148 THE ENTOMOLOGIST. 



look over the otherwise barren scene. This is a very inhospitable 

 district, and not easily worked, unless we stay in the quaint 

 little town of Burnham, which is on the wrong side of the river. 



On the south side of the Thames the first salt-marshes of 

 consequence appear after passing Gravesend ; the collecting 

 there is apparently not so good as on the other side of the river, 

 but still farther east are others in the Hundred of Hoo, and 

 skirting both sides of the Eiver Med way as far as and a little 

 bej^ond the ancient city of Rochester, which are most extensive 

 and characteristic. The marshes of the latter river are easily 

 reached from Sheerness on the one side and Port Victoria on the 

 other by South Eastern Eailway. This series of marshes 

 extends almost round the southern and western sides of the 

 Island of Sheppy. 



A phenomenon to be observed at high spring tides has 

 frequently puzzled me, and given rise to much speculation while 

 hunting for insects on salt-marshes, viz., the fact that frequently 

 the tide completely overflows the marshes, and for an hour or 

 two turns our hunting-ground into an arm of the sea, with 

 multitudes of rippling wavelets instead of our coveted collecting- 

 ground. During this period there is not a sign of an insect 

 flying over the water. As the tide recedes, and little islands of 

 the taller plants appear through the water, we notice the first 

 indication of moths appearing. When the water has left the 

 marsh we examine the wet and sloppy ground, and find 

 multitudes of delicate Tortrices and plumes in perfect condition, 

 flitting about as though nothing had happened to disturb their 

 comfort. Now, where were these moths when the tide covered 

 the marsh some two or three feet deep ? One can hardly 

 imagine they were under the water all the time, though there 

 was not a sign of them over it. Many times have I watched 

 this rising and falling of the tide, but never solved the problem. 



It is comparatively useless to visit these localities in v\^indy 

 or cloudy weather. Fine sunny afternoons are best, unless we go 

 in for night-work, which I never had opportunity of trying ; but 

 under favourable conditions I should imagine that it would 

 repay our labours with local additions to our collections. Salt- 

 marshes are at best but dreary and weird, and far from 

 picturesque. I have still a vivid recollection of staying until 

 after dusk one autumn evening in one of these localities, when 



