Vapilio Podalirius, a British Insect. 599 



and not been tempted by the picture of his late most gracious 

 Majesty. 



At a sale of birds, &c, I attended in March 1826, at South- 

 ampton, was an egret (a fine specimen), lot 38., sold for 

 51. 5s., probably shot near that place. Lot 25., pair of willow- 

 wrens, nest and eggs, turtle dove, variety, and prating cole, 

 for 31. In the case of the pratincole was written, Sept. 20. 

 1816; and a sailor I saw in the room told me he had shot se- 

 veral of the birds there. I believe I saw a pratincole alive 

 in Christchurch, about ten or twelve years ago. (Hirundo) 

 Glareola Pratincola, or Pratincola austriaca, &c. 



The claim of Picus martins (black woodpecker), to rank 

 as a British species has been disputed by Mr. Stephens and 

 others; although Dr. Pulteny stated, " Shot in the nursery 

 gardens at Blandford, Whitchurch, and other places in Dor- 

 set : " and Dr. Forster states, in his Catalogue of British 

 Birds, " I never happened to see this bird wild in England ; 

 but it is admitted here on very good authority." I understand 

 specimens have lately been shot in Lincolnshire and Norfolk. 



A specimen of Podiceps hebridicus (blackchin grebe) was 

 shot near Langport, and is in the museum there, under the 

 care of Edward Quebett, Esq. A'rdea. nigra was also shot in 

 that neighbourhood, and I understand is now in a collection 

 at Taunton. — J. C. Dale. Glanvilles Wootton, Sept. 21. 1836. 



Insects. — Vapilio Podalirius, a British Insect. — At 

 p. 333. Vol. III. I gave the different authorities for con- 

 sidering Papilio Podalirius as British. Mr. Stephens chose 

 to consider this if absurd," giving as a reason that " it was 

 a geographical impossibility ;" and he has been followed by an 

 anonymous correspondent at p. 541. Vol. V., viz. "I know that 

 there are grave and reverend authorities," &c; and "I appre- 

 hend that there is hardly to be found at present, in any cabinet, 

 a single well-authenticated native specimen of P. Podalirius; 

 and that its existence as a British insect is generally disbelieved 

 by the most competent judges." Notwithstanding all these 

 " absurdities," Mr. Curtis has figured Papilio Podalirius at 

 plate 578. of his unrivalled British Entomology, giving an- 

 other authority (W. R. Read, Esq.), and rescuing the former 

 ones " from the imputations cast upon them." 



I lately met with a gentleman at Bristol, who, I found, was 

 well acquainted with the late Dr. Abbot, and I asked him if he 

 had any reason, at any time, ever to doubt his integrity ? He 

 answered me, " Certainly, he was one of the last persons he 

 should have suspected of falsehood;" and the Rev. Thomas 

 Skrimshire answered me to the same effect. 



Dr. Abbot stated that he took, in " May last (1803), P. 



x x 4 



