THE RETROSPECT. 21 



and einerea. "With respect to the black chin, that was the result of my own observations, at 

 nesting time, when the sex is most certainly determined, and therefore I considered it a 

 distinguishing mark, for that there is a gi-eat flocking of Hens, like Chaffinches in Autumn, I 

 am certain from actual observations. Mr. Clogg, next refers to the song; now this is really 

 a matter of opinion, and it has always appeared to me, that Naturalists have somewhat strained 

 this matter. There are many birds, which if the "Wagtail be a singing bird, may, in the 

 same sense, be said to have a song, for instance," the ;Swallow, the Turtle, and the Golden- 

 crowned Wren, which last is indeed almost entitled to that appellation ; butas to the "Wagtail, 

 I would especially refer Mr. Clogg to the Rev. F. 0. Morris's beautiful work, at vol. ii. page 128. 

 "With respect to the five species, I suppose there is scarcely any one who has had more 

 opportunities than myself, of observing and obtaining specimens of these birds, and I perfectly 

 call to mind the birds which are now said to be distinct species, having [possessed both, 

 especially the so-called Motacilla alba, which I always looked upon as fine specimens of the 

 Pied "Wagtail, and never certainly should have dreamed of calling them anything else. The 

 second I considered either the young of the Grey "Wagtail, or the female of the Yellow ; and I 

 will only say that it is impossible for me successfully, nor would it be seemly, to offer any ideas 

 of my own in opposition to those of such excellent naturalists as Mr. Yarrell, Mr. Gould, 

 and the Rev. F. O. Morris, who, however, himself says, "two species are now believed to have 

 been hitherto included under one, (vol. ii., page 126,) putting it no higher, and declining to 

 give a decisive opinion, and coming to the conclusion, at page 134, that "all this seems like 

 'confusion worse confounded,' " in which I heartily agree with him. If the Motacilla alba of 

 modern ornithologists be a distinct species, it is a larger bird, and breeds later, or is said to do 

 80, and to be migi-atory. The whole subject was a difficult one, and at the time I wrote my 

 article, now years ago, although I saw no reason to alter it afterwards, the Grey Wagtail was 

 so scarce that speculations were fair enough, however I myself acknowledged that they were 

 only such, although the varieties we meet with amply supported the probability of such a 

 suggestion. I quite agree with Mr. Clogg that a certain liberality should be exercised, but I 

 am so opposed to anything like "making species out of varieties," or calling birds "British" 

 that have no title to the name, that I may be led into the other extreme. Birds to be "British" 

 must, I apprehend, either breed here, remain a considerable time, or in considerable numbers, 

 and at regular intervals; all others should, I think, be classed as birds that have occasionally 

 visited our shores. In this view, therefore, admitting the existence of the Motacilla neglecta 

 for the sake of argument, I do not admit it as a British bird. The article which gave rise to 

 this controversy was a mere sketch, the result of nothing but actual observation, although of 

 course I am familiar with most works on the subject, but in future I will state the opinions 

 of others as well as my own, although I am content to be thought ignorant if I feel confident 

 that I am correct. — 0. S. Eound, Lincoln's Inn Fields, December, 1853. 



Lepidoptera round Exeter. — I have read Mr. E. Parfitt's account of the Lepidoptera about 

 Exeter, in your number for November, and, living as I do, only three miles from Exeter, and 

 one from Topsham, I was surprised to see that he found many insects scarce, which I have 

 observed as being abundant. Perhaps a few remarks may not be uninteresting to the readers 

 of "The Naturalist." Mr. P. says that he has not heard of the capture of the Eyed Hawk 

 Moth, (Smerinthus ocellatus,) in tliis neighbourhood; but F. "W. L. Boss, Esq., of Topsham, 

 has several specimens which were captured in that town, and I have one in my cabinet taken 

 there also. Of the Lime Hawk Moth, {S. Tilice,) I bred a fine pair last spring from larvae 

 taken in the preceding August, and two others died in pupa. The Privet Hawk Moth, {Sphinx 

 Ligustri, far from being uncommon, is very numerous both in the larva and imago; [I have 

 bred and captured more than half-a-dozen here this season alone, and two were taken within 

 ten minutes of each other at the same flower; in many specimens the bands on the hinder 

 wings are white instead of pink, which is the usual colour. The Elephant Hawk Moth, {Me- 

 topsilus elpenor,) I have found plentiful in June, hovering over the Rhododendrons then in 

 flower. I took five this year, and a larva was brought me in September; last year I saw three 

 larvae which a boy had offered for sale to a bird-stuff'er in Exeter. The Death's Head Hawk 

 Moth, {Acherontia Atropos,) has been rather numerous this year in this neighbourhood ; Mr. 

 Ross had four of the imago and two of the larva), all taken near Topsham, during the last 

 summer and autumn. As to the three specimens of the Convolvulus Hawk Moth, {Sphinx 



