CHAPTER OF VARIETIES. 235 



On the 7th, I went to the gardens again, in consequence of hearing 

 that the nightingale had been heard, and redstarts seen there. After 

 some time I saw a male redstart ; but it kept for the most part on the 

 higher branches of the trees, and but once settled on the ground. It 

 appeared very shy. I afterwards saw a small bird moving briskly side- 

 ways along a felled tree, and by advancing cautiously I got near it. It 

 appeared of a mouse colour on the back, and seemed to have a white 

 line through the eye. I have never seen the creeper alive ; but judging 

 from stuffed specimens, this bird agreed in form and size. I next pro- 

 ceeded to the spot where I had seen the nuthatches, and saw them again. 

 I do not know whether you were aware of the existence of these birds 

 in the gardens, if not, and such notices are worth insertion, I shall be 

 very happy to communicate any other facts and observations which I 

 may obtain in the environs of London, during the present and succeed- 

 ing summers. I wish just to remark, that Mr. Blyth has been preceded 

 by Dr. Leach in forming a new genus of the bearded tit. The name 

 given by Dr. Leach is Calamophilus. I hope you will pardon any inac- 

 curacies, as I am but a young observer. — W. Henry. 



London, April 17, 1833. 



On the colours of flowers. — I find that a purple columbine 

 or a blue larkspur, held over a lighted match, changes first to pink and 

 then to black. The usual varieties of these flowers are blues, reds, 

 and whites. The yellows of other flowers all continue unchanged, 

 and the same is true of the green colour of leaves. I tried the experi- 

 ment on the primrose, the winter aconite, yellow crocus, furze blossom, 

 and daffodil, all of which remained unchanged ; but every other colour 

 instantly disappeared. If a scarlet, crimson, or maroon dahlia be tried, 

 the colour changes, not to white, but to yellow, — a fact known to 

 gardeners, who in this way variegate their growing dahlias. — E. Blyth. 

 Tooting, 



HOW TO MAKE A SAFETY-BOX FOR COLLECTING INSECTS. It 



often happens with the common sort of box which the insect collector 

 carries with him into the fields, that while he is opening it to slip one 

 insect in, another jumps out, and with no insects is this so frequently 

 the case, as with the click-beetles (Elate fida) f grass-hoppers {Ache- 

 tides, &c), and plant-hoppers (Tettigonice). But to prevent the oc- 

 currence of this I would recommend a box of the following simple 

 construction, which can be very easily made of a common chip or pill- 



