THE YOUNG NATURALIST. 



of small fishes specially admired for their 

 nest-building propensities. This species 

 ranges in size from two to three inches, and.is 

 found in almost every brook, ditch, or stream. 

 It is known by having three spines placed 

 conspicuously on the back (as the name indi- 

 cates). Its brother, the ten-spined stickle- 

 back (G. pungitius), is a migratory species 

 that visits our rivers in the spring of the 

 year, and is distinguished by having nine or 

 ten spines on the back, by the sides being 

 perfectly smooth, and only an inch and a 

 half to two inches in length. 



The Flounder {FlaUssa flasus) is the 

 only representative of the flat-fish family we 

 have in our rivers. It is also a fish migratory 

 and resident, frequenting our rivers far 

 beyond the reach of the tide. It is very 

 partial to mud, and is sometimes called the 

 "mud-flounder." The general colour of 



he upper part is a pale brown, sometimes 

 mottled with yellowish or brown spots, and 

 has a row of tooth-like tubercles surrounding 

 the sides. In weight it seldom exceeds 3 lbs. 

 Varieties of it are common. 



The Pike {Esox Indus) is one of the 

 largest, and certainly the most ferocious 

 and voracious, of all our fresh-water fish. 

 It feeds upon fish of every kind, and can 

 eat an enormous quantity in a small space 

 of time. The pike is the king of the waters, 

 and kills every fish that happens to come 

 near, none seeming able to escape except 

 the perch, whose spiny dorsal fin protects 

 it from capture. It is not necessary to des- 

 cribe so common a fish which is so well 

 known. The pike grows to an enormous 

 size, reaching over 30 lbs. in weight. One 

 recorded as taken in the Broad of Ncrfolk, 

 April 2nd, 1870, weighed 32 lbs, the roe 

 (included) weighed 5 lbs., and consisted of 

 no less than 595,200 eggs. One taken in the 

 river Ure, at Boro Bridge (1881), reaching 

 17 lbs. in weight, is the largest I have seen. 



The Salmon (Salmosalar). Although the 

 salmon is considered to be a sea-fish, never- 



theless, this sea-fish ascends our rivers and 

 streams in order to deposit its eggs, and,' 

 therefore, may be called a migratory salmo. 

 It is scarcely necessary to describe this well- 

 known " King of Fish." 



{To be continued.) 



ECONOMIC ENTOMOLOGY. 



[Much of the following information is taken 

 from Miss Ormerod's Manual* as being 

 the most recent modes of prevention. — 

 S. L.M.J 



V. — Insects injurious to Field and 

 Garden Crops, 



Asparagus.— The grub of a beetle— 

 Crioceris asparagi — is, some years, very des- 

 tructive to asparagus, especially in the 

 south, by gnawing oft the young shoots. 



Remedies. — Syringe the grubs with warm 

 water ; they will then fall to the ground, 

 and if soot be thrown over them plentifully 

 they will be unable to rise. 



Bean. — The Black Fly {AjpMs rumi- 

 cis) is a well-known pest to bean tops. 



Remedy. — Top the plants as soon as the 

 insects appear and destroy them. 



Bean Beetle [Bruchus grananus). — The 

 grub of this beetle feeds inside the fresh 

 bean, remaining there through the winter, 

 and changing to a beetle in the spring. 



Remedy. — The chief remedy recom- 

 mended is care in the selection of seed to 

 see they are not infested. 



Beet. —Beet Carrion Beetle {SilpJia 

 opaca). — The larva of this beetle feeds onPr^ 

 young beet, and has been known to destroy 

 entire crops. 



Remedies. — Manure in the autumn in- 

 stead of at the time of sowing. Treating ^'^'^ 

 the grubs as turnip fly, or laying animal 

 matter about the fields that have been in- k 

 fested : this will attract the perfect beetles, Jxk 



til 



Ormerod, F.M.S." Sonnenschen and Allen. Price 3/6, 

 post free. A bcok weU worth the money. P': 



