75 



What has appeared singular to me is, that in October you see the 

 young in flocks; further in winter, and more particularly in 

 spring, most part, if not all, you see are mature birds. Now, 

 what becomes of the young during the time they are undergoing 

 their change of plumage; it is not supposed, nor is it likely, they 

 acquire their full plumage the year after being hatched ; but, as 

 this seems the southern limit of their migration, what does be- 

 come of them ? The white plumage of the old Drakes after the 

 breeding season becomes spotted with black, and portions of this 

 plumage are visible till about the end of October ; but they do 

 not appear to get any of the rust colour similar to the plumage 

 of the Duck. It seems to me possible that the birds recorded as 

 King Ducks killed in England may be merely faded birds of this 

 species, as it is evidently a much more northern bird, and appa- 

 rently does not migrate far to the south in winter. C. M. A. 



SPHINX CONVOLVULL 



Reprinted from " The Field" Newspaper, Sept. 16M, 1865. 



Sept. 7. One of my children has brought in his cap what he 

 called " such a large butterfly." It is one of the above, fresh and 

 perfect ; he had found it on wall close by. What an elegantly 

 formed insect it is ! and how beautifully the pink and black 

 arrangement of colour on its body contrasts with its, in other 

 respects, sombre ash hue ! Its large eyes appear in some strong 

 lights as if red-hot. This Sphinx, as well as the Death's-head 

 and Galii, in some seasons seems to get dispersed more generally 

 over the country than the Privet, the Lime, and the Eyed Willow; 

 the three latter species, though much more common in particular 

 districts, rarely, if ever, appear to occur beyond those limits 

 (however fine the season), though the food on which these cater- 

 pillars feed is quite as generally distributed. Little seems to be 

 generally known about the habits of these insects. Are Convol- 

 vuli and the Death's-head night-flyers ? and do they take long 

 flights or remain in the vicinity where they are bred ? It seems 

 strange that the caterpillar of an indigenous insect should feed on 



