88 Retrospective Criticism. 



that vultures smell their prey, that these birds usually fly 

 against the breeze, I may state, that in my opinion this action 

 is simply used because it is easier for birds to maintain them- 

 selves on the wing encountering a moderate portion of wind, 

 than when flying before it ; but I have so often witnessed these 

 birds bearing away under the influence of a strong breeze, as 

 if enjoying it, that I consider either case as a mere incident 

 connected with their pleasures or their wants." 



Hydrbbius lateralis. (Vol. V. p. 86. 556.) — The explanation 

 offered at p. 556. respecting this insect may be very ingenious, 

 but, as it is an American species, something more is required 

 to prove that it has been taken in England ; and the gentle- 

 man who is designated as " highly respectable," I do not 

 doubt, could explain the affair in a very different way, if he 

 thought it worth while to take up the subject. — J. Curtis. 

 Grove Place, Lisso?i Grove, Sept. 19. 1832. 



Early Appearance of Gone'pteryx rhdmni. — Sir, I once saw 

 this insect on the wing, in an adjoining parish, on the 28th of 

 February, 1828, which is the earliest appearance of any but- 

 terfly I ever observed, except that (which I "have already 

 recorded, Vol. V. p. 595.) of Vanessa urticae, on the 8th of 

 January, 1805, in the Isle of Wight; and the latter species, 

 also, elsewhere, on the 28th of February, 1815. Your cor- 

 respondent Sigma, who writes from Saffron Walden, says he 

 saw Gonepteryx rhamni, u with the early white butterfly 

 (Pontic Chariclea), on Feb. 10. 1831." (Vol. V. p. 753.) I 

 never knew an instance of Pontic Chariclea appearing so 

 early in the season ; nor, indeed, before the month of April. 

 Might not Sigma probably have mistaken the female of G. 

 rhamni, which is of a greenish white, and not readily to be 

 distinguished, on the wing, from other white butterflies, for 

 P. Chariclea ? Why, also, is P. Chariclea styled " the early 

 white butterfly," when there are at least two other species, 

 viz., P. rapae and P. napi, which invariably appear before it ? 

 — W. T. Bree. Allesley Rectory, Nov. 10. 1832. 



Vernal Appearance of Vanessa Ataldnta and Cynthia cdrdui. 

 Sir, Mr. Stephens, speaking of the genus Vanessa, remarks 

 (Hatistellata, vol. i. p. 41.) that "all the species hybernate," 

 i. e. survive the winter in the winged state, and reappear in 

 the spring. The observation is, I believe, a very just one, so 

 far, at least, as regards the British species, with whose habits 

 alone I happen to be acquainted. Vanessa AtaLanta is, in 

 this part of the country (save in some particular seasons, when 

 a specimen is scarcely to be met with), the most abundant of 

 the genus, except V. urticae ; and yet it is seldom seen in the 

 early spring. On referring to my calendar, kept for more 



