NATURAL BAITS. 321 



covered with a woolen cloth. A little salt, added to the 

 water in the pail, is very beneficial and adds to the preser- 

 vation of minnows. 



It is a good plan, when practicable, to use two minnow- 

 buckets, one of which, containing most of the minnows as 

 a reserve, should be sunk in the water, and a few minnows 

 taken out, as needed, for the bucket in use. In this way 

 the entire stock can be utilized in good condition. 



In carrying minnows to any distance, they should not be 

 too much crowded in the pail ; fifty minnows is enough for 

 a five-gallon bucket. When more than this number is re- 

 quired, additional pails should be provided. A handful 

 of water-weeds in the pail will prevent the minnows from 

 being so much injured, as they otherwise would be, when 

 conveyed over rough roads. 



When it is not practicable to allow of a frequent chang- 

 ing of the water, the latter may be oxygenized or aerated 

 by inserting a rubber, or other tube, well toward the bot- 

 tom of the pail, and pumping air through it by means of 

 a rubber bulb, such as is attached to a pump-syringe. It 

 is worse than useless to blow through such a tube with the 

 mouth ; for the breath, being deprived of its oxygen in 

 the lungs, carbonic acid gas takes it place, which is poi- 

 sonous to the minnows; yet I have frequently seen this 

 done by individuals, who erroneously supposed that they 

 were freshening the water, because of the numerous bub- 

 bles produced. 



THE HELGRAMITE. 



The larva of the horned corydalis (Corydalis cornuta), 

 an insect belonging to the order Neuroptera, is variously 



