and have in several instances penetrated into the town. I captured a number of these and sent them to Dr. G. Nuttall, of Cambridge, who has kindly identified them as Culex annulatus. The bite is very severe.—W.J. Clarke (44, Huntriss Row, Scarborough).
BIOGRAPHY.
The Water Chanter of Turner.—William Turner, the first British naturalist of mark, was an accomplished physician as well as a member of Parliament. His residence at Wells enabled him to study the effects of the waters of Bath, and even to stay with patients in the latter city. He counselled close attention to diet, and advocated the use of Rhine wines. He approved of his Bath patients dining on small birds in general; "but Water chanters ye must not eat." Was the Water chanter identical with Cinclus aquaticus? He speaks of the latter bird as a "Water Swallow"; but perhaps he had heard both names employed to denote the same species. I should like to qualify my statement (supra, p. 379) that Turner "died a disappointed man." That the bitter disappointments which he experienced in middle life may have served to embitter his last years is not unlikely. He had returned home on the accession of Edward VI., after spending the best years of his life upon the Continent, with the full expectation that his talents would be recognized, and a high place assigned to him. But though he humbled himself to beg for preferment, he had some time to wait before he could secure the Deanery of Wells. Though he was obliged to accept it for family reasons, it brought him fresh worry. His predecessor was unwilling to give up his Deanery, and received the sympathy of the canons of the cathedral, who did not relish having a stranger thrust in upon them. Turner was once nominated for the Provostship of Oriel College, Oxford, as well as for the Presidency of Magdalen. Had he received the former appointment, Oriel would have been able to claim among the members of the college three illustrious naturalists—Turner, Thomas Pennant, and Gilbert White.—H.A. Macpherson (The Rectory, Pitlochry).
[A melancholy interest attaches to the above note, which was dated the 23rd November, and its writer passed away on the 26th—three days subsequently. "What shadows we are, and what shadows we become." In a letter received with this note, Mr. Macpherson discussed a future paper he was intending to write for 'The Zoologist.' We hope to give a full obituary notice of our old and much respected contributor in the next issue of the 'Zoologist.'—Ed.]
