8 
NATURE NOTES 
other places, their “ high, stiff, not to say, ungainly hops,” of which Mr. Millard 
speaks, have frequently arrested my attention. Their movements on the ground 
make one imagine that they have no joints to their legs, or that they are in 
splints. These birds are evidently going through a process of evolution. 
Their food is mainly procured on the ground ; and, owing to their feeble powers 
of flight, must always be sought in the vicinity of trees, to which they hurry on 
the approach of danger. If attacked by a hawk they try to evade it by dodging 
round the tree trunk, using their powerful legs, rather than their wings, in so 
doing. It is probable that in future ages the power of woodpecker’s wings will 
be increased, and that the legs and feet will be more adapted to progression on 
the ground than they are at present. 
Southacre, Swaffham. Ed.mund Thos. Daubeny. 
110. Light-coloured Sparrow. — In the November number of Nature 
Notes (Query No. 99) there is mention of a “ light-coloured sparrow.” About 
ten days later we saw one here, quite answering to the description given in the 
note, and feeding with the other birds, sparrows, starlings and blackbirds, but 
very firmly “ holding its own ” if they attempted to take away the bit of food 
it was in possession of. It was here for a week or ten days, then disappeared, but 
has returned the last few days. I wonder can it be the same bird seen by the 
writer of Note 99 ? 
Worthing. 
111. A White Sparrow. — In the month of August last, I saw on Hamp- 
stead Heath a white sparrow on the ground close to me, amongst a number of 
other sparrows of the normal colour. This is the only albino bird that I have 
as yet been fortunate enough to observe myself, although I have occasionally 
read or heard of them. I mention the above as I believe that albinos are un- 
common amongst birds, and it may be of interest to some of the readers of 
Nature Notes. 
J. M. Voss. 
112. White Sparrows. — It may interest the writer of Query No. 99 to 
hear that in Bowness last summer there were three pure white sparrows. They 
stayed there all the summer, and mixed with their dusky neighbours as if they 
were unaware of their own peculiarities. O. C. SiLVERLOCK. 
113. Sphinx convolvuli. — In reply to Mr. Daubeny, I will try to 
summarise the principal features in the sixty-three pages devoted to this moth in 
“ Tutt’s British Lepidoptera ” (now appearing), vol. iv. The moth is found 
practically throughout the Old World, from sea-level to great elevations. Its 
home is in the tropics, where it is possibly continuously brooded, hibernating 
(if it can be so called) as a pupa. It is a confirmed migrant, and reaches in its 
wanderings the confines of the polar regions. It is not known to occur in the 
New World. In subtropical countries it is probably double or triple brooded : in 
temperate regions probably single brooded only, and existing by regular migrations, 
not being able to pass the winter in any stage. The immigrant moths appear in 
this country from June to August according to season, their descendants t>eing 
found from June to October flying at dusk at the flowers of many plants, 
particularly Tobacco plants. Petunias, Honeysuckle, and Pelargoniums. The 
bluish-green eggs are laid on almost any species of Convolvulus (wild or 
cultivated) and Ipoimra and many other plants, on which the larvae feed for 
about seven weeks. They are very variable in colour during growth, each moult 
usually marking a change, but they are mostly some shade of brown when full 
grown, although green ones sometimes occur. They bury themselves in the soil 
and form cells in which they become pupa-. C. Nicholson. 
ASTRONOMICAL NOTES FOR JANUARY, 1907. 
Venus will be a beautifully brilliant object before sunrise, and may be 
observed near the moon on January ii. 
Mars will also appear as a morning star. Jupiter will be strikingly visible 
during tho whole night. Near moon on January 26. 
Saturn will be an evening star setting soon after the sun. Near moon on 
January 17. W. F. I). 
