Retrospective Criticism, 



379 



Captain Blomer. Both 

 varieties are female. 



Dates of the appear- 

 ing of certain Butterflies, 

 stated in relation to the 

 Notices registered in 

 VoLV. p. 753., Vol. VI. 

 p. 88. 176. — Dr. Ab- 

 bot's MSS. mention Go- 

 underside. nepteryx rhamni being 



taken Feb. 13. 1797; and I have seen it from the end 

 of February to November. Dr. Abbot took Pontic brassicae 

 (or the variety) April 28. 1797. The earliest I have seen it 

 was on May 9. ; arid latest, about the end of August. P. rapae, 

 I think, I saw on Jan. 29. 1820; and, certainly, March 14? 

 ]j828, to the middle of October. I bred two from larvae I 

 found feeding on weeping willow. The individuals of this 

 species vary greatly in size and colour : Mr. Curtis has one of 

 the exact colour of Gonepteryx rhamni $ , taken near Man- 

 chester. P. napi, from April 18. to Sept. 12.: two or three 

 permanent ? varieties of this. I have one of Melitae'a Selene 

 (no variety except small), taken at the same time and place 

 with Lathonia, by Mr. Standish, viz. Sept. 1818. Vanessa 

 To I have seen at Christmas, in cutting down an old hollow 

 pollard tree ; but, on Jan. 30. 1824, I saw one flying on Parley 

 Heath ; and have also seen it every month of the year but 

 December; and V. Atalanta every month but January and 

 April. Cynthia cardui I took once on April 8. and 27. 1827. 

 Mr, Babingtorts Device for securing captured Insects, 

 (Vol. VI. p. 1 55.) I should recommend the insects to be put 

 separate in pill boxes, pierced with holes, into the tin box, and 

 the use of spirit of turpentine in preference to ammonia. Care 

 should also be taken what kinds are confined therein. Small 

 Lepidoptera should each be put into a pill box, and put into 

 another tin box without any spirit, and killed with sulphur 

 afterwards. The tin will keep them from drying too fast after 

 death ; and well (at least most of them) till the next morning 

 after a hard day's collecting. 



A Water Lizard, or Newt, At Maiden Newton, Dor- 

 set, I have heard, from two different persons, that a very odd 

 sort of water lizard is found there. 



Astrdntia major, a Swiss plant, is said to be in plenty at 

 Enborne, near Newbury, Berks. 



The Ascription of the Habit of eating Grain to the Weasel, 

 by Dr. Johnson and others, as noticed p. 175. 202. In con- 

 nection with these notices, I may mention that, in Virgil, 



