94 



THE YOUNG NATURALIST. 



"FEUILLE DES JEUNES 

 N ATURALISTES." 



t 



We had no idea, when we adopted the title of our 

 paper, but what it was altogether original. But 

 there is nothing new under the sun, and we have 

 since heard of a little book, by a lady, bearing the 

 same title. We are also favored by the editor 

 with copies of the above named magazine, which 

 has been published in France since 1870. It 

 appears more nearly to resemble "Science Gossip," 

 in its scope and style, than our own magazine, 

 and its longer articles are too local in their 

 application to suit our columns. We translate 

 the following paragraphs, which are very interest- 

 ing. The use of magnesium wire to attract insects 

 is a new idea to us. We should be glad if some 

 of our readers would try it in England, and report 

 the result . 



"Capture of Nocturnal Lepidoptera. — j 

 Every one knows that nocturnal lepidoptera are 

 attracted by light. I have used the following 

 means to attract a large number of them. I sus- 

 pend my lantern in a tree, about 1.50 a.m., and 

 . from time to time I burn a little magnesium — a 

 metal that has the property of producing, in burn- 

 ing, a very intense light, resembling the Electric 

 Light. This light, which lasts some seconds, 

 attracts the lepidoptera for some distance, and 

 when the magnesium burns out, they fly to the 

 lantern and a great many maybe taken. The mag- 

 nesium light is so bright that it attracts not on ly 

 insects but also birds sleeping in the wood. Per- 

 haps this mode of capture would answer as well 

 for fishermen who use a lantern to attract fish. 

 In any case, I can assure entomologists that it will 

 serve as a new method for easily obtaining very 

 rare species. The magnesium will serve also to 

 prove immediately if a locality be good or bad ; it 

 will suffice to burn a little of it, and, by taking 

 all that come, one can then judge of the quality 

 of the harvest. Magnesium costs 50 to 60 cents. 

 (5d. to 6d.) the metre, and half a metre will serve 

 an evening. — Paul Noel, Rouen." 



'Tierced Chrysalis of Vanessa urticle. — 

 Having had the curiosity to know the number of 

 small ichneumons contained in one chrysalis, 



pierced in six places only, of Vanessa urticoe — the 

 Small Tortoise-shell — the caterpillar of which lives 

 in families upon Urtica dioica., I have counted 

 them to the formidable number of 228. — E.L/* 

 November, 1879. 



NESTS AND EGGS OF OUR 



COMMON BIRDS. 



By S. L. Mosley. 

 GAME BIRDS. 



Most of the game birds lay large quantities o] f 

 eggs. I have known a Partridge's nest wit 

 twenty-two eggs in it, but the normal number for 

 most of them is from six to twelve. Most of then- 

 are strictly preserved, and your best plan to pro 

 cure the eggs is to get acquainted with somekeeper 

 who will save for you all the eggs which do no : 

 produce chicks. The Pheasant scarcely build 

 any nest at all, merely scooping out a hollov 

 place in the grass. The eggs are olive-green, o 

 brownish, without any spots. The Black Grous* 1 

 breeds on the Scotch mountains ; the nest is com 

 posed of ling and grass, and is placed on th 

 ground. The ground colour of the eggs is grey I 

 ish-yellow, blotched and shaded with grey an 

 red-brown. The Capercaillylays a similar eggbi f 

 larger, and it is a rarer bird, being confined t 

 certain limited preserves in Scotland. The Re 

 Grouse is common on all the moors. A very slig 

 nest is made of ling and bits of grass, &c, and tr I 

 eggs are grey, beautifully marbled and blotche | 

 with different shades of umber brown. The Par 

 ridge makes a very rudimentary nest among coi 

 or grass, and the eggs are the same colour as tho: re 

 of the Pheasant, but smaller and not so roun< 

 The Red-legged Partridge is not rare in some par 

 of England. The nest is 'similar to the commc 

 Partridge, and the eggs are rather larger, pa 

 yellowish brown, spotted with pale red -brow I 

 The Quail also makes a very frail nest among co er 

 or grass . The eggs are about the size of t I 

 Thrush, rather round, yellowish-grey, beautifu | 

 spotted and blotched with different shades 

 greenish and umber-brown. 



