January, 1885.] 109 



any wind the lower lamp furnishes almost all the sport — even the 

 things that are attracted by the top one drop down to the ground as 

 they come near. Only one or two Micros come to it to-night, chiefly 

 Peronea ShepJierdana and aspersana, though with these there occur a 

 few Foedisca semifuscana, two or three Sericoris Douhledayana, and one 

 OrtJiotoenia antiquana, an old inhabitant of the Cambridgeshire fens, 

 but apparently scarce here. Hydrelia unca, too, is there, looking at 

 first sight like some new Tortrix^ and Laverna pTiraffmitella hel'ps to 

 make up the score. 



Later still, Oeometra papilionaria puts in an appearance, then 

 Chelonia caja, one only !, on the very spot where, four years ago, we 

 had to net caja with great diligence, and destroy them, in order to give 

 anything else a chance of getting near the lamp. But we are all 

 tired, and at 1.30 a.m., though the captures are still fair, we agree to 

 give up for the night. A steady gentle rain has set in some time ago, 

 and for the last two hours we have all been working in macintoshes 

 and leggings or high boots. The dress I find most suitable is a rough 

 tweed suit, the coat with two pockets, each capable of holding 200 

 pill-boxes, or a vol. of the " Encyclopedia Britannica," marsh boots 

 coming up to the knee, and over all in wet weather a fisherman's tar- 

 paulin coat and sou' -wester hat. 



Once back in the boat, we soon drop into our places, each encased 

 in a sack drawn up under the arms, and for pillows, one with a carpet 

 bag, another with the knife-box ; but getting to sleep is not so easy : 

 the first night on the boards of a boat is not conducive to sound sleep, 

 though after a night or two nothing could appear more comfortable. 



Tuesday. — Waked at 7 a.m. by our alarum, we get the bedding, 

 &c., packed under cover, for it is still raining, though not much, and 

 having made all ship-shape, remove the cover. We are due at Horning 

 by 10 a.m., to pick up another of our boys, C. L. Accordingly, at 

 jabout 7.45, we make a start, leaving behind the '' Coracle " and all the 

 heaviest luggage stowed away in the alder-car. The same agreeable 

 process of pushing down the dike has to be gone through, then away 

 to the ferry, which we reached just about our time, and settle down 

 there for breakfast, the rain having now ceased. Presently C. appears, 

 and we make our way back to Eanworth. On the way up the dike a 

 keen look out is kept for larvae of P. 3£achaon on the abundant heads 

 oi Feucedanum palustre,'hvit only three or four are found, the bulk 

 having apparently fed up ; when we reached the camp, an extended 

 search over the fen revealed any quantity of plants eaten, but very 

 few larvae. Having made ready for the night, we proceeded to com- 



