24 PROCEEDINGS OF THE SOCIETY. 
Quercus), Drinker Moth ( Odonestis potatoria) with a few Loopers. 
The spindle tree was in one or two spots one mass of webs of the 
little Ermine Moth ( Yponomeuta euonymella) which were now 
deserted, and a nest of the larvae of Eriogaster lanestris—the 
Small Egger Moth, not very common in the neighbourhood until 
this year, was found on asloe bush. Curiously enough there 
appear to have been but avery few seen here before, one was 
found by the Society in a ramble last summer, and another a 
year or two before, but a fortnight ago the Secretary in a walk 
to Marlow saw on one side of the road only no less than seventeen 
nests, each crowded with inhabitants. 
Mr. Britten exhibited a curious specimen of the Ribwort 
Plantain (Plantago lanceolata) from Oakridge, having seven or 
eight spikelets at the base of the usual spike. In the lane were 
Geranium columbinum, and one or two commoner species, and the 
Rock Rose, which excited great admiration from its size, and the 
irratibility of the stamens: at the top were found the Squinancy- 
wort (Asperula cynanchica), the Cathartic Flax (Linum catharticum), 
and the Tufted Horse-shoe Vetch (Hippocrepis comosa). Various 
grasses in flower were also pointed out. 
BeEsiwEs their mere scientific value, these pursuits offer in them- 
selves alone a precious reward. ‘They beguile the dull routine of 
professional and other employments, cherish gentle thoughts and 
calm desires, and multiply and refine our enjoyments; they 
endear many a rural walk with delightful associations of ‘each: 
lane and every alley, dingle, or bushy dell, and every bosky 
bourn from side to side ;” they may soften solitude or affliction ; 
they must impress us with meek and touching lessons of the means 
of happiness so bountifully spread before us, and of how cheaply 
some of our best pleasures may be purchased. And, above all, 
while thus teaching us to look for the good and the beautiful in 
surrounding objecis, and helping us to the true riches—those 
large and best possessions—of contentment and thankfulness, 
they may incline our minds to the grateful habit of ‘looking 
through Nature up to Nature’s GOD.”—Proressor GULLIVER. 
