140 

 A TRIP TO WICKEN-FEN, CAMBRIDGESHIRE.— No. 2. 



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



Started from Cambridge at seven o'clock, a. m., and proceeded down the 

 river in a four-oar, accompanied by Mr. Green, of King's College, Messrs. 

 Creed and Stuart, of Christ's, and Mr. Outram, of Emmanuel. 



The morning was misty, and many anxious inquiries were made as to the 

 probability of the weather clearing, however just as we reached the Baits- 

 Bite Lock, five miles on our journey, we were cheered with a gleam of 

 sunshine, which dispelled our fears and the mist together. Here some singular- 

 looking goslins attracted our attention, which we found to be hybrids, a cross 

 between the Chinese and the common tame species; they were about a fortnight 

 old. As we proceeded the Larks were singing merrily, (one was perched on the 

 top of a sallow-bush,) and the pleasing, though rather harsh ditty of the Reed 

 Bunting enhanced our enjoyment of the morning. The sharp chirp of the 

 Tree Sparrow seeking a mate among some old willow-pollards was not unnoticed; 

 and the watchfulness of a few straggling Hooded Crows, the bulk having 

 migrated, showed them to be as well supplied with cunning as other species 

 of that family. 



The second Locks were now reached, and we were here joined by another 

 friend, Mr, Wayte, Jun., of King's College, who had overtaken us by taking 

 the train from Cambridge to Waterbeach. Here we got heartily tired of 

 rowing, and drew up our boat high and dry on the banks, and proceeded on 

 foot. The scene which now presented itself was a vast extent of flat country, 

 all reclaimed fen, a windmill or two in the distance, and here and there lay 

 a farm-house, usually surrounded by a few apologies for trees, and one or two 

 corn and bean stacks. It was at one of these farms that we discovered a 

 great quantity of Mountain Linnets, (Linota montium;) and the eagerness 

 with which they were pursued and persecuted for some half-hour, proved them 

 to be desiderata in all our collections. They were feeding on some seed, 

 principally charlock, that had been cast out from among corn, were very tame, 

 and occasionally a few would sit warbling away on a tree in the sunshine. The 

 length of their tails, when accompanied by the Common Linnet, was a good 

 mark of distinction between the two species, and one easily discernible at a 

 distance. Their frequent note, resembling the word ^twete,' or ^twite,' also at 

 once distinguished them. 



After having procured a goodly number of these birds, we proceeded to 

 Upware, where there stands close to the banks of the Cam, The Five Miles 

 from AnywJiere; certainly a very unusual sign for a public-house. Here we 

 refreshed, and then started to explore Wicken-fen. It consists of a large level 

 plain, much intersected with dykes, and thickly covered with sedge and reed, 

 and an occasional sallow-bush just budding. On the bank of the first dyke 

 the Colt's- foot, {Tussilago farfara,) was in full bloom. At this jump to get 

 into the fen none of the party succeeded, and one of them seeing it was beyond 



