SCRAP. 



BY THE EDITOR. 



WATER INSECTS. 



DURING the last year or two we have endeavoured 

 to watch the rise and progress of a pretty large 

 family of water or river insects ; and in order to 

 try as far as possible to come to correct conclusions, 

 we on several occasions and in several places col- 

 lected numerous grubs, and placed them in their 

 native element, with a surrounding of pebbles. And 

 as we always had these enclosures in private waters, 

 where they were never disturbed by anglers or boys, 

 we anticipated being able in a year or two to note 

 the natural history of most of them. This, however, 

 we have not been able to do : indeed we have just 

 learned sufficient to make us remain silent. We 

 find that instead of a year or two, it would require 

 many years' careful observation, in order to note 

 correctly the history of the grubs and flies inhabit- 

 ing our running waters, for a number of drawbacks 

 come in the way of observation. The water is 

 always running pretty freely over the places where 



