THE YOUNG NATURALIST. 



able a journey which otherwise might prove dull and uninteresting. Birds 

 get accustomed to passing trains, and opportunities are often thus afforded 

 the ornithologist for a closer examination of various species without their 

 being disturbed than he could have by other means. It was also pointed out 

 by Mr. Nathaniel Dunlop and others that students in other branches of 

 natural history could also fiud a pleasant occupation during a long journey 

 by examining, in like manner, the plants and insects life of the country 

 through which they may be passing. After some further discussion, Mr. 

 James Barclay Murdoch, F.K.Ph.S.E., read a paper on the " Long-tailed 

 Field Mou^e," in which he mentioned the destructive powers of this little 

 creature, and showed specimens of branches of apple trees in various stages 

 of growth, the barks of which had been attacked by these voracious little 

 creatures and almost completely gnawed away. In one instance, of a hedgerow 

 crab-apple tree, it had removed the bark from the thin twigs at a height 

 over 10ft. from the ground. The destructive habits of this little pest were 

 freely commented upon, and the partiality it shows for certain kinds of trees 

 upon which to exercise its powers. Mr. T. J. Henderson read a short and 

 interesting paper on "The Genus Tortrix" and exhibited specimens of the 

 various species found in the West of Scotland. In the paper Mr. Henderson 

 remarked upon the slight attention which was paid to the micro-lepidoptera 

 by the entomologist members of the society as compared with the larger and 

 more attractive species, and advised all those who studied that particular 

 group to bring forward specimens to the meeting for the purpose of perhaps 

 adding some new species to the already recorded list. He also gave localities 

 for the ten species which have been recorded, and mentioned that other four 

 are said to have been taken ; but some of these, he thought, on doubtful 

 evidence. The meeting concluded with the usual vote of thanks to the 

 exhibitors and essayists. — John Mackay, Hon. Secretary. 



NATURE IN MARCH. 



ALBERT H. WATERS, B.A. 



The present winter is so far from being a mild one, that I fear much of 

 what 1 wrote last month will this year apply rather to March than 

 to February. As I pen these lines in the middle of the last-named month, 

 the snow is lying thickly on the ground, and nature generally is presenting 

 an aspect more suited to December than February. Under these circum- 

 stances spring is sure to be late, and the leafing and flowering of plants and 

 trees, the nidificating of the feathered tribes, the arrival of spring migratory 



