82 Queries and Answers. 



subject, he would supply what is much wanted at the present 

 time. — Robert Bakewell. Uampstead, Dec. 7. 1833. 



Mr. Clarke has in preparation a sequel to the very ori- 

 ginal and valuable communication which Mr. Bakewell has so 

 justly commended. In that sequel, Mr. Bakewell's queries and 

 suggestions will, we are certain, receive Mr. Clarke's best atten- 

 tion. In the meantime, we are quite sure that Mr. Clarke will 

 concur with Mr. Bakewell in soliciting all possible information 

 on the temperature of Artesian wells, and on any point in the 

 subject under consideration, from any correspondent. — J. D. 



To prevent Martins and Swallows affixing their Nests^ 

 Mr. Whiddon (VI. ^56.) should spread a thick coating of 

 soap upon the sides of the places which he wishes free from 

 nests. The muddy materials applied by the birds will moisten 

 the soap, and its sliminess will cause the muddy materials to 

 fall. I believe this to be an old plan, and an effectual one. < — 

 James Fennell, 



Polyommatus hlexi?>^ I^carus, and Icdrius. (VI. 544.) — In 

 reply to Mr. Conway, I must observe that Polyommatus 

 Alexia of Stephens is P. I'caru5 of Lewin, Haworth, and 

 others. Accordingly, no species is enumerated under the 

 specific name of Fcarus by Stephens nor by Wood ; each of 

 these authors, however, gives P. Icarius as a species, though 

 the former, at least, doubts its being really distinct from P. 

 Alexis. " It approximates," says Mr. Stephens, " so very 

 closely to the following species [P. Alexis], that, I conceive, 

 it will eventually prove a mere variety of that insect." Pro- 

 bably the similarity between the names of I^carus and Icarius 

 has misled Mr. Conway. I cannot but join this gentleman in 

 his regret (VI. 542.) that the under sides of more of the Papi- 

 lionidae are not figured in V^ood's Index Entomologicus : " a 

 deficiency greatly to be lamented," and one which, I hope, 

 may yet be supplied. 



Melitae'ff Silent, in p. 541., should be M. Selena. — W, T, 

 Bree, Nov, 6. 1833. 



\espa campandria. (II. 404., III. 94. 195. 476., VI. 536, 

 537, 538.) — Where is this insect described? I have not 

 heard of it before. — Querist. 



Querist does not mean the acts and habits of the insect 

 which has been so called, or we could reply, in Knapp's 

 Journal of a Naturalist^ p. 333., with a figure of its nest in 

 pi. 7. of that work : this is taught in our Vol. III. 195. 476. 

 Querist, however, means the distinctive features of the insect's 

 external anatomy, as compared with those of other recog- 

 nised species of Fespa: this question stands with entomo- 

 logists. — J, D. 



