AK ENTOMOLOaiST S EXCURSION. 



d§ 



field, the spider was traversing his dew-decked web, and the Lark was carolling 

 in the cloudless sky; and I felt as happy as they, in having a day to myself, 

 to walk hand-in-hand with nature, viewing and admiring the variety of the 

 Almighty's beautiful works. 



I saw nothing worthy of note until I arrived on Milton Hill. This is 

 indeed a delightful spot, and a favourite walk of the inhabitants in the sum- 

 mer; not only on account of the picturesqile beauties it possesses in itself, 

 but likewise on account of the grand prospects visible for twenty miles 

 around. As I was watching a multitude of Ichneumons and other small 

 insects flitting about a furze bush, an Oak Egger Moth, (Laslocampa Quercus,) 

 made his appearance; but so quick and varied were his evolutions, that I 

 had not the slightest chance to net him. However, having a fancy for the 

 blooming furze, he alighted at the base, and hurrying through the long grass, 

 he found his ^'lady love." He was so delighted with the discovery as to lose 

 his playful wildness, and allow himself and partner to be taken. 



In a few minutes after this capture, I beheld on the wing for the first 

 time, a Clouded Yellow Butterfly, (Colias Edusa,) a very rare visitor in our 

 neighbourhood; and after a good run, and many attempts, I succeeded in 

 capturing him. I was now by the lime-kiln, which stands in a very romantic 

 spot. It is now in disuse, and nearly overgrown with nut-bushes, young 

 oaks, pollards, etc. The quarry which supplied it with stones, is situated 

 close behind it, in the midst of an oak wood. The rocks are steep and 

 slippery, and are here and there adorned with brushwood, honeysuckles, fox- 

 glove, and a variety of other plants. Here I took one specimen of the 

 Large Tortoise-shell B., ( Vanessa polycliloros,) and two Rock-eyed Underwings, 

 (^Hipparchia Semele;) both of these species are uncommon. I climbed the 

 rocks and threaded a narrow path, which is hid by the drooping limbs of 

 oaks, at the left of the kiln, and came to an agreeable spot called Milton- 

 hill-hore. Many persons who have visited Milton Hill, have never been 

 to this pretty secluded place. It forms a portion of the wood, and not 

 being accessible to cattle, it revels in its natural wildness, bearing a variety 

 of botanical subjects which I have never seen in any other place. The moss 

 is grown over it so thickly, that when you are walking on it, you fancy 

 yourself treading on so much down. 



I have gathered cowslips here of a gigantic size, bearing as many as 

 eighty petals on one stem, and the stem more than an inch in circumference. 

 It is surrounded by blackthorn bushes, and when they are in bloom they 

 cannot help enhancing the delight of every observer. 



There are many ways leading to Ebbor Rocks from here, but on this 

 occasion I chose to go down the hill in a north-eastern direction, crossed 

 an old sheep-pond, thence along a narrow lane, which brought me to lower 

 Milton. On my way thither I saw two Ring Ouzels, {Tardus torqnatiis;) 

 these birds are rare; but a keeper told mc that he knew a tree where a 

 pair built several years in succession. I took five caterpillars of the Privet 



