236 



CHAPTER OF VARIETIES. 



box, provided it be of a cylindrical form. Take a box of any con- 

 venient size, and cut a square or circular piece out of the upper side 

 of the lid, and then clap the latter on the box again and fasten it on 

 tightly, but in such a manner that it can be easily removed when the 

 contents are to be taken out. Then having cut a corresponding hole 

 in another lid which is of a larger size, put that over the other one and 

 fasten it on by means of a central axis (a small screw will do for this 

 purpose) upon which it can freely turn when required. When it is 

 intended to slip a small insect in, by simply turning the outer lid 

 round upon the under one, the size of the aperture for its ingress can 

 be adjusted to the exact size of its body, without the least fear of 

 those already within making their escape. — Solitarius. 



London, April, 1833. 



Partiality of the blackbird to the neighbourhood of 

 man. — For the last two years a couple of blackbirds built their 

 nest in a holly-bush in a gentleman's garden, at Blackheath, and 

 although he has a large family of children continually playing therein, 

 yet that circumstance did not drive them from the spot. The bush 

 grew close to the side of the garden-path, and the nest was about five 

 feet from the ground, and when I saw it was not very artfully con- 

 cealed. They built there during the previous year without their nest 

 being found by the children, but last year their retreat was discovered 

 and was soon plundered of its contents, consisting of four or five young 

 ones. The circumstance of their building in such a situation, where 

 there was the frequent noise of the children, instead of selecting a 

 more secure and quiet place, as there were other holly-bushes in the 

 neighbourhood, proves that this pair of birds preferred, as the rook 

 does, the vicinity of noise and bustle. — Solitarius. 



London, April, 1833. 



On the colours of flowers. — I am inclined to think that the 

 changing of the crimson colour of sweet-williams to white, as men- 

 tioned by Mr. Ballard, at p, 128 of your third Number, is not at- 

 tributable to the absence of light ; as I have frequently exposed a 

 nosegay in a window to the full blaze of a summer sun ; yet gene- 

 rally observed, that, after remaining a few days amongst the water, the 

 blue, red, and purple blossoms, such as Campanula rotundifolia, 

 Myosotis palustris, Vicia scpium, Orobus tuberosus, Geranium dis- 

 sectum, Dianthus barbatus, &c, as their buds successively expanded, 



