194 Queries and Answers. 
in my garden, lying about a stone; and it was not till very lately that f was 
able to account for the manner of their coming there. I then saw a throstle 
(T'ardus musicus) in the act of breaking a shell against a stone, in order to 
obtain the snail. From this circumstance, I should conceive ‘the snail to 
afford a plentiful supply of food for this species of bird during the winter 
‘season; or during a scarcity of worms or insects, on which £ have always 
considered them to subsist. Some of your able correspondents will, pro- 
bably, be able to give some further information on the food of this species 
of bird. — W. H, White. Be dford Nov. 25. 1829. 
Facts and Queries as to Birds in the West of Scotland. —Loxia curvirostra, 
In winter 1828-9, the crossbill was seen in small flocks in the larch woods in 
this neighbourhood. [I obtained two specimens, male and female : the male 
of a rose colour; the female, yellowish green. (Bewick’s British Birds, 1809, 
vol.i. p. 154.) Tt has been said that the crossbill followed the apple into 
England. Has this species of bird followed the larch into Scotland ? 
Emberiza nivalis. During the same winter, I got specimens, male and 
female, of the snowflake, shot in this neighbourhood. 
Mérens albéllus. — Also a fine specimen of the male bird smew, or 
white nun, killed on the beach near Prestwick church. The hen bird was 
also shot, and is preserved in the neighbourhood. 
A’mpels garrulus? There were also killed in this county, last winter, 
several birds which were called Bohemian chatterers. I did not see any of 
them, but they were described as being remarkably beautiful. Is this the 
chatterer of Bewick (A’mpelis garrulus) ? 
Anas Cygnus fcrus. Within this last fortnight, several flocks of swans 
(the wild, I presume) have been observed, from Sich the country people 
prognosticate a severe winter; and already a decided frost seems to have 
set in. 
Coljmbus. 1 saw a bird which was shot the other day on this coast, and 
which [had not seen before: it appears to be a euillemot. Not having an 
opportunity of comparing it with Bewick’s descri iption, [ cannot say whe- 
ther it be his guillemot, lesser guillemot, or spotted guillemot. The bill 
Ls ed to me to be black, and the legs reddish; the wings were black. 
an I be informed, through the medium of your interesting Periodical, 
Ww ee there is any more modern work that now comes in place of Be- 
wick’s British Birds, and what is the latest edition of Bewick. Iam, Sir, 
yours, &c.— Z,Z. Ayr, Dec. 19. 1829. 
Hirtindines. — Do the swallows migrate to the south of Europe, or do 
they cross the Mediterranean into Africa? Do they propageee their species 
there as well as here ? —IW. H. White. Bedford, Nov. 25. 1829. 
A remarkable Vanissa I’o.—Sir, I have in my possession a specimen of 
the Vanéssa To, which I took in 18 827, that is entirely destitute of the eyes 
on the inferior wings, as well as of the. dark ground they a are placed on, and 
the light-coloured circle that surrounds them. That they were not rubbed 
off in taking, I am sure, as the specimen is in most capital preservation. 
Having made numerous enquiries in this neighbourhood, I cannot meet with 
any one who has either taken or seen a similar insect before. I shall, 
therefore, be glad to hear further information of it from some of your nume- 
rous correspondents. Iam, Sir, &c.—H. 8S. Smith. Leeds, October, 1829. 
The Nidus attached to a Reed (p. 94.) is evidently the production of a 
species of wasp; I am inclined to think, the Véspa holsdtica, mentioned in 
Kirby and Spence’s Entomology, vol.i. p. 504. I should have felt quite 
certain of this, if the inner coat of the one in question had not been shorter 
than the middle one, which is not quite accordant with the description given 
by those authors; yet I am inclined to consider this an accidental variance, 
possibly owing to the nidus not being fully completed ; for, possibly, if 
another tier of cells had been added, the inner covering might then have 
been extended ; or perhaps the nature of the shelter in w hich the nidus was 
