a name (in the form Ursus taxus) originally based on the American Badger. Since my list was published Dr. Collett has brought out a most interesting contribution to our knowledge of Norwegian Mammals (Nyt Mag. Naturvid. xxxvi. p. 204, 1898), and in this he has adopted, quite independently, all the nomenclatural principles advocated in my list. He thus lends the weight of his authority to Scomber-scomber names, such as Meles meles, Lemmus lemmus, &c, and uses Lepus timidas for the variable Hare, and "Putorius nivalis" for the Weasel. My unfortunate discovery of "Neomys" as being earlier than "Crossopus" was not known to him, but from his consistent obedience to nomenclature rules he would evidently have used it had he known of it. In one instance, however, he has adopted a change from the current term which, probably as much to his pleasure as my own, I am able to show is not necessary. This is the name of the Common Vole, Microtus agrestis of my list, whose specific name has been used from time immemorial. This animal does not occur in the tenth edition of the 'Systema Naturae' (1758), but does, under the name of "Mus gregarius" in the twelfth (1766). On this basis Dr. Collett has called it "Microtus gregarius," but he has overlooked the important fact that, although the first edition of the 'Fauna Suecica' (1746), in which the name "Mus agrestis" occurs, is pre-Linnean, and therefore invalid; the second edition (1761) is after the standard date 1758, and may therefore be accepted as a valid post-Linnean work. Mus agrestis occurs on p. 11 of this edition, and will afford a sound basis for the use of the familiar term Microtus agrestis for the Common Vole.—Oldfield Thomas.
The Insectivora and Rodentia of Northumberland.—As the occurrence in the North of England of some of the under-mentioned species of Mammalia does not seem, so far as I can trace, to have been hitherto recorded in 'The Zoologist,' I think the results of a fortnight's trapping in Northumberland, in January, 1895, may be interesting:—1. Mole (Talpa europæa). 2. Common Shrew (Sorex vulgaris). 3. Pigmy Shrew (S. pygmæus). 4. Water Shrew (Crossopus fodiens). 5. Squirrel (Sciurus vulgaris). 6. House Mouse (Mus musculus). 7. Wood Mouse (M. sylvaticus). 8. Water Vole (Arvicola amphibius). 9. Field Vole (A. agrestis). 10. Bank Vole (A. glareolus). Nos. 2, 3, 7, and 10 were caught in the same hedge-bank, and seemingly using the same runs. T have in my possession the skins of all the above except those of No. 5, which, I may add, were shot, not trapped.— John H. Teesdale (St. Margarets, West Dulwich, S.E.).
AVES.
Immigration of the Song Thrush.—A remarkable recent immigration of the Song Thrush (Turdus musicus) seems worth recording. How far it
