EXCURSION TO SHERWOOD FOREST. 118 



on the sides of the railway cutting. Upon arriving at Worksop we had a 

 pedestrian journey before us of ten miles. This, considering the very hot 

 day, and having to carry luggage required for two or three days sojourn, 

 not forgetting boxes and other miscellanea was, to say the least of it, an 

 unwise arrangement. On proceeding along the Mansfield road we noticed 

 Ballota nigra, growing profusely in the hedge to the height of upwards of 

 two feet, Viola odorata, (in fruit,) and Geranium dissectum. On the OUer- 

 ton road we found Arabis hirsuta. A few yards from the road side we 

 passed a sand pit completely perforated with holes made by the Sand 

 Martin (Hlrundo riparia), and although some men were busily at work 

 in the same pit, the martins were plying to and fro like bees to their hive. 

 The heat had become oppressive, perspiration had long trickled down our 

 faces ; need we say, gentle naturalist, after these five miles walking — how 

 we welcomed the rest and refreshments afibrded by a call at the " Rising 

 Sun." On resuming our journey, birds' nests became quite common. 

 A Lesser Redpole was upon its nest, the faithful one was very un- 

 willing to leave, and it immediately became a prisoner in one of the 

 nets ; the nest contained five eggs. A few paces further, and only 

 one yard and a half distant from the marks of the wheels upon the 

 road, we found the nest of a Pheasant (Phasianus colchicusj contain- 

 ing four eggs. The insect world was very active, and large quan- 

 tities of larvie were gathered from the hedges. We soon came to the 

 picturesque village of Budby — with its castle — its woodland scenery and 

 small river abounding with shoals of trout. Each cottage in this lovely 

 spot is the very picture of " a home retreat." A few yards to the left, 

 over the bridge, is a most beautiful spring of cold clear water ; near to 

 which were growing Cardamine amara, Stellar ia yiemorum, Carex aquatiliSy 

 and Carex panicea. On the slope, basking in the sun, we noticed a very 

 fine Adder, (Vijwra hems), which narrowly escaped capture, by suddenly 

 giving a twist and curling into the hedge. We picked up a specimen 

 of the Glow-worm (Lampyris noctiluca), a rather unusual occurrence 

 in the afternoon, in the early part of May. Coming to the forest, we 

 took round by the "Old Major" oak, a venerable tree, 28 feet at its 

 narrowest girth. The ever keen and vigilant eye of one of our party, 

 instantly detected upon its trunk, a beautiful specimen of Tephrosia 

 crepuscular ia. An old man, who daily visits this tree, will open out tales 

 of wonder about the tree in question, and its associations, a few coppers 

 being the only return expected. When asked if any collectors came to 

 A^o. 8, August 15. I 



