A\ EXTOMOLOniST'.S EXCURSION. 39 



nienccd feasting upon It with the avidity characteristic of their species. The 

 root was but small, and of course soon disappeared. Their hunger being not 

 yet satisfied, they ran along the edge of the bank, diving and swimming 

 alternately, in search of more food, as was proved by one of them seizing 

 a dead frog, lying among the rubbish; and while in the act of eating it, 

 both Ttats disappeared in an instant. As I was wondering what could have 

 frightened them, a very large Snake caught my eye, noiselessly wending his 

 way down the stream; and when he came to the deep water, he seemed in 

 ccstacics; so gracefully did he move, or rather swim, and so nimble and varied 

 were his manoeuvres in the liquid element, that it surpassed anything of the 

 kind I ever before witnessed; and he felt as much pleasure in diving as 

 he did in swimming, for he disappeared several times under water; and at 

 last he went under and remained so long, that I lost him altogether. I have 

 not the least doubt but when he dived, he was in search of thornbacks or 

 minnows, which are plentiful in this little stream. 



From this spot I started homeward through the coppice; just before I came 

 to the farm-yard belonging to Mr. Hill, I saw a Stoat, {Mustela erminea,) 

 pushing an egg across the lane; when he observed me approaching, he used 

 all his efiForts to secure his prize, but owing to the largeness of the egg, or 

 the smoothness of the shell, he could not succeed; I looked into the ditch 

 where the Stoat came out from, but could see no sign of either nest or 

 eofgs. A short distance from this yard stands Wookey-Hole House, the re- 

 sidence of Robert Davis, Esq., whose talented lady has succeeded in forming 

 a beautiful shrubbery and flower-garden, which display her skill as an hor- 

 ticulturist, as much as her works do her literary attainments. 



It was now about four o'clock, and although the pride of the day was past, 

 yet the flies, bees, and wasps, were in abundance in and around the garden. 

 On my way home over Milton Hill, a pleasant walk, which most people in 

 the neighbourhood are aware of, I took the following moths and caterpillars. 

 Pink Underwing, (Galomorpha Jacohcece,) Double 0, (Cymatopliora Oo,) Orange 

 Underwing, [Brepha Parihenias,) Clouded Buff, [Euthemonia RussuJa,) 

 Vapourer, [Orgyia Antiqua,) Pebble Prominent, (Notodonta Ziczac,) Swallow- 

 tail, {Ourcij)te7'yx Samhucaria,) Lunar Thorn, Geometra lunaria,) Mottled 

 Umber, {Hihernia defalaria,) Green Brindled Crescent, {Miselia Oryacanilice^ 

 Large Holly, {Sarrothripus Ilicanus,) and several other moths, the names of 

 which shall appear at some future period. 



St. CuthheH's Place, Wells, December StJi., 1853. 



VOL. IV. 



