Insects. 1233 



NATURALISTS' CALENDAR FOR FEBRUARY. 



Birds — In this month many species of birds which have remained during the win- 

 ter in flocks, pair, and disperse themselves over the country to their breeding stations. 

 The raven and stock-dove are among the earliest breeders, and frequently have eggs, 

 and occasionally young, about the latter end of the month. In many species a remark- 

 able change of plumage takes place : the common linnet (Linota cannabina) is a 

 familiar example; this bird, at this season, exchanges the dull browpish purple of the 

 head and breast for the most brilliant carmine, and towards the end of the month is 

 mostly in full nuptial plumage ; but this change is not so evident in birds of the pre- 

 ceding year as in older individuals, and it is not till the second or third season that the 

 bird acquires the full brilliancy of his plumage. The stonechat (Saxicola rubicola) and 

 the reed bunting {Emberiza Schceniclus) lose the brown edgings of the feathers of the 

 head and throat, and these parts appear of a perfect black. The pied and grey 

 wagtails (Motacillte Yarellii and Boarula) are beginning to assume the nuptial dress, 

 and their throats exhibit a mixture of black and white feathers ; a few individuals may 

 be found at the end of the month in full summer plumage. 



Insects. — During this month the oak beauty moth (Bistort prodromarius) and 

 Hibernia progemmaria appear, and may be found on the trunks of trees, palings, &c. in 

 the day time. Specimens of the green carpet moth (Euthalia coraciaria) which have 

 hybernated, may be met with. This is, perhaps, the only British Geometra that sur- 

 vives the winter in the perfect state. The herald moth (Gonoptera Libatrix) may often 

 be found in a torpid state in houses and outbuildings. This species retires early in 

 autumn, and seldom revives till April or May. Specimens of Glcea Vaccinii, Spadi- 

 cea, and Satellitia, which appear in the autumn, and live through the winter, often 

 come out in mild evenings.— Henry Doubleday in Naturalist's Almanack for 1845. 



Naturalist's Almanack for 1846. — I regret to see that this pretty little Almanack 

 should this year be so replete with blunders. It states that the Gray Wagtail, White 

 Wagtail, Brambling, and Yellow Wagtail appear in January ; that the House Mar- 

 tin arrives in March ; that the Hedge Warbler arrives, Glowworms shine, and Game 

 Certificates expire in April; that Swallows congregate in July: in October it treats 

 of the Mountain Finch and Brambling as distinct birds. The botanical part is still 

 worse ; the Honeysuckle is made to blossom in January ; the Elder in February ; and 

 so forth. — Edward Newman. 



The Wasp insectivorous. — Last year I happened to be watching a common large 

 Tipula which was about alighting on a leaf in the garden, when a wasp flying up 

 seized him as a hawk would a small bird, or a dragon-fly an insect, and almost in an 

 instant had made an end of him ; I came to the rescue, but it was already too late. — 

 F. O. Morris ; Hafferton, near Driffield, November 7tk, 1845. 



Parasitism of Chalcidites. — In noticing a single species of the Chalcidites, it seems 

 advisable to mention its place in the large group to which it belongs Of all this tribe 



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