CAPTURES AND FIELD REPORTS. 69 



He told me that if I purchased curiosities and other things he had 

 for sale and sent them to my friends, they would exclaim, "How 

 kind it is of my friend to send me these pretty things." Well, to 

 return to the Lepidoptera. I treacled rocks and flowers suitable 

 to hold that substance, and the result was the common species 

 before mentioned. It was very lovely at Land's End, the sun w^as 

 shining brightly when I left, and I had an enjoyable spin to Pen- 

 zance, went over St. Michael's Mount ; but if one has visited Mont 

 St. Michel in Normandy, it is only waste of time to visit the English 

 mount. I, however, discovered some Silene maritima in the castle 

 grounds. I had been searching in vain for this plant in Polzeath in 

 hopes of getting Dianthoncia harrettii ; although I found some plants 

 on my return, and visited them by night, I saw nothing of the moth. 

 Having trained to Truro, I rode the rest of the way vicl Padstow 

 Ferry to Eock (but I don't advise anyone to go this way, at least, not 

 with a bicycle), and reached Polzeath in time to treacle the same 

 night. 



Having sent home some of my luggage, I left for Tintagel and 

 Boscastle, sugared along the cliffs of the latter place, but had no luck. 

 At Bude I found a few sand-hills, and had the same bad luck with 

 regard to captures. The most charming spot I think I have ever seen 

 (Clovelly) was reached the next day, and thence, vicl Bideford and 

 Barnstaple, to the famous Braunton Burrows. I stayed at a very 

 comfortable golf house at Saunton, above the Burrows; the latter com- 

 prise three miles of sand-hills. Finding no posts I sugared flowers, 

 but nothing other than common species were taken. I cycled the 

 three miles on the sands to the lighthouse, and then found I was 

 opposite Instow, from which place I once, years ago, joined some 

 entomological friends and went for a picnic to the lighthouse ; I had 

 no idea it was Braunton Burrows at that time. I collected a quantity 

 of sticks, stuck them in the sand-hills, and sugared them the same 

 evening, but the same bad luck attended me. 



I may mention I was trying a new experiment on this tour ; 

 instead of " papering " my captures (readers may ask what captures ? 

 and with reason, for as yet I had very few), I was setting everything 

 I took while fresh, and for this purpose was carrying a " drying 

 house" with me on the front "luggage-carrier" of my bicycle; this 

 mode of setting things when fresh is much preferable to relaxing and 

 setting specimens after one's return home. I always experience a 

 difficulty in relaxing and setting British moths when once they have 

 become dry, the antennae are almost always stiff and refuse to go in 

 the desired position. Mr. Newman's new relaxing-tin may overcome 

 this trouble ; so far I have found it very useful, I have left an insect 

 in for over a month without any appearance of mould. After leaving 

 Braunton I made for Barnstaple, and soon got on the Lynton Eoad, 

 which, winding as it does in and out along the valleys over moors 

 in places and through woods occasionally, makes cycling very 

 enjoyable. A sharp descent brings one into the picturesque village 

 of Paracombe. 



At length one arrives at the model town of Lynton, which owes 

 its popularity largely to Sir George Newnes, M.P. A long and steep 

 descent, rather too rough to ride down with any pleasure, and one is 



