170 



THE YOUNG NATURALIST. 



human species, probably so with birds, 

 that individuals are selected for youth and 

 beauty, an old male frequently pairing 

 with a young female, and by this means 

 the one is able to instruct the other. 

 Appended is a list of some of the species 

 of which we require nests for figuring 

 they may be sent safely through the 

 post in stiff cardboard boxes folded in 

 black cloth or paper, and a detached 

 label for stamping. When a nest or 

 egg is sent to us for figuring, the sender 

 will receive a copy of the plate contain- 

 ing it when published, and the specimen 

 will be returned if desired. 

 Red-backed Shrike, 



Golden Oriole (some of our German 

 subscribers may be able to obtain this) 

 Reed Wren, 

 Blue-throated Warbler 

 Dartford Warbler 

 Black Redstart 

 Stonecliat 

 Lesser White throa t 

 Chiff chaff 



Golden-crested Wren , 



Long.tailed Tit 



Bearded do. 



Crested do. 



Black-he ade d B un ting 



Gold-finch 



Siskin 



Brambling 



Crossbill 



Rock Pipit 



Wood Lark 



Shore do. 



We should also be glad of descrip- 

 tions from personal observation of any 

 of the larger nests. 



NOTES, CAPTURES, &C 



Mosquito Netting for Insect Nets. — 

 Should there be am - of your readers who in- 

 tend to wield the green net of the Entomo- 

 I logical Brotherhood during the forthcoming 

 j season, but who have not yet supplied them- 

 i selves with that indispensable appliance. I 

 beg, through the medium of your valuably 

 J journal, to introduce to their notice a siity 

 l stance, familiar to some, that I have used 

 with -uccess in the capture of Diurnal 

 Lepidoptera. It is called " Mosquitfl 

 Netting." and can be obtained at most oj 

 the large linen drapers' establishments. The 

 price per yard — that is to say, a strip 

 measuring about one yard by three — is 

 eighteenpence, or thereabouts, and a square 

 yard is amply sufficient to make a net oi 

 reasonable dimensions. It possesses man! I 

 advantages, being extremely soft and ligbj 

 (though, when bought, it contains a small 

 quantity of starch, easily removed by soakiia 

 it in warm water), allows a current of air I 

 pass readily through, and enables the captoi m 

 of an insect to examine his specimen withoui I 

 removing it from the net, or giving it til h 

 smallest possible chance of escape. A \\tt% & 

 green dye is all that is necessary to give its 

 less conspicuous appearance. JSome of th| 

 | smaller Micro-Lepidoptera, HymenopteJ k: 

 and Diptera contrive to squeeze through th (; 

 meshes ; but as beginners seldom troubl 

 themselves with such small fry (and it 

 before that class of collectors I chiefly m 

 my remarks), they will find a butterfly-nij 

 constructed of mosquito netting of immen^j 

 service, and I feel that I cannot too highl| 

 recommend it. I am tempted to lay th, 



best of my recollection, never heard of tflji 

 netting referred to as being in use by Entot 

 ologists. I take the liberty of enclosing 

 sample for your inspection. — Charles H. I 

 Walker, 170, Falkner Street, Liverpool. 

 We have used the material sent, which I 

 purchased as "Net " for covering tree pil I: ; 

 &c, in which we were rearing larva?, b 



