237 MISCELLANEOUS. Naturalization o/Zosterops dorsalis in New Zealand. By Dr. J. E. Gray, F.R.S. &c. Mr. Richard Taylor has sent to the British Museum a specimen of Zosterops dorsalis, with the following notes : — "A singular little bird, which has lately made its appearance in Wanganaui, New Zealand, and now abounds. It appears to be migratory, and, I fancy, is originally from Tasmania. Mr, Butler, an enthusiastic ornithologist, thinks it belongs to the south end of the middle island ; but I was assured last summer, when visiting Dunedin, that it was equally a stranger there. I fancy, therefore, that he is mistaken. The bird bids fair to prove a blessing, by arresting the rapid progress of the American blight, which is destroying all our apple-trees. It stays the winter with us, and, we suppose, passes the summer at Taupo." The Boar Fish (Capros aper). A fine specimen of this fish was taken on the 24th of January, near Swanage, on the coast of Dorsetshire. The colour is very brilliant when alive. The specimen has been presented to the British Museum by the Rev. J. M. Colson.— J. E. G. On the Occurrence of Paludicella Ehrenbergi in Shropshire. To the Editors of the Annals 0/ Natural History. Gentlemen, — I have lately discovered the very interesting fresh-water Polyzoon Paludicella Ehrenbergi in the Shropshire Union Canal near my house. It is the first time I have met with this species, though I have been on the look-out for some years. Allman remarks that this Polyzoon is very widely distributed, and says he can scarcely account for its having so long escaped notice, except by supposing that its resemblance to some of the Confervoid Algae caused it to be overlooked. Paludicella is certainly, as the above-named naturalist observes, "a very timid little animal, and a specimen may be for hours under observation before the polypides will venture to issue from their cells, and then it is often for only a few seconds at a time that they will continue visible." I may here remark that the most successful method of procuring freshwater Polyzoa, according to my own experience, is to hunt for the characteristic statoblasts (which may in most cases be found in great numbers at the surface of the water in winter and spring), and to take a supply of this water, with aquatic weeds, and place all together in a glass vessel, which should be kept in subdued light in a moderately warm room. The statoblasts will soon germinate and afford specimens for examination. In this way I have obtained young specimens of Cristatella and various species of Plmnatella. Indeed the naturalist will find it well worth his while to take at random a can of water and a handful of freshwater weeds at any time during the open weather in winter, and to keep a glass vessel
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