as compared with that of IS'ii, 



595 



C&ltha palustris* flowered 

 iSpartium ^coparium* flowered 

 ^'pis retusa appeared 

 Vanessa urticae f appeared 

 Oonepteryx rhamni ^ appeared 

 Willow wren (Sylvia T'rochilus?)^ sang 

 Plum tree flowered 

 Pear tree flowered > 

 Cherry tree flowered 3 

 Dog violet flowered 



* A single plant, in a warm and sheltered situation. The general bloom- 

 ing of each species was not earlier than usual. 



f This butterfly is commonly drawn forth from its winter quarters by one 

 of the first warm and sunny days that happen to occur in the month of 

 March : hence it has been termed " fallax veris indicium '* (the deceitful 

 token of spring). In the Isle of Wight I once saw it on the wing the 8th of 

 January, 1805. I may here remark, as a circumstance of unusual occur- 

 rence at so early a period of the year, that, on the 10th of March, 1826, I 

 saw on the wing, and at large, in the course of a morning's walk (not on 

 entomological research) in this parish, no less than five species of Papilio- 

 nidae, viz. Vanessa urticae, polychloros, c. &lbum, and To, and Gonepteryx 

 rhamni ; and, of the first and last, many examples. The 10th of March 

 may certainly be considered rather early for the appearance of any butter- 

 fly, at least in this part of the country. But what I think remarkable in 

 the present instance is, that the above-mentioned five constitute all the 

 species that are ever to be seen hereabouts so early in the spring ; and, of 

 these, neither Vanessa polychloros, c. ^Ibum, nor To, is common in this 

 neighbourhood. I therefore noted the occurence among my memorabilia 

 [memorable events], I need hardly add that this 10th of March, 1826, was 

 a most serene and lovely day, warm and free from wind, and with bright 

 sunshine. If newspaper authority may be trusted, a swarm of bees was 

 taken in a garden hedge of John Day, of Swarby, near Sleafbrd, the same 

 day. (See English Chronicle^ March 16. 1826.) 



X I did not happen to see Gonepteryx rh&mni in 1831, till the above 

 date, which is late for its first appearance : by others, on whose inform- 

 ation I can depend, it was observed on the wing the 28th of March in that 

 year. 



jj I am by no means certain that I have correctly assigned this name, as 

 well as that of the lesser petty chaps (Sylvia hippolai's) to their proper 

 owners. The bird I allude to by the name of Sylvia JVochilus must be, I 

 should think, the earliest of our summer birds of passage, if indeed it does 

 not remain with us through the winter. It may generally be heard about 

 the middle of March, sitting towards the top of a tree in the vicinity of 

 woods and plantations, and uttering its not unpleasing note, which, so far 

 as I am aware, consists only of chinck-chincky chinck-chincky frequently 

 repeated. The species here intended by the lesser pettychaps arrives about 

 the same time with the swallows, or a day or two before them ; it fre- 

 quents hedges and bushes, more particularly in low moist situations ; and 

 its warbling song, though short, is sweetly melodious. Both birds are 

 very common ; and, though they differ widely in their periods of arrival, 

 habits, and especially in their song, they closely resemble each other in the 

 colour and markings of the plumage. Like some other observers, I find 

 the willow wrens, pettychaps, and whitethroats, a most difficult tribe to 

 distinguish. Perhaps some contributor to the Magazine may be able to 

 throw more light on the subject. 



QQ 2 



