96 



these ill a glazed linen bag until you have sufficient, 

 then take thejn to some sunny glade in the wood and 

 empty the bag of its contents, ants and eggs, into the 

 centre of a cloth whose corners are turned up over little 

 branches well covered with leaves. The ants, in order to 

 protect the eggs from the heat of the sun, quickly 

 remove them under the shelter which is provided for 

 them ; the eggs can then be collected perfectly free from 

 dirt, sticks, or ants. In the absence of a cloth a smooth 

 place may be swept clear of refuse, and little harbours of 

 branches and leaves placed around will answer the same 

 purpose. 



DRIED FLIES, so called, are now largely imported 

 from Mexico, and are of much better qualit}- than 

 formerly. Although called "dried flies," and also by 

 another fancy name, the\^ are really an aquatic insect 

 belonging to the genus Notonecta. The British represen- 

 tative of the family [Notonectidce) is known as the water- 

 boatman, from the formation of the back, which is 

 shaped like the bottom of a boat, and the long hind legs 

 which much resemble a miniature pair of oars. They 

 swim on their backs, and their eyes are so placed that 

 they can see above and below the surface of the water, 

 and instantly descend on the approach of danger. I am 

 informed that in Mexico they swarm on the lakes and 

 lagoons in countless myriads, and are collected, dried, 

 and exported by the ton. Many small fish seem to get 

 gathered with the " bugs," and tlie}^ impart a very 

 decided fishy smell to the whole. Although I have used 

 a large quantity, I do not feel in a position to sa}- any- 

 thing for or against "dried flies " as a food for birds; as 

 a change they may have a certain value, but how much 

 I must leave to the reader to discover. 



MEALWORMS now only cost a fifth part of what 

 the}' did ten years ago, owing to the large quantities we 

 receive from Germany : the competition bringing down 

 the price to such a very reasonable one that, personally, 

 I do not think it worth while to breed them — but, as 

 others might like to do this, I give the fnodtis operandi. 



