228 THE YOUNG 



the common " Water Thyme," or Anacharis ; 

 it grows commonly in almost any river, canal, 

 or pond, it grows very fast, and is very 

 difficult to get rid of when once it obtains 

 possession of any piece of water. This does 

 not need to be rooted. 



Duck-weed, or Water Crowfoot, may be 

 found in almost any ditch, and will thrive if 

 simply put in and allowed to float upon the 

 surface of the water, when in bloom the pretty 

 white flowers will be most agreeable. Very 

 many other plants might be mentioned, but I 

 must leave you to make your own selection, 

 If you visit the ponds and ditches you will see 

 a great variety, and you had better make 

 your own choice. Large plants, such as the 

 Yellow or White Pond-lilies cannot be intro- 

 duced very well, unless your tank is also 

 large ; but you will find variety enough 

 among the small ones, only don't be afraid of 

 walking a mile or two, and don't be afraid of 

 a bit of wind or water when you have got to 

 a likely place. The next thing is to put in 

 the animal life, you will want a few fish of 

 different sorts, some newts, and some snails, 

 — water-snails, of course. The plants furnish 

 oxygen for the animals to live upon, and the 

 snails act as scavengers to clear away all the 

 refuse matter and decayed vegetation, and if 

 you keep these three elements properly 

 balanced you will have no trouble to change 

 the water, as it will keep sweet and pure for 

 years. Do not overcrowd it with goldfish, in 

 order to make it showy, if any at all are put 

 in they should be few and small, but I prefer 

 those fish which we find in our own brooks and 

 ponds. The best plan to obtain animals for 

 your aquarium is to enjoy a pleasant Saturday 

 afternoon trip to the country, and catch them 

 for yourself, you will then know much more 

 about their habits than you otherwise would, 

 it will also be good for your health, and if 

 you will wait another week I will take you 

 and show you where to get all or most of 

 what you will be likely to want. 



NATURALIST. 



ENTOMOLOGICAL NOTES 

 FOR BEGINNERS. 



By G. S. Gregson. 

 MAY. 



"In the merry month of May 



Birds do sing and bees do hum." — Old song. 



The writer of the above had evidently ob- 

 served nature, and as the happy, merry month 

 is here, let us go into the woods and lanes to 

 hear and see, and capture our game A refer- 

 ence to what was said about the insects to be 

 met with in April will save one some 

 repetition, as several of the species there 

 mentioned will be in greater plenty during 

 May, though it is probable some of them may 

 not be in such good condition. If any have 

 been idle during April, let them begin at once 

 and make up for lost time. May requires all 

 our attention. As the month advances, 

 amongst the butterflies, Leucophasia sinapis, 

 the genus Pieris, and the beautiful crange tip, 

 (Anthocharis cardamines) arrest us during our 

 walks. Early in the month Argynnis Eu- 

 phrosyne is seen in woods and rough copses ; 

 and later on Melitaea artemis may be found 

 flying on the moss-lands, and in lanes from 

 Maghull to Lydiate. At Martin Mere, and 

 on Swampy corners, on the edges of mosses, 

 Polyommatus Phlaeas (first brood) is now on 

 the wing where the sorrel grows, as at War- 

 brick Moor, and Aintree in this district, and 

 in old lanes ; whilst Lycsena Argiolus can 

 only be got in the woods around Eastham and 

 Hooton about here, (as far as I know) where 

 the large Holly trees grow. 



Amongst the Sphingini, Macroglcssa stella- 

 tarum must be searched for on the highest 

 sandhills on the coast. Should one be ob- 

 served hovering near to a flower, stand by 

 that flower after it has left it, for the chances 

 are, it will return to to the same spot very 

 soon, and may then be secured with ease. It 

 is almost impossible to capture this genus by 

 chasing. 



The larva of the genus Zygaena are now to 



