AK entomologist's EXCURSION. 247 



in the sun's golden beams, sipping the nectar from every little flower, alighting 

 on none, but balancing itself while it probed every tube with its long proboscis. 

 However, as I went out to collect specimens, as well as to admire and study 

 the works of the Great Creator, I commenced operations by making captive the 

 Moth I was admiring. I was busily employed in this field for about two hours, 

 as may be seen by the captured specimens named in the following list :■ — Six 

 Brimstone B., (Gonepteryx Rhamni;) eight Large White B., (Pontia Brassicce;) 

 seven Small White B., {Pontia Bapoe;) nine Wood Argus B., {HipparcMa 

 jEgeria;) ten I^arge Meadow Brown B., {HipparcMa Janira;) ten Heath 

 Butterfly, {Hipparchia Davus;) eight Least Meadow Brown B., (HipparcMa 

 PampMlus;) five Green- Veined B., {Pontia Napi-) seven Painted Lady B., 

 {CyntMa Cardid;) seven Small Tortoiseshell B., {Vanessa Urticce;) one Red 

 Admiral B., {Vanessa Afalanta;'^) twelve Silver-studded Blue B., {Polyommatiis 

 Argus;) eight Commoa Copper B., (Lyccena Phloeas;) seven Silver y Moth, 

 (Plusia Gamma.) 



My collecting box being now nearly full, and not seeing anything rare, I 

 started for Warminster Down. As I walked along at the bottom of a wheat 

 field, looking attentively along the bank for caterpillars, I espied a Pheasant's 

 egg lying on an ant's nest. As I wanted a specimen, and knowing that it 

 would never be fruitful in that situation, I claimed it as a prize. After pro- 

 ceeding along this field, and crossing two or three more with a single capture, 

 I found I stood upon Warminster Down. It is a charming place! everything 

 was here that a naturalist could wish for. The scenery was delightfully 

 picturesque. Walking about for some time enjoying the prospects around, I 

 passed over a moss-clad hillock, by the east side of the wood, and came to 

 a spot which really seemed like the famous fairy's bower of the olden time. 

 To describe it is impossible, at least for me. I sat down on a mossy couch 

 to regale myself with a couple of hard-boiled eggs and a' little weak brandy 

 and water. But oh, the harmony! I never shall forget it. The Blackbird, 

 Wood Lark, Sky Lark, Thrush, Robin, Whitethroat, yes, and a pair of 

 Nightingales, one of which I could see, were pouring forth their lovely strains, 

 striving to outvie each other. Who, thought I, would not leave the town 

 and its noise, such as the bustle of a fair, the shouting of cattle-drivers, a 

 *^tum turn" band parading the streets, horses trotting, vehicles running; in 

 fact, a monotonous and tiresome jumble of unpleasant sounds, incident to a 

 fair, a club, and a holyday, all in one. But even such a day as this has its 

 admirers — may they enjoy it to their profit. 



As I sat all attention to the harmony around, a Wood Wren came with 

 father long-legs in her mouth as a dainty morsel for her numerous brood. 

 Taking no notice of me she hopped on her nest, and there seven or eight 

 pretty creatures were fit to fly out of their mossy couch, contending for father 

 long-legs. A Dormouse, too, regardless of my presence, was running about 

 close to me, and in fact came between my legs as I was sitting down, and 



* It is very earl}' for this fly to make its appearance, and so it is for the Wood Kinglet. 



