170 A TRIP TO WICKEN-FEX, CAMBRIDGESHIRE. 



but without, I fear, much plan or order. If any reader of ^^The Naturalist" 

 would do likewise, it would, I think, aid the cause, although, perhaps, in a 

 triflino; degree. 



White Jachdmv, (Corvus monedula.) — A very good specimen of this bird, 

 perfectly white, is now in the possession of Mr. Pulman, gun-smith, of this 

 town. It was taken just a twelvemonth since, after it had escaped, not quite 

 fledged, from the tower of St. Peter's church, in the belfry of which, many 

 Jackdaws build annually. It is now in fine condition. 



The Lamprey, (Petromyzon fluviatilis.) — I have not seen any mention of 

 this once much-esteemed little fish being found in this neighbourhood, but I 

 have met with several specimens in the dykes in the water-meadows near 

 this town. They were not, however, of large size, but very distinctly marked j 

 and, like the Eel, very tenacious of life. 



Artificial Flies. — I can bear witness to the fact of Swallows being caught 

 sometimes by Artificial Flies, as mentioned by Mr. Hannaford, at page G8, 

 having myself some years since taken two accidentally by that means, whilst 

 fishing in the River Froome. 



Yew Fruit, (Taxus baccata.) — I can corroborate the opinion of Mr. Mc'Intosh, 

 at page 74 of this work, as to the innocuousness of this fruit, having frequently 

 when a boy eaten of the berries without any inconvenience arising therefrom, 

 ' Common Primrose, (Primula vulgaris.) — My experience as to the Primrose 

 in this neighbourhood diSers from that of Mr. J. A. Robinson, of Southport, 

 page 93, for it has been unusually early and plentiful this year at Cerne, 

 and in the lanes and hedge-rows near. 



Cistus, (Helianthemum vulgare,) Common Bock-rose. — This pretty little wild 

 flower is seldom met with, I am informed, in this neighbourhood, although 

 very common in Scotland, but I have now found it in perfection on a hill called 

 "The Giant's Hill," at Cerne. Many others, as the Polygala, white, pink, 

 and blue, Hieraciimi, Linum, Tormentilla, Thymus, etc., are likewise abundant 

 there. 



Dorchester, Dorset, Sej)tember, 1851. 



A TRIP TO WICKEN-FEN, CAMBRIDGESHIRE, 

 IN PURSUIT OF SPECIMENS OF NATURAL HISTORY. 



BY R. A. JULIAN, ESQ., JUN. 



Being accompanied by Mr. Green, of King's College, and Messrs. Outratn, 

 Park, and Kaiiie, of Emmanuel College, I left Cambridge at seven o'clock in 

 the morning, and proceeded down the River Cam, in a four-oar. We presently 

 reached Watorbeach, where we were informed by a farmer that some Dob- 

 divers, (a local name for Little Grebes,) were breeding in a pond among 

 some reeds about half-a-milo distant from the river. Wishing to see their 



