190 



THE YOUNG NATURALIST. 



have seldom hatched more than two young 

 ones out of four eggs laid. The above notes 

 are penned entirely from my own observa- 

 tion. What is the cause of this seeming 

 phenomenon ? Can the cold weather of 

 March have anything to do with it? — 

 William P. Ellis, -Enfield. 



Spring Migrants. — The April visitors 

 have made their appearance in this neigh- 

 bourhood somewhat early this year, as the 

 iollowing list will prove : — The Chiff-chaff 

 ( S. hijypolais) came on April 2nd ; the Wil- 

 low Warbler ( trocMlus) on the 5th ; the 

 Wryneck (Y. torquilla) on the 7th; the 

 Chimney Swallow {H. rustica) on the i6th ; 

 the Redstart (V riitioiUa), Tree Pipit (A. 

 arhoreus), and Cuckoo ( C. canorous) on the 

 19th ; the Sedge Warbler (S. pTiragmiUs) ^ 

 Whitethroat (C. cinerea). and Nightingale 

 (P. luscinia) on the 20th ; and the House 

 Martin {H urlica) on the 26th, Though 

 now writing on the 9th day of May, I have 

 not as yet noticed either the Swift [C- apus), 

 Turtle Dove (C turtvr), Land Rail {0 

 2Jrate>isis) or Spotted Flycatcher {M grisola), 

 consequently the May visitors are rather 

 late. — W. H. Warner, Standlake, Witney. 



INSECTS. 



COLEOPTERA. 

 Coleoptera Captures in kvRi-L.—Cecen- 

 dela campestris sometimes out near rabbit 

 warrens; Jphodiiis prodromus, A. ater, A. 

 pinitariuSy S. q^uadrimaciilatum^ &c., amongst 

 dung ; Dromius ^-notatus and ISotioinlus 

 aquaticus by the side of streams abundantly ; 

 N. Mguttatus round haystacks ; Ancliomemis 

 prasinvs and A. aWipes swarming every- 

 where; A. parumpunctatus, A. margioiatits, 

 and A. vidmis fairly common in a brickfield, 

 and one specimen of Anclwmenus gracilipes 

 also in a brickfield ; PMlonthus laminatus ; 

 Nebria hrevicollis very plentiful, besides 

 many others not worth recording and some 

 which I cannot name. — William P. Ellis, 

 Enfield Chase. 



LEPIDOPTERA. 

 Variety of D. Carpophaga, — I had the 

 pleasure of taking a splendid variety of this 

 species, at the flowers of Silene inflata, the 

 other night. It was so different in appear- 

 ance to anything I had seen before, that I 

 did not recognise it in the net. The speci- 

 mens we get here are rather dark— often 

 very dark — and the markings very clear and 

 distinct. This, however, is nearly white in 

 colour, and has no markings at all, except 

 the margins of the stigmata. It is very much 

 lighter than the palest specimen of the 

 variety Ochracea in Mr. Robson's cabinet. 

 It has rather a shiny appearance, but is in 

 very good condition. — James Dixon, Hart- 

 lepool, 19th June, 1883. 



QUERIES. 



27. 



In some seasons noctuse are equally scarce 

 at both sugar and flowers. Is it possible 

 that they do not require nourishment in 

 such years, or how are they supposed to 

 obtain it ?— J.O. 



28. 



Casts of Fish, &c. — Will any correspon- 

 dent of the Young Naturalist tell me how to 

 proceed to make a cast of a fish or similar 

 animal ?— R.B.B. 



29. 



The Grey Slug. — What is the best way 

 to destroy the common grey slug, so des- 

 tructive in gardens ? — R.B.B. 



30. 



Salt Water Aquarium, — Is it possible 

 to keep a small salt-water aquarium in good 

 order without changing the water, and how 

 shall I know when I have added enough 

 fresh water to make up for that lost by 

 evaporation ? — R.B.B, 

 31- 



To Remove Mould from Insect. — I am 

 living in a new house and find the damp 

 has penetrated my insect drawers, and very 

 many of the best specimens have become 



