206 GLAUCUS ; OF, 
magical weed which, lately introduced from Canada 
among timber, has multiplied, self-sown, to so pro- 
digious an extent, that it bid fair, a few years since, 
to choke the navigation not only of our canals and 
fen-rivers, but of the Thames itself:? or, in default 
of these, some of the more delicate pond-weeds ; 
such as Callitriche, Potamogeton pusillum, and, best 
of all, perhaps, the beautiful Water-Milfoil (Myrio- 
phyllium), whose comb-like leaves are the haunts of 
numberless rare and curious animalcules :—these (in 
themselves, from the transparency of their circu- 
lation, interesting microscopic objects) for oxygen- 
breeding vegetables; and for animals, the pickings 
of any pond; a minnow or two, an eft; a few of the 
delicate pond-snails (unless they devour your plants 
too rapidly): water-beetles, of activity inconceivable, - 
and that wondrous bug the Notonecta, who lies on 
his back all day, rowing about his boat-shaped body, 
1 But if any young lady, her aquarium having failed, shall (as 
dozens do) cast out the same Anacharis into the nearest ditch, she 
shall be followed to her grave by the maledictions of all millers 
and trout-fishers. Seriously, this is a wanton act of injury to the 
neighbouring streams, which must be carefully guarded against. 
As well turn loose queen-wasps to build in your neighbour’s banks. 
