HARDWICKE'S SCIENCE-GOSSIP. 



47 



much larger, and with only one or two large red 

 spots on them. The person who showed them to me 

 said that he had taken them from a nest in a wall, 

 and that he had substituted two robin's eggs from 

 another nest. On the night following, I went with 

 the above-mentioned person to the nest. It was 

 nearly dark when we reached, the place, and upon 

 putting his hand into the hole he drew forth the 

 mother bird, which proved to be a robin. This was 

 not very surprising, but, upon our examining the 

 nest, we found it to contain, besides the two substi- 

 tuted robin's eggs, three purely white ones. From the 

 facts of this case, I should conjecture that the hen bird 

 had exhausted the stock of colouring matter in the 

 first two eggs, and that consequently the subsequent 

 three were white. In the eggs of the common 

 thrush also I have found eccentricities. On April 5, 

 1890, 1 saw a throstle's nest containing four eggs, all 

 of which were very large, and were marked with large 

 red-brown blotches, with the exception of one, which 

 was marked like ordinary specimens. On May 27, I 

 observed a throstle's nest containing two specimens of 

 the rounded spotless eggs of the thrush, mentioned by 

 Mr. Nunn and others. I have seen several eggs of this 

 class taken from this district, and also those of the 

 blackbird of the same type, i.e. devoid of markings. 

 On May 3, 1889, I took a blackbird's egg entirely 

 covered with deep red markings, and much resembling 

 a ring-ouzel's, from a nest containing four others of 

 the ordinary greenish colour. A friend of mine in 

 this town has in his collection several notable 

 curiosities, all taken by himself, e.g., a white sparrow- 

 hawk's egg taken from a nest containing three others 

 of the ordinary type. Two house -sparrow's eggs 

 with the markings gathered in a cap at the large end, 

 and a dwarf magpie's egg about the size of a marble. 

 In two instances have I met with greatly elongated 

 eggs, a missel thrush's taken on April 8, 1890, and a 

 blackbird's. On May loth, 1890, a throstle came 

 under my notice which was sitting on four of her 

 own eggs and a blackbird's, all of which were nearly 

 hatched. — Rcnulatui H. Hill, Halifax 



Var. of p. Napi, etc. — In looking over my 

 collection of Lepidoptera, I note the following which 

 may be of some interest. A female specimen of the 

 green-veined white {P. Xapi), in which all the ner- 

 vures on the upper side are very deeply marked, 

 showing a perfect outline of the veins, and, .with a 

 broad band of dusky shading at the lower margin of 

 the front wings. Possibly this is one of the varieties 

 formerly ranked as distinct species ; it was taken at 

 Richmond Walk, May 26th, 1887, from a cluster of 

 jiettles. Also a specimen of the pearl bordered 

 Fritillary {A. E7tphrosy7ie), which was netted at 

 liickleigh Vale, May 21st, 1888. It was at the time 

 a perfectly fresh insect, but with its leit front wing 

 crumpled, with the markings in miniature. Thus 

 showing that some mishap had befallen it whilst 

 emerging from its aurelial covering. — Frederick G, 

 Smart. 



NATURAL HISTORY NOTES. 



Nov. 3rd. — Rooks busy building in their rookery — 

 one old bird sitting in the nest and its mate was 

 breaking ofif twigs- and carrying it to the one in nest 

 — the other birds were busy in the same waj'. 



NOTICES TO CORRESPONDENTS. 



To Correspondents and Ex-changers. — As we now 

 publish Science-Gossip earlier than formerly, we cannot un- 

 dertake to insert in the following number any communications 

 which reach us later than the 8th of the previous month. 



To Anonymous Querists.— We must adhere to our rule cf 

 not noticing queries which do not bear the writers' names. 



To Dealers and Others. — We are always glad to trea' 

 dealers in natural history objects on the same fair and general 

 ground as amateurs, in so far as the "exchanges" offered are 

 fair exchanges. But it is evident that, when their offers are 

 simply Disguised Advertisements, for the purpose of evading 

 the cost of advertising, an advantage is taken oi oux graiiiitoui 

 insertion of "exchanges," which cannot be tolerated. 



