HOW TO GATHER WILD FLOWERS 
23 
we concluded that a change of garments and headgear had taken 
place during the retirement. 
As the larvae ignored the green hydras, bell-animalcules, 
rotifers, and others, which were their constant companions, 
we concluded that they were strictly vegetarians ; but after 
adding some ants’ eggs and noticing the particular attention 
these received and how soon they were demolished, we changed 
our opinion. 
On February 4 two caddises attached themselves to the sides 
of the aquarium to pupate, and two others, for the same purpose, 
buried themselves in the sand. The large end of their castles 
they closed by fitting the arched part, which formed a hood, into 
the hollow under the neck, just like shutting a perfectly-fitting 
door. The small end showed no alteration. 
The last castle door closed on May 15, but some time pre- 
viously, on March 3, the first caddis fly had emerged, sat for its 
portrait, and died on the window-pane a few hours later. The 
others, as they appeared, we set free into the garden. 
It was not until the middle of June that the last one emerged, 
and then, with no little regret, we gathered together the forsaken 
mother-of-pearl castles, and noticed that, like our own houses, 
they began to deteriorate as soon as tenantless. 
The perfect insects we did not find nearly so interesting as 
the aesthetic little architects from which they had emanated. 
S. D. W. 
HOW TO GATHER WILD FLOWERS. 
By the Editor. 
WILL not merely paraphrase Mr. Punch’s advice to 
those about to marry, and say to those about to gather 
wild flowers, “ Don’t.” I see no reason why we should 
not gather some flowers ; but I must preface what I 
have to say by pointing out cases where we should not. If we 
see but one specimen of any kind, let us leave it ; and, if only 
a few, let us in no case gather them all. We must remember 
also that an annual is entirely dependent upon the seed it may 
be allowed to form and ripen for its continuance into another 
season. For this reason we would specially appeal to our readers 
to spare the beautiful blossoms of the Perfoliate Yellow-wort 
( Blackstonia perfoliatd). 
It is practically useless to gather some plants unless we 
carry a portable press with us. The corollas of the Flaxes, for 
instance, generally drop oft' as the plant is picked, and those of 
the species of Convolvulus close up not to re-open. Many 
wild flowers last but a very little time in water, especially in the 
