206 



THE YOUNG NATURALIST. 



To the other species mentioned by Mr. Tugwell I will not refer at 

 length. 



A . plexippus has, so far as I am aware, never been taken except near 

 the southern coasts, and therefore, in accounting for the occurrence 

 of that and similarly limited species, the acceptance of the blown-over 

 theory meets with no insuperable difficulty. 



The case of C. edusa and V. antiopa is different, for they, where they 

 do occur, occur sporadically and not locally like Galii, but when we 

 have settled the truth about that interesting hawk moth, we shall be 

 perhaps better able to attack the difficulties presented by those and 

 other day-flying lepidoptera. 

 Ledsham, Chester. 



The Ragweed (Senecio Jacobcea). 



By J. P. SOUTTER. 



" The haunt o'Spring's the primrose brae, 

 The Simmer joys the flocks to follow; 

 How cheery through her shortening day, 

 Is Autumn in her weeds o'yellow." 



To the eye of the botanist or artist, there is perhaps no period of 

 the year when the neglected pastures of Britain present such a pictu- 

 resque blaze of colour, and so attractive an appearance, as in a bright 

 sunny August or September day, when the brilliant sunshine lights up 

 the vivid golden glory of the ragweed. When the cattle stroll amongst 

 its pliant stems, and the bees with an infinite variety of insect life, 

 hum and hover over its corymbs of honey-scented blossoms. But gay 

 and gorgeous as the scene may be to the casual observer, it is any- 

 thing but a pleasing sight to the thrifty farmer who sees his soil ex- 

 hausted by this weed, which strikes its roots deep and wide, and pro- 

 duces no adequate return, for it is rejected by all domesticated animals, 

 even the omnivorous donkey and goat passing it by in disdain. It is 

 almost ubiquitous, sharing the dubious honour with the daisy and 

 dandelion, and being equally well-known, scarcely requires any 

 description. It is also a most determined colonist, and having once 

 obtained a footing in the farmer's fields, it is with the utmost difficulty 

 extirpated. Its dissemination is greatly aided by the peculiar fruit, 

 which like most of the composites, is furnished with a remarkable para- 

 chute-like arrangement of hair called a " pappus," typically illustrated 

 by the " thistle-down," which, buoyed by the wind, transports the 

 seeds to great distances. Slovenly farmers sometimes delay cutting 



