194! Queries and Answers. 



ta my garden, lying about a stone ; and it was not till vefy lately that I was 

 able to account for the manner of their coming there. I then saw a throstle 

 ( Turdus 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 I have always 

 considered tliem 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, Bedford 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.) It 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 ne%hbourhood. 



M£7^gus albelliis. — 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. 



Afmpelis gdrruliis .^ 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 ( J'mpelis garrulus) ? 



P^nas Cj/gmisferus. Within this last fortnight, several flocks of swans 

 (the wild, I presume) have been observed, from which the country people 

 prognosticate a severe winter ; and already a decided frost seems to have 

 set in. 



Columbus. I saw a bird which was shot the other day on this coast, and 

 which I had not seen before : it appears to be a guillemot. Not having an 

 opportunity of comparing it with Bewick's description, I cannot say whe- 

 ther it be his guillemot, lesser guillemot, or spotted guillemot. The bill 

 appeared to me to be black, and the legs reddish ; the wings were black. 



Can I be informed, through the medium of your interesting Periodical, 

 whether 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. I am, Sir, 

 yours, &c. — Z. Z. Ayr, Dec. 19. 1829. 



Hiinmdincs. — Do the swallows migrate to the south of Europe, or do 

 they cross the Mediterranean into Africa ? Do they propagate their species 

 there as well as here ? —W. II. White. Bedford, Nov. 25. 1829. 



A remarkable Vanessa. Vo. — Sir, I have in my possession a specimen of 

 the Vanessa To, which I took in 1827, that is entirely destitute of the eyes 

 on the inferior wings, as well as of the dark ground they 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. I am. Sir, &c. — H. S. 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 Fespa holsatica, 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 

 anothec tier of cells had been added, the inner covering might then have 

 been extended : or perhaps the nature of the shelter in which the nidus was 



