WICKEN FEN. 3 
acres have to be dealt with it will be seen that a considerable 
sum of money must be spent in clearance each year. 
In the old days there was a fair market for the sedge in 
thatching the picturesque old houses of the district, but, alas, 
these are being rapidly done away with in favour of brick and 
slated houses of a particularly hideous design. It is still used 
to a certain extent as forage, but the cost of clearance con- 
siderably exceeds the value of the crops. 
It being the object of the National Trust to gradually secure 
the whole of the Fen, it is to be hoped that all entomologists 
and naturalists who at the present time own plots, of which I 
understand there are several, will, when they decide to dispose 
of their holdings, at least give the Trust the first opportunity of 
purchasing them. 
Something more than this, however, is necessary. The 
present income is raised annually by subscription, which is 
rather a hand to mouth method, and a permanent endowment is 
desirable. No doubt this will eventually come into existence by 
some public-spirited naturalist bequeathing a portion of his 
worldly goods for this purpose, for can anything be more delightful 
to a nature lover than to devote his means to endow a nature 
reserve when he can no longer enjoy them himself. 
The present management does not interfere with the legitimate 
collecting naturalist, at any rate if he is an entomologist; of 
course, killing birds or taking their eggs is not allowed. It is, 
however, necessary to obtain a permit, which is readily granted 
by the Secretary at 9, Harvey Road, Cambridge. Without this 
permit the visitor is likely to have serious trouble with the watcher. 
Persons who make money by the sale of natural history 
specimens are not allowed on the portion of the Fen belonging 
to the National Trust, but a eoncession is made to the local 
professionals who may accompany amateurs as guides. 
I do not think any of the Lepidoptera are in danger at present ; 
their safety lies, however, far more in their food plants being 
preserved by proper management than by preventing over 
collecting. 
Papilio machaon was abundant at the time of my visit, far 
more so than I have ever seen it abroad. It was so common that 
a local professional informed me that he had just obtained 120 
larve in a two hours search on a patch to which he had right of 
access, and that had he so desired he could have obtained almost 
any number. 
The only threatened species, so far as | am aware, are one or 
two of the rarer raptores, which at any rate until recently bred 
at Wicken pretty regularly. One hopes they will continue to do 
so, but the chief danger to them arises from the sportsmen who 
own the adjoining land. 
On the other side of the large dyke is the very similar Burwell 
