172 [January, 



after midnight the boys turned in, and though I worked on till 1.30, 

 I did not take much ; the best being two or three Gelechia palustrella, 

 and another O. antiquana. 



Thursday. Next morning, after breakfast, we turned our back 

 on the alder-car, and pushed down the dike for the last time, feeling 

 very well satisfied on the whole with our work on this spot. Yet I do 

 not think insects were so abundant as I have seen them there, and I 

 missed some old friends. Nudaria senex and Lithosia muscerda used 

 at one time to be almost pests at light, yet this season the one was 

 wholly absent, and the other scarce. Charceas graminis was another 

 species conspicuous by its absence, and our catch, though fair, was by 

 no means so varied as I have known in former years. 



In travelling down the dike, we secured a few Gonojpteryx rJiamnij 

 just emerged, but the second brood of P. Machaon does not appear. On 

 reaching the staithe we landed one of our attracting lamps, which had 

 proved troublesome, to be sent to Norwich for repairs, and despatched 

 B. S. to S. Walsham to procure a saucepan. Here, too, we found a 

 fresh consignment of bread awaiting us — a welcome addition, for it is 

 astonishing how rapidly provision vanishes on board. Our ambassador 

 having returned in triumph with his saucepan, we proceeded down the 

 Eanworth Dam, and down the Bure to our next camping ground, a 

 very short distance, and this time alongside the main river. There 

 was a small dike running about 100 yards inland, up which we in 

 tended to haul our boats, but the water was so low that our dike had 

 become only mud, completely blocked with a dense growth of Spar- 

 ganium, and, after pulling and heaving for a few minutes, we convinceclFe 

 ourselves that it was impracticable, and had to be satisfied with simply 

 drawing up by the bank. Here we occupied ourselves variously] 

 Next comes the work of getting things in order for the night : threJ Jirer, 

 promising spots are found, and the remaining three attracting lamp 

 conveyed to them ; the " Coracle " is drawn up and stowed inland, an 

 all the impedimenta either put in the boat or concealed, for this is o: 

 the track of wherries, and small articles left lying on the bank are ncj 

 always there when you return. All being made ready for the nigh' 

 we adjourn to our posts, but can already foresee what our fate wi^ 

 be — the sky is cloudless, and a bright half -moon shining, while alon; 

 the river and in parts of the fen, even now, a hazy mist is risin|i 

 Still, N. despecta and E. pallida are flying thickly enough, and, prdJiiiiji 

 bably, other things may turn up. Night comes on, and the fclpjif 

 thickens, but ever and anon clears off a little, and during the intervalntrj^j 

 a few moths come to the lamps. By 10 o'clock it is thicker than evelijy 



ikt 





