THE EPHEMERID2, OR MAY-FLIES. 285 
the short dark days we now have and the drawbacks connected 
with hunting in rain and snow render it extremely difficult to find 
them. Notwithstanding this, the student should not neglect any 
opportunity that may arise, for there is always the possibility of 
meeting with something to repay him for any hardship he may 
undergo. The dead leaves (if not the living) are covered with 
‘marvellous organisms without number, every one of which is 
deserving of careful examination, and thus he will obtain ample 
material for pleasant study during the long nights of winter when 
comfortably seated by his fire-side with his microscope before him. 
On reviewing my notes of the year, I find a crowd of interesting 
plants belonging to the family to which I have called the special 
attention of my readers altogether overlooked. This is the result 
of an absolute necessity, nor was it my wish to enter upon the im- 
possible task of referring to all the members of the innumerable 
family. My desire has been to be a guide and a help to the 
microscopic students of the North, with especial reference to those 
of the Manchester Microscopical Society, and in this character I 
have been careful to refer chiefly to the results of my personal 
explorations and discoveries. 
It has been a pleasure to me to have had an opportunity of 
calling the attention of my fellow-students to so interesting a study 
in THE NorRTHERN Microscopist, and I have the further satis- 
faction of believing that the time I have bestowed upon the subject 
has not been spent in vain, 
TuHos, BRITTAIN. 
THE EPHEMERIDA, OR MAY-FLIES.* 
By W. BLACKBURN. 
HESE insects are a family of the Subulicorn Neuroptera, to 
which division of the Order the Dragon-flies also belong. The 
name—“ Subulicornes” —was given to them by Latreille, on account 
of the antennz having the shape of an awl. The term “ May-fly ” 
is restricted scientifically to the genus Ephemera, the type of which 
is the May-fly of the angler. It is, however, popularly applied to 
the entire family. The May-fly differs from the Dragon-fly in 
* An Abstract of a Paper read before the Manchester Microscopical Society 
on October 6th. 
Norte.—Mr. McLachlan in his catalogue of British Neuroptera, 1870, places 
the Ephemeride amongst the Pseudo-neuroptera, between the Stone-flies 
( Perlide ) and the Dragon-flies, 
