THE YOUNG NATURALIST. 



239 



Variation in Size and Colour. — In looking over late captures I have 

 noticed several insects in the past season that are much larger and brighter 

 in colouring than usual, although the captures have been few in number. 

 N. lucina on the Surrey Hills, are finer than in previous years, two females 

 being especially large. Euclidia glyphica also very fine from the same locali- 

 ties, and Fidonia atomaria, the Wickham specimens this year were very 

 bright. Has anyone else noticed this ? — J. Henderson, Streatham, S.W. 



EDITOR'S CHAT. 

 "THE YOUNG NATURALIST." 



In closing the Ninth Volume of The Young Naturalist, I may be allowed 

 to thank my contributors, who have done so much to render the contents of 

 the volume varied and interesting. No matter how able may be the editor 

 of a Natural History magazine, or how well qualified to write on the subjects 

 discussed, it is the contributors who make such a magazine a success. It is 

 by the variety of minds brought to bear on the questions discussed, that old 

 subjects are made interesting, and new light thrown upon them ; that new 

 subjects are introduced, and progress is made in knowledge. Labouring 

 under the difficulties that obtain with a provincial editor, shut up in a small 

 town, where a naturalist is as seldom seen as a specimen of Deilejohila Nerii, 

 I have felt grateful to my many friends for their kind and unwearied support 

 of the Young Naturalist. Some of those whose names appear in the index 

 to this volume, have been contributors from the very first, while new friends 

 have always been coming to the Editor's assistauce. Thanks to them all, I 

 am able to offer a bill of fare for the next volume, that will, I venture to 

 think, be received by my readers with satisfaction. 



First, the Monthly Supplement. Mr. Dales's " History of British Butter- 

 flies " is drawing near to its conclusion. When it is completed, there will be 

 commenced a " Natural History of British Spiders," by F. 0. Pickard-Cam- 

 Cambridge, Esq. It will contain a fall description of every British Spider, 

 with notices of their habits, localities, &c. It will be fully illustrated by Mr. 

 C. H. H. Walker, of Liverpool, from drawings by the author, and will form 

 a complete Manual of this most interesting group. It will be paged, so that 

 it may be bound separately if desired. Later in the year will be commenced 

 a " History of the British Hawk Moths," by Mr. Dale. This will be written 

 in the same style as the Butterflies, and will contain the same full bibliography 

 of the group, which has never been attempted before. When this is com- 



