i 9 8 



HARD Wl CAGE'S S CIENCE . G OSS IE. 



closely examine it, which we accordingly did, and 

 set off down a long glade, which made us think it 

 should be called a wood rather than a common. 

 The trees were chiefly oak, with an undergrowth of 

 bramble, honeysuckle, and blackthorn, and on going 

 a little farther in, we came upon a magnificent group 

 of wild foxgloves, all in full bloom, and some of 

 them as much as seven feet high. What was that 

 large golden butterfly which just flew over our heads? 

 exclaimed J, It must be Papkia, and sure enough it 

 was, for no sooner had we spoken than back he 

 came, and settled on a bramble, right in front of us, 

 flapping his wings in the sunshine as if making fun 

 at us. For a moment we were speechless with plea- 

 sure and admiration, for this was the first time we had 

 seen any of the large Fritillaries on the wing. Then 

 quickly raising his net without letting the shadow 

 intervene, J. gave a swift stroke over, and the silver- 

 washed Fritillary was safely in his net. We did not 

 have to wait long before seeing several others as we 

 went farther down the glade ; they all flew very 

 swiftly, and appeared very fresh on the wing, it being 

 only the second week in July. After we had obtained 

 about half-a-dozen each, and having captured a few 

 Tliec. quercus flying round the oaks, together with 

 some Trilinearia, which we beat out of some beeches, 

 we resolved to try the old wall again, and return to 

 the Common next day. On our way back we man- 

 aged to capture three Stellatarum, and then we turned 

 into the grassy path before mentioned. In one of 

 the fields the grass was particularly high, and we 

 thought it not unlikely something might turn up in 

 it. We soon found that we were to be rewarded for 

 our trouble, for we obtained about twenty of that 

 delicate little geometer, A. oruata, and also dis- 

 covered^. Galathea in the neighbourhood. We espied 

 the first one, seated on a thistle-head, evidently 

 only just emerged from the chrysalis. This was a 

 very agreeable surprise, as we had neither of us taken 

 Galathea before. We took as many as we wanted, 

 and then lay down under the shade of a yew-tree, 

 and watched them bobbing up and down in the long 

 grass. Whilst dreamily passing the time in this way, 

 suddenly something whizzed by like a great bee, and 

 then back again, circling round the meadow in a very 

 giddy way ; then it seemed as if making straight for 

 me, so getting my net in readiness, with a swift 

 sweep, I secured it. What could it be ? It buzzed up 

 and down the net with great vehemence, and I was 

 very anxious to see it safely bottled in the cyanide. 

 When this was done we found that we had captured 

 B. rubi, the Fox-moth, and a very hot chase we had 

 for the other two we secured. We also took a few 

 specimens of Cory don, but it was rather early for 

 them, and we knew that each day would make them 

 more plentiful. 



In the evening, by beating the neighbouring bushes, 

 we obtained A. ornata, emarginata, amataria 

 vemaria, and procellata. The whole of the week 



was just as fine as our first day, and on looking over 

 our diaries, we had captured one Sybilla, one Syriu- 

 ga?-ia, seven Albieillata, about twenty Imitaria, and 

 nine Adippe, and we could have taken as many 

 Galathea, Paphia, Corydon, and Alsits as we cared 

 for, not to mention the swarms of Burnet moths and 

 commoner butterflies which frequented every meadow. 

 We tried sugar, but with no success, but by dusking 

 and beating, we had obtained Chrysitis, Urticce, 

 Derasa, Pinastri, Fidvata, Pyraliata, Didymata, 

 Albitlata, Rubidata, Trilinearia, and several other 

 geometers, whilst, settled on thistle-heads in the day- 

 time, we took a few specimens of Conigera. 



We had during the week paid a visit to Box Hill, 

 and very much we enjoyed the cool shade afforded 

 by the copious foliage. On arriving at the top a very 

 extensive view is presented, stretching right away to 

 the downs of Sussex, the marvellous variety of woods, 

 rivers, and villages, forming a panorama beyond 

 description. Height 800 feet. 



So far we had had wonderful weather, not a drop 

 of rain had fallen, and the same bright prospect was- 

 before us when Monday morning came, and we 

 decided to go for a walk in Betchworth Park, about 

 a mile distant from Dorking on the Reigate Road, 

 in which is a magnificent avenue of lime-trees, and 

 we were told that had we come a month earlier we 

 should have found the scent of the bloom almost 

 overpowering. 



The river Mole runs through the park. It is a 

 dull-looking stream, moderately wide here and narrow 

 there, deep here and very shallow there. I think 

 most of the fish to be obtained in it are tench, carp, 

 eels, &c, those kinds which frequent muddy still 

 streams. But although the water itself is not very 

 inviting, the scenery along its banks is very pic- 

 turesque, especially at this particular spot, where the 

 foliage of the park sometimes forms quite a bower 

 over the water. After walking through the park we 

 came out again into the road, and then across some 

 corn-fields in the direction of Box Hill, on climbing 

 the sides of which we were greatly delighted to again 

 find our friends the wild strawberries in plenty, with 

 which we regaled ourselves for some little time, thus 

 we worked round to Burford Bridge, and then home 

 along the road to Dorking. 



In the afternoon we went for a drive to the Holm- 

 wood, a large tract of common and forest land, south 

 of Dorking, on the Horsham Road, where a camp 

 was being held, the white canvas of the tents stand- 

 ing out boldly against the green of the forest, whilst 

 about every hundred yards we went we came upon 

 a fresh batch of geese, which always greeted us 

 with a quack ! quack ! or hizz ! hizz ! In all our 

 rambles on the commons we met with these con- 

 sequential creatures, who seemed as if they were 

 enjoying themselves while they had the chance. On 

 we went until we arrived at Ockley, and then back 

 along quiet country lanes by Abinger and Wotton- 



