346 THE YOUNG 



monest epecies. If you see a tortoise- 

 shell butterfly, observe what flowers it 

 frequents^ whether there is anything 

 peculiar in its flight, how it behaves 

 when other butterflies approach it, or 

 others of its own kind ; see whether it 

 takes any notice of bees or other in- 

 sects not lepidopterous that come in 

 its way. If you beat a moth from a 

 hedge or bush, observe the species if 

 possible ; notice whether it falls to the 

 ground as if dead or flies away ; see 

 when it falls if it is really torbid or 

 only shamming to escape; take notice 

 how it 2:els back to concealment. 

 These and a thousand other things 

 are worth observing, and the more you 

 add to your stock of knowledge the 

 more will you find there is to observe. 

 In larvae hunting the same rule obtains. 

 Everything pertaining to the economy 

 of the species is worth noting down, 

 for it is only by the patient accumula- 

 tion of small facts that any general 

 conclusions can be reached. A begin- 

 ner knows nothing, or, perhaps, even 

 less, for much of what he thinks he 

 knows, may be erroneous. He finds 

 one insect in a garden, another in a 

 lane, a third in a wood, a fourth on a 

 breezy moor. These are beginnings 

 of knowledge, and when he knows 

 more, he will be able to say why he 

 finds a white butterfly in a garden, and 

 a tortoise-shell in a lane whose hedge 

 banks are filled with nettles. On your 

 excursion then, be on tlie look-oat for 



NATURALIST. 



something you did not know before, 

 and when you have seen it note it down. 

 Never mind whether other people know 

 or not. What is new to you will be 

 new to someone, probably to many. 

 Noting it down will fix it in your own 

 mind far more certainly than if you 

 pass on and think you will try and 

 remember that. Besides, when it is 

 once down in black and white it can 

 be referred to, fresh as when first made. 

 No hazy remembrances much effaced 

 by time — there is the record made while 

 your mind was yet impressed with what 

 you had seen. Again, the very fact 

 that you are looking for something 

 new will help you to the object of your 

 search, and your powers of observation 

 will be greatly increased by their exer- 

 cise. Every new discovery paves the 

 way to others, and though you may be 

 travelling in a well-beaten track, there 

 is sure to be something to learn upon 

 the journey. Even if what you see 

 has been noticed before, it may not have 

 been published, or may have escaped the 

 attention of those who read your notes. 

 In any case it is better to be told the 

 same thing twice or even half-a-dozen 

 times than never be told at all. Even 

 if everything you notice is old to every 

 one but yourself it is new to you, and 

 will pave the way for further observa- 

 tions, some of which may be new to 

 somebody. Do not then be discouraged 

 because we have declined your article. 

 Go over the same ground again, bear- 



