50 



THE YOUNG NATURALIST. 



a hard day's work. In fact, this is in- 

 dolence, and not occupation at all. The 

 man who spends his time in this way is 

 not only not improving himself, but 

 positively doing the reverse, and he will 

 be less fitted for his work the next day 

 On the other hand, the man who has 

 some interesting mode of occupying his 

 leisure hours, who, while giving rest to 

 the muscles that he employs at his labor, 

 calls into activity a new set for evening 

 use, who has his mind engaged, as well as 

 his body, will find himself fitter for his 

 work next morning ; his mind, invigorated 

 by the previous evening's thoughts, will 

 be brighter and clearer, and his body will 

 be in a fitter state for his daily toil. In 

 a few years, the difference between the 

 one who spends his leisure hours in list- 

 lessness or worse, and the other who has 

 taken up an interesting study will be most 

 marked. 



We invite working men, to turn their 

 attention to Natural History, as one of 

 the most attractive pursuits that can be 

 found. It is also, for those whose time is 

 not all their own, one of the most con- 

 venient. An hour per day, or an hour 

 per week, can be profitably employed. 

 If you have more time at your command 

 it need never be wasted. The interest 

 grows with the food supplied, and few 

 who once give it their attention ever 

 abandon the pursuit altogether. We do 

 not wish, nor would it be desirable, to 

 make every working man an amateur 

 naturalist; but when we know how 

 many find great delight in it, we would 

 be to blame not to encourage others to 



follow in their steps. No doubt expense 

 is an object to some, but the cost need 

 never exceed a few shillings now and 

 then. Books are most costly things for 

 a working naturalist. It will be our |L 

 study to give him such help and informa- 

 tion as he needs, and save him from 

 unnecessary expenditure in that way. 

 But to do this we must reach his ear. 

 Will our readers who approve, now and 

 then give a spare copy of our magazine 

 to such of their acquaintances as they 

 may think would be interested in it? | 

 Every new subscriber is of value to us I 



just now. 



THE PAST SEASON. 



I am in hopes your article will elicit and bring! 

 out the views of other entomologists respecting! - 

 the abnormal abundance of certain species. It has; 

 truly been a strange season, and we have learnti 

 one thing at least, that hybernating larva L 

 have within themselves a wonderful amount o! 

 sustaining power, as I have found more imagos 

 from hybernating than from spring larvse.j 

 For example, Roboraria has been taken here very 

 sparingly for years.. This season I timed their 

 appearance as one month late. I spent an after-! 

 noon, the last week in July, in search of them. 1 

 and took fifteen. I scarcely think the diminished 

 number of small birds had much to do with it, foi, 

 I think we have had as many as usual. I always 

 found wet summers bring forth more larvae thar 

 dry hot summers. We have also fewer iehneumon:! 

 in wet than in dry hot seasons. Perhaps the twcl . 

 reasons combined may have had some influence 

 in producing so many larvae this season. 



Thos. Foster, \i 



Selby. 



