Gnats are rarely indeed seen in our colder climate in winter, but in England they are common, often dancing gaily over the snow and ice of mid-winter. There are said to be no less than thirty species of gnats found in Great Britain, and they are all aquatic in their origin. The female launches her eggs on the water, in the form of a diminutive boat composed of two or three hundred eggs, each of which taken separately is heavy enough to sink, but so cleverly are they arranged in their skiff- like form, that when thus glued together, they not only float buoyantly, but it is next to impossible either to upset or sink them permanently. The grub or larva issues from the egg head downward, breathing through the tail. The second or pupa stage of existence is also passed in the water, whence it rises at length the winged insect with which we are familiar. Our musquitoes are members of the same _culex_ family, and resemble very closely the winter gnat of England. The English gnats however are quite harmless, with the exception of an occasional bite from the females of the tribe. NOTE AA. BUTTERFLIES AND MOTHS, page 192. Mr. Knapp mentions in his journal the following butterflies and moths: The sulphur or brimstone, _gonepteryx rhamni_, (see Note M;) ghost moth, _hepialus humuli_; blue argus, _papilio argus_; painted lady, _papilio cardui_; marble butterfly, _p. galathea_; humming bird hawk-moth, _sphinx stellatarum_; brown meadow butterfly, _p. janira_; the admirable _vanessa atalanta_; peacock, _vanessa Io_; gamma moth, _phalæna gamma_; goat moth, _ph. cossus_; blue argus butterfly, _papilio argiolus_. This beautiful and highly interesting family of insects, with which we are all familiar by sight at least, has been thus far less studied in America, than in other countries. Very little has yet been printed among us regarding our native butterflies, and even European works on these subjects are rarely met with. It has long been the writer’s wish to become better acquainted with these interesting little creatures, and, doubtless, there are others who have the same inclination; but few of us have the good luck to meet with the necessary books and teachers. A few facts relating to the butterflies alluded to by Mr. Knapp, will be found below.