122 



THE YOUNG 



NATURALIST. 



pations and amusements are not always 

 calculated to do more than help away 

 the idle time. But such an under- 

 taking as this would be a charming 

 occupation for a clever girl. To form a 

 collection of dried wild flowers is itself 

 a very attractive pursuit, and if some 

 portion of our friend's suggestion, or 

 our own were added, the lady who 

 could draw or paint would find unend- 

 ing pleasure in forming a herbarium 

 somewhat after this fashion. 



Of the value of such a collection we 

 have said nothing, but it is certain that 

 new ideas would arise in the mind of 

 the owner, that affinities would be seen 

 that had not yet been noticed, and that 

 the store of knowledge would be vastly 

 increased. On such matters as this we 

 know little. Perhaps we know nearly 

 all the larvse of the larger lepidoptera 

 that feed on particular plants, and a 

 little may be known of the larvae of 

 other orders. There are systematic 

 lists of the food plants of the larvae of 

 Lepidoptera in " Merrin's Calendar," in 

 Owen Wilson's Food plants of the 

 larvae," &c. ; but there are no such 

 tabulated lists relating to the earlier 

 stages of other orders, and what has 

 been printed is scattered through the 

 pages of the various Ifatural History 

 Magazines. If a herbarium was formed 

 after this fashion, all this scattered in- 

 formation might soon be gathered to- 

 gether,, and as new items were published 

 they would be easily added in their 

 proper place, and in a few years we 

 believe this herbarium might be made 



such a storehouse of knowledge as does 

 not exist at present. We commend the 

 idea to our young readers, either to be 

 taken up for real study, or merely for 

 pleasant and instructive amusement as 

 may suit their tastes. 



TO CORRESPONDENTS. 



All communications to be sent to J. E. Kobson, 15 

 Northgate, Hartlepool; or to S. L. Mosley Beau- 

 mont Park, Huddersfield. 



Subscriptions for Vol. III. are now due. 

 Weekly numbers or monthly parts, 6s.; 

 with plain plates ; or 8s. with coloured 

 plates. The latter cannot be obtained 

 through the booksellers, but any one can 

 have their plates coloured on application 

 to the Editors. 



EXCHANGE. 



Wanted, Nos. 19, Feb, 1877, and 24, July 

 1877, of the " Naturalist," (new series), 

 edited by C. P. Hobkirk, F.L.S. and G. T, 

 Porrit, F.L.S. , 6d. each, or Lepidoptera, for 

 clean copies. — J. W. Carter, 14, Valley 

 Street, Valley Road, Bradford. 



Duplicates, — Edusa, Paphia, Pamphilus. 

 Sambucata, Biundularia, Atomaria, Dispar and 

 eggs, Batis, Trapezina, Instdbilis. Deside- 

 rata. — P. cratagi, C. album, Lanestris, Quer- 

 cifolia, Maculata, Pvunaria, Betularia, Reclusa, 

 Vinula. — William F. Chambers, 22, Elm- 

 wood Street, Fishergate, York. 



"AT HOME." 



Liverpool.— C. S. Gregson will be at home 

 every Sunday until March next. Micro- 

 lepidopterists, coleopterists, and artists 

 should come early to secure good light ; 

 general naturalists any time from nine 

 a.m. to nine p.m.— Rose Bank, Fletcher 

 Grove Edge Lane, Liverpool. 



HuDDERSFiELD.—S. L. Moslcy cvcry Sat- 

 urday afternoon. 



