110 
Gall on the Oak (Cynifs kollari), which, according to Professor 
Buckman, prior to 1853 was entirely confined to Devonshire, but 
afterwards spread with remarkable rapidity all over the country, 
There are numbers of different galls in this district on various 
trees, plants, and shrubs, and at one time I hada goodly collec- 
tion, Last autumn the oaks were all disfigured by the myriads of 
two different discoid species on the underside of the leaves 
(C. longipennis), and (Neurobius reaumori); but if I had to 
enumerate them all, it would take up this paper alone. 
The Easter holidays was for years the opening time for our field 
days, and many pleasant journeys have we had, year after year, 
exploring byeways out of the beaten track, with an ordnance map 
and compass in our pockets ; sometimes on the hills, far from any 
habitations, or following some of our fell becks to their source. 
Many rare ferns and plants have we come across in these out-of- 
way places, but for years back we have been requested by some of 
our best botanists in England to keep the localities secret, there 
has been so much vandalism in the extirpation of these rarities. 
Only this last summer I counted thirty-one plants of a somewhat 
rare orchid within a short distance of Carlisle, and I am glad to 
say they have not been disturbed. One of our favourite rambles 
was the upper reaches of the Gelt, right in the heart of the “ ever- 
lasting hills.” What beautiful mosses and lichens have we seen 
decking the rocks with their beauty in those untrodden places ; 
startling the Ring Ouzel from her nest, and the Wheatear, with their 
chacking note of remonstrance, as they flew from stone to stone, 
while overhead the mournful whistle of the Golden Plover. Their 
plaintive note has something undescribably wild and pleasurable 
about it, especially when heard on the plateaus of the fells; when 
amongst the heather that covers the ground you hear the hoarse 
cackle of the Grouse, as they fly with whirring wings down the fell 
breast ; and you generally have a pair of Curlews flying round and 
round, their incessant cries probably resenting your intrusion on 
their domain; and on the grassy slopes the Meadow-pipit following 
the Cuckoo. We think the Cuckoo’s note never sounds so sweet 
as when heard in the valleys contiguous to the hills) The moors, 
ot ee heuer. eee 
