R OBER T PO CO CK. 83 



nature as thehouse-fly, with wings, is not theinsect (which 

 attacks the turnip in its advanced state) called the 

 negro. 



" Monday, August 24th. Graveseud and Northfleet 

 played at cricket at Northfleet. Walked with Mr. P. 

 and H. to Springhead, where the gardener had found 

 a silver piece of Severus,and an old Roman copper piece, 

 and a Roman brick. Met with Mr. Harman's man, 

 who told the same story as others, viz., that the fly 

 eats the turnips when young, and rolling is the remedy 

 used. And upon asking him what the negro was, he 

 pointed to some aphis on the elder, as being nearly like 

 it ; but the negro was more black. Being in company 

 with four naturalists, one belonging to the Linnsean 

 Society, they all declared it impossible that the fly 

 should destroy the plant, that it must be the larva of 

 the fly. Walked to Swanscombe Wood. Found a 

 locust or large grasshopper, and some scarce moths 

 and insects. 73rd Regiment of soldiers, 2nd batta- 

 lion, marched into town from Deal. 25th Regi- 

 ment of soldiers marched out to the Tower. A 

 cricket match between the Sociables and the Harmonic 

 Societies, in the Prince of Orange field.. The band 

 played on. the occasion. The Harmonics beat. Whilst 

 in the field I heard (I thought) distant low thunder. 

 Some time after I heard a noise like the cough of a 

 lion. So it certainly was, for soon after several caravans 

 passed by with wild beasts going to Strood Fair. 



<e Wednesday, 26th. Close, warm day. Strood Fair. 

 Rain in evening. Gr. and C. P. went to see Mr. 

 Polito's wild beasts and birds. Among them were a 

 lion and lioness, a tiger and tigress, a panther and 

 pantheress, a leopard, a zebra, a ferocious hyena, a 



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