558 Ohiliiary, 



the female is sitting. My present impression is, that the movement is 

 indicative of pleasure, or of excitement. The catbird of Wilson (O'rpheus 

 felivox Sivains.) throws itself into grotesque attitudes. The male of the 

 yellow-breasted chat (Icteria polyglotta Swains.')y while the female is sittingj 

 will " sometimes mount up into the air, almost perpendicularly, to the 

 height of 30 or 40 ft., with his legs hanging ; descending as he rose, by 

 repeated jerks, as if highly irritated ; or, as is vulgarly said, dancing mad." 

 (Wilsoiiy Am, Orn.) These unusual motions in the air, practised by a few 

 other birds, during the season of incubation only^ seem to me analogous to 

 that of the tumbler pigeon. — W,S. Sejit.\%'i\. 



Polydmmatus Argiolus, Melitcs'B. Euphrosi/ney and M. Silene. — Sir, In 

 answer to queries by the Rev. W. T. Bree (p. 477.), I may observe that 

 Polyommatus Argiolus is double-brooded. By constantly visiting the neigh- 

 bourhood of Dartford, in Kent, I am able to assert tl'iat this insect is, in 

 certain spots, plentiful and in perfection about the 14th to the 25th of 

 April ; it is worn and faded in May, and scarcely to be seen in June ; on 

 the 1st or 2d of July, it reappears in the v3/y same localities in abund- 

 ance and perfection. MelitEe^a Euphr6syn<r makes its appearance in Darent 

 and Birch Woods, in Kent, towards the latter end of May, literally by 

 thousands : it lasts in a faded and worn state until the end of June, and 

 never appears again during the year. Melitse'a Silene^ is found in the same 

 woods, but more rarely, fifteen or sixteen days later than Euphrosyne. It 

 lasts until the end of July in a faded state, and never reappears during the 

 year. I am. Sir, yours, &c. — Edward Newman^ DcptfordySept. 19. 1831. 



T>dphne Mezereum, calyx and corolla of — L. D. asks (p. 188.) which 

 of these terms should be applied to the coloured envelope which sup- 

 ports and defends the stamens and pistil of the D. Mezereum. Apply 

 either or both ; for L. D. shows that Linnaeus thought it composed of both r 

 and L. D. will find, on dissecting the next blossoms he meets with, that 

 the envelope is formed of two separate tunics in its tube part, and that 

 there is a hollow space between the tunics which obviously distinguishes 

 them : hence, probably, the idea that this envelope consisted of calyx and 

 corolla united. If L. D. does not find this the case in D.Mezereumy he 

 will in D. Laureola ; but T am nearly confident that D. Mezereum is the 

 species in which I have observed it. The two tunics coalesce in the upper 

 part of the tube, and in the segments also ; hence this floral envelope is a 

 calyx, according to Lindley's definition in his Principles of Botany (p. 52. 

 No. 282.), viz. "when a plant has but one floral envelope, that one is calyx, 

 whatever be its colour or degree of developement^'' Smith, too, in his English 

 Flora, vol.ii. p. 228., says, the genus Daphne is devoid of corolla. — J. D, 



Art. IV. Obituary, 

 WiLSONy the celebrated Ornithologist , died a short time since. This enthu- 

 siastic naturalist was interred in the cemetery of the Swedish Church, in 

 the district of Southwark, Philadelphia. We read, in the Ballot news- 

 paper, that " he expressed a wish to be buried in some rural spot, sacred 

 to peace and solitude, whither the charms of nature might invite the steps 

 of the votary of the muses and the lover of science, and where the birds 

 might sing over his grave. It has been matter of regret to those of his 

 friends to whom was confided the mournful duty of ordering his funeral, 

 that his desire had not l:)een made known to them, otherwise it would have 

 been piously observed." The editor of the Mirror (Sept. 10.), quoting 

 the above, adds, " We participate in their regret ; for, if ever superstition 

 be sweet to the soul, it is in the fulfilment of such last indications of the 

 ruling passion as poor Wilson is said to have expressed. It not only hal- 

 lows the memory of the dead, but cherishes the enthusiasm of the living.'* 



