1 10 
NATURE NOTES. 
their utility ? Our wild flowers are doomed ; a large number 
have already disappeared, or become restricted to ever narrow- 
ing limits, but our gardens and hot-houses bring together a far 
larger assemblage of curious and beautiful plants than any 
single locality in the world, however favourably situated. Why 
should we not do the same with insects ? Insects are as beauti- 
ful as flowers, many are perfectly hardy, and might easily be 
acclimatised, and it would be easy to select species for experi- 
ment which could not feed on or endanger our crops in any way. 
In fact, we might have regular breeding-beds of plants of no 
value otherwise (in some out-of-the-way corner of the grounds), 
where butterflies and other insects might be reared to render our 
gardens as beautiful with innocuous insect-life as with floral 
treasures. The Insectarium at the Zoological Gardens is a step 
in the right direction ; but who among our rich horticulturists 
will be first to introduce foreign butterflies on a large scale to 
compete with his orchids ? 
W. F. Kirby. 
NORTHUMBRIAN PLANT . NAMES. 
HE following list of local names of plants and flowers, 
noted by the writer during the last ten years, are yet 
in common use throughout Alndale and Coquetdale, 
two remote, and lovely Northumbrian valleys, border- 
ing upon the Cheviot Hills. 
D. D. Dixon. 
LOCAL NAMES. 
Eel-beds 
Gollans 
Wax dolls 
■^Shepherd’s pansy 
*Red Mint drops 
* White Mint drops 
Gowans 
;:: Stinking Tommy 
*Poor Robin... 
*Mouse’s peas 
# Cocks and hens 
* Apple dumplins 
Scrab apple 
* Poison berry' 
Yellow top 
Craw crook 
Ladies’ thimbles 
Cushie-cows ... 
Birds’ eyes 1 
* Strike fires J 
BOTANICAL NAMES. 
Ranunculus aquatilis 
Caltha palustris 
Fumaria officinalis 
Viola lutea 
Lychnis diurna 
Silene in/lata 
T rollius Europaus 
Ononis arvensis 
Bartsia Odontites 
Vicia Cracca 
Geum rivale 
Epilohium hirsutum 
Pyrus Mains 
Pyyus Aucuparia 
Senccio Jacohcea 
Empetrum nigrum 
Digitalis purpurea 
Rumex ohtusifolius 
Veronica Chamwdrys 
(seed of) 
(fruit of) 
(fruit of) 
(fruit of) 
(seed of) 