We request that all exchanges may be signed with name (or 

 initials) and full address at the end. . '' 



Special Note. — There. is a tendency on the part of some 

 exchangers to send more than one per month. We only allow 

 this in the case of writers of papers. 



To OUR Recent Exchangers. — We are willing and helpful 

 to our genuine naturalists, but we cannot further allow dis- 

 guised Exchanges like those which frequently come to. us 

 to appear unless as advertisements. 



Dec. I. — Skylark singing. 



A heron is called a goose ghost in this locality, 

 and is stated to be able to pass an eel through its 

 body and then eat it. At the fell moon it is considered 

 in good plump condition. — Rrj. S. A . Brenaii, , 



F. — A special number of Science-Gossip devoted to the 

 Hepaticse was published in 1865 or 1866, abundantly illustrated. 

 We fear it is now out of print, but apply to Messrs. W. H. 

 Allen & Co., Waterloo Place, London. We are always pleased 

 to welcome new contributors. 



J. Fordvcb. — Apply to Mr. W. F. Collins, 157 Portland 

 Street, W., for information concerning Leighton's " Fasciculi 

 of British Lichens." He njay have a Fascirulus. 



H. Browne. — Your guess is probably right, but take the 

 egg to the Norwich Museum and compare it. 



R. D. — Get Burbidge's book on " Cool Orchids and How to 

 Grow Them" (published by W. H. Allen & Co., Waterloo 

 Place, we believe). 



R. Addington. — Get Dr. M. C. Cooke's admirable little 

 book (published by the Society for Promoting Christian 

 Knowledge) on "Pond-Hunting" (price is. 6d.); or, stijl 

 better, the same indefatigable Dr. M. C. Cooke's boofc on 

 " Freshwater Algae," just publiihed at 5 J. by Messrs. Kegai: 

 Paul & Co. 



H. A. M. — The editor cannot undertake to send copies of 

 his magazine to writers of books sent for notice who inform 

 him they do not take in Science-Gossip. That is both their 

 fault and their loss. 



R. Draper. — Get Professor Asa Gray's book on " How 

 Plants Grow, Climb," &c. (fairly cheap, if you get it second- 

 hand of Messrs. Wesley & Son, Essex Street, Strand ; or Mr. 

 W. P. Collins, 157 Great Portland Street). In that capital 

 manual you will find all that you want, and more to stimulate 

 you for years to come, than any three. line? of commonrplace 

 explanation could give you. The sun has not got so much to 

 do with the climbing as the plants have. 



EXCHANGES, 



Wanted, a good Murex adustus. Offered, "Naturalists' 

 Gazette," 1890, complete.— W. Jones, jun., 27 Mayton Street, 

 HoUoway, London. 



Offered, i-inch objective, 16°, by Tentmayer. What offers 

 in exchange in micro-slides or books ? Apply — T. W. Derring- 

 ton, 46 Worcester Street, Wolverhampton. 



Wanted, Science-Gossip for 1874. Address— W. F. Kelsey, 



Maldon. . , , . 



Wanted, a few' fern fronds showing capsules, dried leaves, 

 Onosma iaurica, &c., and sand containing micro-shells. State 

 exchange requirements. — H. Ebbage, Framlingham, Suffolk. 



Over one hundred species of beautifully mounted ferns, in 

 handsome half-bound book, fitting into strong case. What 

 ofiers? — Joseph .Anderson, jun.. Aire Villa, Chichester. 



Fine and well-set species of British lepidoptera, in exchange 

 for postage stamps (unused copies of obsolete English, and 

 used or unused foreign desired).— Joseph Anderson, jun., Aire 

 Villa, Chichester. 



V. inoulinsiana offered for L. involuta, S. oblonga,ar acme ; 

 also fossils, &c., in exchange for rock specimens, especially 

 slides.— Rev. John Hawell, Ingleby Greenhow Vicarage, 

 Northallerton. . . 



FoRAM. sand from Barmouth, Montereau, Mauritius ; chalk, 

 coal measures, sponge, W. India, Channel Isles and Etag^ 



