Naturalist's Calendar. 89 
poisonous plant, growing in liitches, and often mistaken for Watercress, from 
wiiich however it may be distinguislied by its narrower and more acute leaf- 
lets, and at this time of the year it is easily discriminated by its umbelliferous 
flowers; Cicufa I'irona, Water Hemlock; and (Jinanf/ie Fistulusu, Water Drop- 
wort, both poisonous; &c. In gathering specimens of this order, it is particu- 
larly necessary to select such as are in seed as well as in flower, as on the seed 
the characters of the genera chiefly depend. The greater part of the Contposiia: 
or Compound Flowers are now to be found, as Achillea Millifolium, Yarrow, 
useful for stopping bleeding; Dideiis TrijXtrtita, Burr Marygold; Artemcsin 
Ahsinthiidii, Wormwood; Apargitt Autummilh; various species of Hawkweed, 
(/y/«-«(Y7/«^,) Thistles, (Cnicus Sf- LkmhiKs) &c. which are too numerous to be 
mentioned, as they include almost the whole of the order. It is necessary in 
this case also, to gather such plants as are most advanced, as the seed-down 
forms an important part of their character. Several species of Mint, {Mentha) 
f 'erbascuni Li/chniiisy White Mullein; and /'. 1'irgata, Large-flowered Mullein; 
various species of Campanula, &c. are now in flower; and the Botanist will 
find full employment during the whole of the month in collecting- and drying 
his specimens. 
ENTOMOLOGY. 
Mr. Stephens enumerates in liis catalogue of British Insects, the astonishing- 
number often thousand and twelve species, of these 1838 belong to the order 
Lepidopteru, (Butterflies and Moths) Did the Entomologist, therefore possess 
the eyes of Argus and the hands of Briareus, he would find ample occupation for 
them, in collecting and preserving the insects which at every step offer them- 
selves to his attention — every place teems with these interesting creatures, — 
they will be found in water, under stones, in woods, roads, lanes, fields, in 
flowers, on the trunks and under the leaves of trees, on banks, on walls, in 
sandy places, &c. &c. We have the pleasure of being acquainted with many 
young- gardeners whose industry has been rewarded by excellent collections 
of insects, and although we should not wish to see them pursue this fascina- 
ting study, to the neglect of their more important avocations, still, as a species 
of relaxation, we think an hour of an evening, now and then, is well and plea- 
singly bestowed by setting and arranging the insects which may have fallen in 
their way in the course of the day. The collector should furnish himself 
with pins of various sizes, and with small boxes lined with cork. Lepidopte- 
roi/s insects may be killed instantaneously, by a pinch with the finger and 
thumb, on the under side of the body at the breast. Neuropferw, (the Dragon- 
Fly, for instance) are the most difficult to kill, without spoiling the specimen.* 
We confess that the cruelty necessarily practised, .in making a collection of 
insects, abstracts much from the pleasure of the pursuit; but the Dragon- 
Fly alone, destroys more insects in an evening, than a hundred of the most 
zealous Entomologists, The collection should be preserved in air-tight cases, 
lined with cork; and a piece of camphor, inclosed in a bit of white leather, per- 
forated with a pin, should be placed in each corner of the case. 
Insects in this month are very numerous, turn which way one will, our path 
is beset with millions of living creatures. Flying hwis, [Ftrmica) appear, 
* The best method of killiiif? these, the Coleoptera, (beetles, &c.) and indeed all kinds of 
insect.s, irchuling Lepidoptcra, is to have a cylindrical tin box, about 3 oi- 4 inches long, per- 
fectly water-tight, with a clo.se-fitting lid : — place the insert in tlie box, close the lid, and im- 
merse the box, about half its length in boiling water, for a minute or two, taknig care that no 
water g-ets to tlie lid. This will be found the quicke.st and most etfectual mode, and it does not 
injuie the insects. Tluy may he taken out and fixed in pro,)er positions, immediately. 
Vol, 1, No. 2. ji 
