Notes of an Entomological Excursion to the New Forest. 215 



to give a short description of tlie place and its scenery 

 (photographs were exhibited). The New Forest, it was 

 stated, is, according to guide-books, about 60 miles in cir- 

 cumference, and covers something like 70,000 acres of 

 country, the greater portion of which still belongs to the 

 Crown. Within its boundaries, however, there are now 

 many gentlemen's seats and freehold estates, quite indepen- 

 dent of the forest laws. The Crown lands — which are under 

 the control of a lord warden — consist of woodland inter- 

 spersed with open heaths. The woods, which in many 

 places are very dense, are composed mainly of oak, beech, 

 and fir, the younger plantations being fenced off into what 

 are known as the * enclosures.' The abundance of old trees 

 of large dimensions is a characteristic feature of the forest; 

 and one had but to reflect for a moment on the fate which, 

 in a greater or less degree, has, in those utilitarian days, 

 overtaken other old English forests, to perceive what an 

 insect stronghold such a locality must be, and how it is that 

 species, which doubtless once had a wide distribution in the 

 country, are now found exclusively, or at least chiefly, 

 within its precincts. Birds, too, are still abundant there, 

 and find a welcome home within its shady solitudes, where 

 the harsh cries of the jay and the green woodpecker often 

 startle the pedestrian. On bushy heaths the turtle dove was 

 frequently both heard and seen; and eggs of the greater 

 spotted woodpecker, still unblown, were offered for sale by 

 an old gipsy. 



The author then gave a list of the more interesting insects 

 taken, with remarks. (Specimens of eighty species were ex- 

 hibited.) The diurnal Lepidoptera were not numerous as 

 regards species at the time of his visit; but this was, in 

 one point of view, fully compensated for by the great 

 abundance of those which were present. 



After noticing some of the commoner species of Diurniy 

 such as Satyrus ^gcria (Speckled wood), etc., reference was 

 made to the abundance of " Fritillaries " seen. Argynnis 

 selene was nearly over, but a few — along with A. aglaia — 

 still lingered in boggy heaths near woods. Many fine 

 specimens of A, adippe were observed coursing up and 



