were seen together on November 11th, hut after this, never more than two were seen at a time until 18.1.62, when a single bird only continued its visits until April (W.J.). Coal-Tits have been seen in various other parts of the area. At New Hey a bird was observed visting a garden during the period 25.12.61 to 31.3.62, (N.J.B.). At New Moston one was seen in a garden on March 1st and 3rd, 1962, (R.L.S.). During December, 1961, birds were observed on numerous occasions in a garden at Grasscroft, near Oldham (A.C.C.). One wa:s seen in a garden at Greenfield during the period 17-26.12.61, and again in mid-January and the beginning of February, 1962, (L.N.K.). Two were seen in this last locality, 19.5.62, (M.H.). It would appear that the Coal-Tit is increasing as a breeding species in certain districts around Oldham having been observed by Mr. M. B. Horan at several places including Carr Woods, Ashworth Valley, Woodhey, Summer- seat, and in the sewage works woods at Heywood.
eighty-four Long-tailed Tit Aegithalos caudatus. At least seven birds seen near Park Drive, Greenfield, 29.10.61, and birds seen in Dick Clough, Greenfield, 16.12.61, (A.C.C.). Observed in Holden Clough, 10.11.61, (J.M.). Three noted at Grasscroft, 18.2.62, (A.C.C.), and several birds seen in a garden at Greenfield on 11.2.62, were believed to be this species (M.H.). Tree-Crceper Certhia familiaris. One in Tandle Hill Park, Royton, 16.10.61, (P.M.). Fieldfare Tardus pilaris. Some 300/400 occurred at Burnlee, near Holmfirth, 5.11.60, (A.D.W. in Y.N.U. Rep.). A thrush seen at Ogden, near New Hey, on June 18th, 1961, in a recently cut field, was almost certainly an exceptionally late Fieldfare. Lighting was good, and the grey head and rump, contrasting with the chestnut back, was clearly visible through binocu• lars (L.N.K.). Wheatear Oenanthe oenanthe. About ten noted at Whiteholme Reservoir, 5.8.61, and about sixteen at the same place on 10.8.61, (I.M., V.S.C.). Birds were still present on 26.8.61, (I.M., V.S.C.). A bird which was almost certainly a Wheatear, was seen in the Oozewood area of Royton, on 25th January, 1962, (P.M.). This was an exceptionally early date unless the bird had wintered here. Whitethroat Sylvia communis. An early migrant seen at Pilsworth on 24.4.62. 'This is the earliest I have ever recorded for Bury or Heywood district' (M.B.H.). Chiffchaff Phylloscopus collybila. One at Light Hazzels, Ripponden, 3.9.61 (I.M. per F.D.). Goldcrest Regulus regains. One on the reservoir embankment at Whiteholme, 1,200ft. above sea level, 1.4.60, (V.S.C. in Y.N.U. Rep.). A single bird was noted twice in a garden at Greenfield on 19.11.61. It was searching rose bushes presumably for aphids (L.N.K.). Greenfinch Chloris chloris. A male ringed at Spurn, 6.12.59, was recovered at Oldham, 22.1.60, (Y.N.U. Rep.). Goldfinch Carduelis carduelis. In 'Athene' No. 2, p. 61, the locality for a bird seen feeding on thistles, about 21.9.61, (W.J.) was given as Dcnshaw. 'This should have been Denton, Lanes. Siskin Carduelis spinas. Seen in Holden Clough, 3.2.62 (J.M.). Redpoll Carduelis flammea. About fifty seen at Cragg Vale, 7.11.60, (Y.N.U. Rep.). Bullfinch Pyrrhula pyrrhula. A pair were seen in Holden Clough, 8.4.62,'(J.M.), and two pairs were there on 26.4.62 (H.C.). On this latter date all four birds were seen together in the same tree and fighting was observed.
eighty-five Brambling Fringilla montifringilla. Observed in Ashworth Valley, 28.1.62, (M.B.H.). Corn-Bunting Emberiza calandra. Very common on lowland fields at Pilsworth, Heywood (M.B.H.). Snow-Bunting Plectrophenax nivalis. Three at Blackstone Edge, 23.12.62, (N.J.B.). Tree-Sparrow Passer montanus. This species was noted in Holden Clough, 8.4.62, (J.M.). Cuban Finch Tiaris canora. A dead bird was brought to the museum on 25.4.62. It had been killed when it flew into the window of a house at Oldham. This charming little bird, a native of Cuba, is often kept in captivity. It possesses a strong 'Homing' instinct and is one of the species which can he kept at liberty in quite small gardens during the summer months according to E. J. Boosey. The above bird was nroh- ably an escape from a local collection.
MAMMALS Red Squirrel Sciunis vulgaris. This species was noted in a wood at Rishworth, near Ripponden on 13.10.61, and again on 18.10.61, (I.M.). One seen at Pilsworth in March, 1962, by a farmer's wife, made its way along a hawthorn hedge. It is thought to have been an escape from a private collection of animals near Heaton Park (M.B.H.). Stoat Mustela erminea. Seen at Rishworth, 13.10.61, (I.M.). Badger Meles meles. One was unfortunately shot in the Tandle Hill area of Royton on July 7th, 1960. The animal weighed 231b. A number of sets are known in the Broadbottom area of Cheshire, and several new ones were located by Mr. S. S. Bates about 1960.
Requests for Information Grey Squirrel Sciurus carolinensis. Information on the occurrence of this species in the South Lancashire/North Cheshire area, including if possible how long they have been there, status, and also the presence or absence of the Red Squirrel, is required by Mr. J. Rostron. Please send any records to him at 134, Ashurst Road, Manchester, 22. Information on the present status of the Mammals occurring in Oldham and surrounding districts is much needed by the museum. Records for inclusion in 'Athene' will he very welcome and should be sent to the Editor, at the Study Centre and Natural History Museum, Werneth Park, Oldham.
eighty-six LECTURE-FILM 'PENGUIN SUMMER'
The distinguished American ornithologist, Dr. Olin Sewall Pettingill will be making a lecture-film tour of tbis country later in the year. Many of Dr. Pettingill's wildlife films have heen used in making some of the successful Walt Disney nature movies and in 1953, he was sent to the Falkland Islands by Disney to make a documentary film on Penguins. The film 'Penguin Summer' which is being sponsored by tbe Oldbam Microscopical Society and Field Club, will be shown in the lecture hall of the Oldham Public Library, Southgate Street, Oldbam on Monday, 15th October,' 1962, at 7-30 p.m. As seating accommodation is limited, admission will be by free ticket. Application for tickets should be made to tbe Oldham Public Library, Union Street, or to the Werneth Park Study Centre, on and from September 1st.