A day's botany in uoslin and hawthornden. 49 



the raill-ponis and weir -holes, and in the deeper parts of the stream, however, 

 they arrive at a larger size. They are of a light silvery appearance, and 

 considered by epicures very good eating, are caught chiefly by night lines, baited 

 with Minnows, and are to be purchased at a very reasonable price. 



The Lampern, (Petromyzon fluviatilis,) is also occasionally met with, and 

 I have already spoken of this at page 170, vol. i., of this work. 



The Grai/Jish, (Astacus fluviatilis,) v,'hich, when boiled, looks very like, and 

 in some opinions is little inferior to, the Lobster, is frequently to be met 

 with in this river, and lives in holes formed in the soft banks of the meadows, 

 and under old stumps of trees. It is seldom met with above two or three 

 ounces in weight, and they aflord much amusement to the boys who take 

 them, as well as a little pain occasionally, which I can vouch for from 

 experience, from their making free use of their '^nippers." 



The Pike, (Esox lucius,) is found below Stafibrd, where the river gets 

 deeper, and, as a matter of course, the Trout and other fish before described 

 gradually decrease in numbers. There are several interesting species of fresh- 

 water Shells, Frogs, and Newts, and also the Water Rat, well known here, 

 but which do not come within the scope of this ^Motting." 



Minnoio, (Leuciscus phoxinus.) — I know not if the following trifling incident 

 be worthy of mention, but as it appears to me to be rather singular and 

 unaccountable, T venture to make a minute of it: — A gentleman of this town 

 has a well in a small field, which is kept always covered, except when water 

 is occasionally drawn from it. The well is about twenty-five or thirty feet 

 in depth. Some little time since, it was observed that whenever the bucket 

 was drawn up some Minnows were therein, and afterwards many were from 

 time to time taken by a rod and line. This lasted a very considerable time, 

 and he could nearly always calculate on a "catch" upon drawing up the 

 bucket. He cannot in any manner account for their being in the well. 



Woodcock, (Scolopax rusticola. — This well-known migratory bird is, I should 

 think, unusually early in this neighbourhood, as I know of an instance of 

 one being shot on the 24th. October, and of another on the 31st. October, 

 both close to Dorchester. 



Dorchester, December Gth., 1851. 



A DAY'S BOTANY 

 IN ROSLIN AND HAWTHORNDEN, IN OCTOBER. 



BY J, B. DAVIES, ESQ. 



I very much fear that Botanical Rambles are so plentiful as to be almost 

 at a discount in the pages of "The Naturalist;" I cannot plead any exception 

 to the rule in behalf of this short notice of mine, on account of novelty of 

 the species or mode of writing. I can only say in my behalf, that I wish 

 to record one of the few delightful trips I have had this season, and to shew 

 vol.. II. H 



