Field Meetings. 19 



to the left— a longer and more circuitous route, and, moreover, 

 uncompensated for by flowering hedgerows and overhanging herbage 

 such as botanists and entomologists love to revel in. The larger 

 body, however, walked over the hills by Falbae Moor, past some 

 excellent collecting ground. The first halt was made to admii-e 

 the beautifid floral display in front of the gamekeeper's cottage at 

 Parton— an effect produced not by expensive plants purclmed 

 from a nurseryman, but by the common native denizens of the sur- 

 rounding woods and meadows. Certainly no finer floral spectacle 

 could have been produced by the costly occupants of the modern 

 flower garden. A little further on was secured from off a hazel 

 bush a tine specimen of .Vemophora pilella, a member of a genus 

 of moths with long, gliscening, thread-like antennse, popularly 

 known as " Long Horns." The species had not previously been 

 met with in the district. A small bog covered with innumerable 

 spikes of the pretty flowers of the bogbean was next examined 

 and some nice bunches of the fragrant flowers were gathered for 

 further examination at home. The insectivorous character of the 

 plant was shown in the fact of many small beetles being found 

 adhering to the anthers by the viscid substance exuded from the 

 flowers. On the little knoll the scanty grass was studded with 

 the white flowers of an everlasting (Giiaplmlium dioicum), and 

 an abundant supply of specimens was collected, the plants bein<^ 

 in fine bloom. Near this place some of the party came upon some 

 patches of a pure white form of the common blue violet, and care- 

 fully transferred the plants to their vasculums. A bare and bleak 

 moorland was now entered upon, where flowering plants were as 

 yet scarcely above the ground. Very interesting, however, to those 

 of ornithological tastes were the various birds breeding in this 

 solitude— the Lapwings as they, alarmed for the safety" of their 

 young, wheeled about in cii'cles, uttering their melancholy cries • 

 the hoarse calls of the Grouse; the bleating of Snipe; and from 

 every knowe as the party passed arose " the wild scream of the 

 Curlew." A poor little duckling, still retaining some warmth, and 

 winch had apparently died from exposure, was picked up 'and 

 pocketed with the remark that it would make "a specimen." A 

 little farther on and Corsock Moor was reached, crossing which 

 the party entered the grounds of Corsock House, and were" met at 

 the garden l.y those who had gone by the other road with a cheer . 

 of triumph on having gained the mardi-a result which was not 



