246 -v\ extomolooist's excursion. 



here in abundance. In this lane I took several caterpillars of the Drinker 

 Moth, (^Odo)iestis potatoria,) feeding on common cootch grass; and a nest of 

 the small Egger Moth, {Erior/aster lanestris,) feeding on white thorn. The 

 caterpillars of the Drinker Moth are very common in this locality, but I 

 never captured more than one Female Moth, they being nocturnal, and the 

 males very swift flyers, which makes them difficult to obtain in their perfect 

 state, but I have several splendid specimens, both male and female, which I 

 bred. The sexes of the Drinker Moth vary in size and colour very much; 

 the females being of a dark buff-colour, measuring two inches and a quarter 

 in the expanse of the wings; and the males of a dai-k fawn-colour, and not more 

 than two inches in the expanse of the wings, at least mine measure no more. 

 The antennoB of the male are very beautiful, resembling a quill, with the feathers 

 on either side of equal length, and the extreme points of both sides are 

 turned down towards each other, so as to nearly meet. The females are of 

 the same shape, but smaller. 



Having taken as many specimens of the above insects as I wanted, I pro- 

 ceeded towards Wensley farm. I saw nothing here of any note, save a brood 

 of young ducks, which were enjoying themselves, swimming about in a pool, 

 to the great discomfort of a poor hen, which ran round and round the pool, 

 calling upon them to come out of a place which she naturally supposed would 

 cause their destruction. I proceeded along this lane about two hundred yards, 

 thence along a footpath which led to Twinnles wood, the property of E. C. 

 Ludway, Esq., M.P. On my way thither I found a nest of the Green 

 Woodpecker, (Picus viridis,) containing four young ones. These beautiful 

 birds are common in this neighbourhood. As I entered Twinnles wood my 

 attention was drawn towards a Blackbird, nearly white, in pursuit of a young 

 Magpie. I saw five Squirrels sporting about over head, one of which was of 

 a fine cream -colour, and three of the others had white tails. I had not 

 traversed this wood far ere I captured a fine male specimen of the Stag 

 Beetle, (Lucamis cervus,) and which was the only entomological object I could 

 find in the wood. But if Miss Catlow had been there on a botanical ramble 

 she would not leave it with such a meager collection of plants as I did of 

 insects: she would find many beautiful subjects to write about. My knowledge 

 being rather limited at present in the interesting science of botany, I cannot 

 describe the many ^^children of the wood," of various growth and features, 

 looking there so charming and delightful, inviting the lover of flowers to enjoy 

 a few hours of their cheerful company. When I got out of the wood my 

 admiration rose to its greatest height on seeing that pretty little flower. 

 Eye Bright, (Eriphrasia officinalis,) growing in profusion on the sunny bank. 



I now found myself on the top of Twinnles, and in nothing more or less 

 than a large field of clover, nearly in full bloom. On looking around I 

 discovered that the objects of my pursuit were in countless numbers; I therefore 

 prepared for "active service." Close by me was a Humming-bird Moth, 

 (Macroglossa Stellatarum.) How charming it was to watch it sporting about 



