MISCELLANY. 
113 
think also that it would form the safest and most expeditious mode of destroying 
the nests of these insects. A very small quantity seems to intoxicate the little 
creatures, hut a full drop produces immediate death. All Hymenopterous insects 
yield very readily to this treatment; Earwigs, Beetles, &c., much less so; and it 
scarcely seems to affect some classes at all. Otherwise a bottle of the mixture 
might have formed a useful element of an entomologist’s paraphernalia. We may 
observe, that the same drop which will kill a Wasp will likewise serve as an 
antidote to the poison communicated by its sting.— Ed. 
Variety of the Corn Bunting (Emberiza miliaria, Linn.). —This species, 
as well as the Blackbird, seems subject to variation in plumage. One in my 
possession, shot near Flamborough Head, has an equal mixture of white and 
brown.— Patrick Hawkridge, Scarborough , Aug. 7, 1837-—[[We possess a 
variety of this bird similar to that mentioned by our correspondent; and have 
seen another of the same kind in the beautiful collection of W. H. Rudston 
Read, Esq., at Frickley Hall, in this county.— Ed.] 
Nest of the Martin Swallow ( Hirundo urbica , Linn.). —The great body 
of the Martins that visit this district, instead of attaching their nests under the 
eaves of the houses in this town, have resorted to the extensive Chalk-quarries in 
the vicinity of Guildford and Wanborough, for the purpose of nidification at the 
latter place. I observed, a short time since, no less than 150 nests attached to 
the face of the rock under the projecting ledges. Here they nestle in perfect 
security. The material they make use of in constructing their nests being pow¬ 
dered Chalk, it is with some difficulty that they are to be distinguished on the 
face of the rock. Now and then a belt of darker material intervenes in their 
otherwise marbled masonry.—J. D. Salmon, Godaiming , Surrey , Aug. 13, 1838. 
BOTANY. 
Important to Lovers of Potatos. —Cold wet summers are extremely injurious 
to the interests of the lovers of Potatos. For the tubers (or 4C underground 
stems”) of this plant owe their peculiar flavour to the presence of amylaceous 
matter, or starch, which is produced by the action of light fixing a large amount 
of carbon in the tissues. The flavour of the Potato is in direct ratio to the 
proportion of starch; and hence the importance of light to the tubers. The 
presence of carbon, by the action of light, has likewise been proved to be equally 
indispensable to all plants. Light decomposes the carbonic acid in the various 
parts, producing the different principles which impart the flavour peculiar to each 
kind of fruit and vegetable, as, for instance, starch in Corn, tannin in the Oak, 
sugar in the Cane, gum in the Plum and Cherry, and so on.— Ed. 
Failure of Apple-blossoms in 1838.—There has been a very general failure 
of Apple-blossoms in some of the best cider parishes in this neighbourhood. The 
VOL. iv.—NO. XXVI. 
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