188 CORRESPONDENCE. 
Correspondence. 
CHRYSOSPLENIUM ALTERNIFOLIUM.—In answer to ‘‘ Observer's” enquiry, 
I beg to say that I have found this plant twice this spring, once (about 
the middle of April) at Plaxtol, near Sevenoaks, and again (in May) at 
Loose, near Maidstone.—J. Tuornuinu, Maidstone. 
Ber-rater.—I exhibited a fine specimen of that very rare bird, 
Merops apiaster, (Bee-eater,) at our Society’s meeting on June llth. It 
was shot near Derby, the day before.—L. Luz, Nottingham. 
OrntrHotocicaAL Notres.—In my notes for last month, instead of 
“Merlin” (to whom I apologise for the mistake) I should have put the 
name of ‘‘Mr. Edwards,” in respect of notes on the Hawfinch.—O. V. 
Artin, Bodicote, Oxon, June, 1879. 
Turusy’s Haas, &¢:—Whilst out near here last month I found a 
thrush’s nest, in which three out of the five eggs were perfectly plain 
and free from spots, the other two only having a very few. I should be 
glad to know if this is a common occurrence. On Whit-Tuesday, whilst 
rambling in some woods about eight miles from here, I came across a 
patch of Paris yuadrifolia, and upon looking for any unusual forms, I 
found two plants with five leaves, but the other parts of the flower ran 
in fours, asis usual. On the same day I found very fine white specimens 
of Myosotis sylvatica and Scilla nutans.—H. F. Jounson, Nottingham. 
OrnirHotocican Norrs.~-This notice will complete the list of 
summer migrants, as the time for their arrival has now expired. Since 
my last communication I have noted the Swifts on May 14th, Redstarts 
May 15th, Yellow Wagtail May 23rd, Landrail June 8th, and Spotted 
Flycatcher June 13th. I have no doubt Ray’s Wagtail was here on an 
earlier date, as I have observed the bird as early as the middle of April, 
and therefore the above date must not be considered as that of the 
arrival of the bird, but of my chance observation of it. It is not 
common, and may easily escape being seen for some time after its 
arrival. I have now recorded the arrival of twenty-three species, and 
there are of course some which have escaped notice, such as the 
Common Flycatcher, the Night-jar, the Whinchat, the Turtledove, the 
Quail, the Ring Ousel, the Red-backed Shrike, all of which have been 
seen in this neighbourhood in former years, and are doubtless here now, 
though overlooked. This would bring our list of ordinary summer 
migrants in South Leicestershire up to thirty at least. Some day I hope 
to be able to make the record complete. I hope your Oxfordshire corres- 
pondent will not feel offended if I say that he has not established beyond 
doubt the fact of the arrival of the Wryneck in that county as early as 
the first week in March. Should he succeed in proving that this bird 
ever takes precedence of all the spring migrants, and is heard three 
weeks in advance of the Chiffchaff, it will be something new. Mean- 
while I venture to think that my theory, that the note was that of the 
Kestrel, is much the more probable. In your last issue I notice, as a 
curious coincidence, that your correspondent at Castle Ashby gives you 
the same date as myself for the arrival of the House Martin and the 
Nightingale-—Tuomas Macaunay, M.R.C.8.L., &c., Kibworth, June 14th. 
SrAsoNABLE Notres.—Owing to the long-continued wet and cold 
weather, the spring and summer flowers are unusually backward this 
year. I first noticed the Purple Orchis (Orchis mascula) and the Crab 
trees (Pyrus malus) in flower, May 19th ; Buttercups, (Ranunculus bulbosus 
_ and R. repens,) Stellaria Holostea, Veronica Chamedrys, Ajuga reptans, Orchis 
Morio, and Bluebell Hyacinths (Scilla nutans) were in flower by May 
Qist ; Viburnum Lantana and Paris quadrifolia by 22nd ; Hawthorn, whieh 
