A difference either in flavour or in the amount of nutriment in certain varieties causes them to be more eagerly attacked by various enemies than other varieties of the same species. Bullfinches (Pyrrhula vulgaris) injure our fruit-trees by devouring the flower-buds, and a pair of these birds have been seen "to denude a large plum-tree in a couple of days of almost every bud;" but certain varieties (21/32. Mr. Selby in 'Mag. of Zoology and Botany' Edinburgh volume 2 1838 page 393.) of the apple and thorn (Crataegus oxyacantha) are more especially liable to be attacked. A striking instance of this was observed in Mr. Rivers's garden, in which two rows of a particular variety of plum (21/33. The Reine Claude de Bavay 'Journal of Horticulture' December 27, 1864 page 511.) had to be carefully protected, as they were usually stripped of all their buds during the winter, whilst other sorts growing near them escaped. The root (or enlarged stem) of Laing's Swedish turnip is preferred by hares, and therefore suffers more than other varieties. Hares and rabbits eat down common rye before St. John's-day-rye, when both grow together. (21/34. Mr. Pusey in 'Journal of R. Agricult. Soc.' volume 6 page 179. For Swedish turnips see 'Gardener's Chronicle' 1847 page 91.) In the south of France, when an orchard of almond-trees is formed, the nuts of the bitter variety are sown, "in order that they may not be devoured by field- mice" (21/35. Godron 'De l'Espece' tome 2 page 98.); so we see the use of the bitter principle in almonds.