&2 VARIETIES. 



detected the seat of smell in insects. I have often observed 

 that when an insect discovers a flower by its sight, it does not 

 assure itself of its reality, or of its containing honey, by using 

 its sense of smell ; for if it did so it would not waste its time 

 in vainly searching for food in the honeyless nectaries. Bees 

 may be frequently seen to alight upon flowers which have been 

 completely deprived of their honey by bees that had previously 

 visited them, — instances which show that they are led thither 

 by their vision, for if smell were then their guide they would 

 not be deceived. Some time since a tortoise-shell butterfly 

 entered my room, and flew in a direct line to some artificial 

 flowers placed under glass covers, about the smooth slippery 

 sides of which it fluttered, spoiling its wings in vain attempts 

 to gain its object. I once saw, at Paddington, a bee's attention 

 for a long time engaged by the sight of some flowers painted 

 upon a china-dish, and against which it flew, appearing much 

 balked to find them hard and honeyless. Now, if these 

 insects have such an acute sense of smell as some writers 

 ascribe to them, how comes it that it allows their vision to 

 mislead them? James Fennell. 



Nov. 12, 1835. 4, Chester Terrace, Borough Road, Southwark. 



2. A Query. — Kirby and Spence, in their " Introduction to 

 Entomology," mention some insect,* the name of which I 

 forget, which, they say, was the means of saving the life of 

 Latreille. By explaining their allusion you will oblige myself 

 and others. James Fennell. 



Southwark, Nov. 12, 1835. 



3. Vanessa C. album. — This butterfly has been exceedingly 

 abundant at Worcester and Malvern this autumn ; it settles on 

 the apples which have fallen in the orchards, and appears to 

 feed on their juices ; the larva feeds on the leaves of the hop. 

 ( Communicated to E. Newman by) 



Worcester, Nov. 16, 1835. Sam. AlEX. BuRLINGHAM. 



4. Colias Hyale and Electra. — About sixty specimens of 

 Hyale have been taken this year in the neighbourhood of this 



• Necrobia rujicollis. Latreille only informs us (Gen. Crust, et Insect. 1. 275,) 

 that it secured his life and liberty by the assistance of his friends Dargelas and 

 Rory dc St. Vincent.— Ed. 



