22 THE QUERIST. 



convolviili, J in the fine museum of Mr, Ross, tlie first was taken on the Exe, about eighteen 

 years ago, the second, a female, was struck down bj* a Sparrow in one the of streets of Topsham, 

 September 1841, and the last, a fine male, was taken a few daj's after, asleep on some fishing- 

 nets near the river, from which it appears that this species has a partiality for the neighbour- 

 hood of water. Mr. P. says he never saw a Humming-bird Ilawk Moth, {Macroglossa Stella- 

 tarum,) at rest, but they frequently pitch on walls, and Mr. Ross has one taken asleep in the 

 house September, 1847. The larva3 of the Goat Moth, {Oossus Ligniperda,) were very plentiful 

 in 1851, but I have not seen any since. No mention is made of the following Moths, all of which 

 occur in this neighbourhood: — the Lappet Moth, {Gastropacha Qiiercifolia) the larva of which 

 feeds on tlie thorn — occurs occasionally; the Brown-tail and Gold-tail Moths, {Euproctis chry- 

 sorrhaa, and E. aurijlua,) — not very numerous; the Scarlet Tiger, {Jlypercampa Dominula,) 

 — not rare at Topsham ; Red Arches, {Miltoehrysta miniata,) I have taken two of these beautiful 

 little Moths here. Dun Footman, {Lithosia griseola,) — common in the grass during the summer 

 months; the Lesser Broad Border, {Triphwna Janthina,) — not uncommon. Agrotis exclamationis, 

 I have found very abundant. In conclusion I will take the opportunity of mentioning that 

 the larva of the Scarce Dagger, {Acronycta auricoma,) was taken on a nut bush, last Septem- 

 ber, in Mr. Ross' garden; another occurred in the same place in 1845. — "W. S. M. D'Urban, 

 Newport, near Exeter, November 12th., 1853. 



White Variety of Lamium amplexicaule. — In vol. iii. page 255, of "The Naturalist," I read 

 an account of a white specimen of the Lamium amplexicaule^ (Henbit Nettle,) having been 

 found in the ne'ghbourhood of Aberyswith, by Messrs. C. and J. D'Arcy, and they wishing to 

 know if any of your readers could inform them if this variety is often met with. Being at 

 liberty this afternoon, I took a ramble in search of this very variety, and I found it more 

 plentiful about hei-e than the crimson one, for where I found one of the crimson, I should 

 think I found twenty of the white variety. — G. Jackson, Chichester, November 1st., 1853. 



Plants with unnaturally White Flowers. — In answer to C. and J. D'Arcy, I wish to state that 

 the colour of the flower, if there is no other distinction, is not allowed to constitute a species 

 botanically. The best answer is the following extract from Lindlcy's article "Botanj^," in the 

 "Library of Useful Knowledge:" — "It is probable that whiteness, or that kind of paleness which 

 constitues white, is owing to the chromule not being completely elaborated. This may be 

 inferred First, from the analogy between this colour and blanched plants; Second, from the 

 much greater number of white flowers in northern than in equatorial regions; and Third, from 

 a considerable number of flowers which are born white, acquiring some other colour before 

 they die, if exposed to solar light." Most of the plants in the list below I have found, where 

 they were much shaded, or after a long continuance of cloudy, showery, and cold weather, some 

 exceptions of course there are, within the last three years with white flowei's: — Geranium 

 Jtobertianum, G. molle, Prunella vulgaris, Cnicus palustris, Thymus acinos, Ballota nigra, 

 Bartsia odontites, Calluna vulgaris. Campanula rotundifolia, Hyacinthus non-scriptus, Orchis 

 Morio, with many intermediate shades of colour, and all in the same field ; Betonica officinalis, 

 ditto, Viola odorato ditto, and Veronica hederacca. The "Botany and Geology of Malvern," by 

 £. Lees, Esq., is the authority for the two next — Digitalis purpurea, and Orchis mascula, a 

 pnre white, and without spots on the leaves, continuing white in a cultivated state, which is 

 not generally the case with the rest. Colchicum autumnale, is sometimes found whi te accor ding 

 to Withering.-^W. C, Stratford-on-Avon, November 9th., 1853. 



I should feel greatly obliged if any correspondent of "The Naturalist," who has had the 

 opportunity of observing, would be kind enough to answer the following queries respecting the 

 Domestic Swan:— Are the feet and legs ever slate-coloured, or sooty grey? If so, at what age 

 do they become black ? Is the tubercle at the base of the bill covered with feathers in the 

 young bird, if so, 9t what age is it bare." Is it conspicuously large in the first Autumn? At 

 what age are the young birds able to fly, and when may they be said to have attained their 

 full size? "VMiat is the usual number at a brood?— T. Southwell, Fakenham, Norfolk. 



