8 JANUARY. 



treat, and in the stems of the wild parsnip (Pastinaca 

 sativa) the larvae of Lozopera dilucidana (Stephens) 

 may be found. 



And if we examine the neighbouring bramble -leaves, 

 we shall see that the larvae of Nepticula aurella are 

 industriously employed making their wavy tracks. 



But while we have been exploring the seeds of 

 thistles and burdock, and eke their stems, letting day- 

 light in among their astonished inhabitants, to their no 

 small distaste and our great pleasure, we have been in- 

 sensibly shortening the distance (slowly, but surely) 

 between us and the wood — and here we are at the end 

 of the lanes, and at the south-east corner of the wood, 

 opposite the " Fox" at Shirley, a house celebrated 

 during the lifetime of its late landlord for there always 

 being a " beefsteak pudding" for dinner on Sundays. 

 Full many a time, after a long walk and the anything 

 but appetite-appeasing occupation of collecting, have I 

 walked into the parlour of mine host of the " Fox," 

 and inquired what was for dinner, when, as sure as 

 daylight, the reply was, " Beefsteak pudding, sir ;" 

 and no unwelcome friend, either, under such circum- 

 stances ; but still it sorely puzzled us how " beefsteak 

 pudding came to be the invariable standing Sunday 

 dish. 



But to return from this digression. Adjoining the 

 " Fox," on the right-hand side of the road, runs a 

 park paling, surrounding the Archbishop of Canter- 

 bury's demesne, and opposite to this is our destination, 

 " West Wickham Wood." This is a first-rate locality, 

 and when I first knew it, some six or seven years ago, 

 was then comparatively a " terra incognita" to the 



