AUGUST 1901. 



THE extreme heat prevalent in the earlier part of this 

 month was characterised by a number of unusual visitors but 

 ill adapted for any lengthened sojourn here. Butterflies, bees, 

 wasps, and moths innumerable were to be seen flitting about 

 the rocks in the daytime and clinging to the lantern at night, 

 numbers of them being drowned every time the rocks were 

 submerged. Several daddy-longlegs and a single specimen of 

 the beautiful painted butterfly were seen among the ill-fated 

 host. Why they should have journeyed to such inhospitable 

 quarters is not very apparent, but possibly the steady westerly 

 wind then blowing was responsible for their presence here, 

 and, finding themselves unable to stem the current, like many 

 other unfortunates, they followed the line of least resistance 

 then, Facilis descensus Averni, and there you are ! We 

 have frequent glimpses at present of an exportation of which 

 the statute-books take no cognisance. Quantities of thistle- 

 down are to be seen careering before the off-shore wind, 

 probably with Norway for their future home. What a 

 wonderful provision of Nature that enables these mute 

 messengers of the fleeting summer to virtually wing their 

 way to pastures new ! suggestive in their silent flight of the 



. . . whisper down the field, 

 Where the year has shot her yield, 

 And the ricks stand grey to the sun. 



The sea in our vicinity is just now actually alive with 

 shoals of immature fish, chiefly sand-eels, herring-fry, arid 

 what appears to us to be finger-long whitings. Incessant war 

 is being continually waged upon them by the terns from 

 above and the poddlies from below. Watch this particular 

 shoal of " fry " as it swims with the current past our door ; 



