43 



Report of the Reigate Field Meeting, May 24th, 1902. 



By Hy. J. Turner, F.E.S. Read June nth, 1902. 



Each year, when the h'st of field meetings is being arranged by 

 your Council, some member is sure to propose a visit to Reigate. 

 ^Vhy this locality is so constantly brought forward I do not know for 

 certain. It may be that the chalk has a peculiar attractiveness for 

 others, as it has for myself, as I was born and spent all my young 

 days within sight and easy distance of it. Again, the walk usually 

 taken is not a long one ; the distance from the station is short ; and, 

 above all, given good weather, and at the right season, one can be 

 sure of a good day's sport. Whether one wishes to study Lepidop- 

 tera, or Coleoptera, or Botany, there all will be found in variety, and 

 among them many good local things can be secured. Even on a 

 wet day one's energies can well be devoted to the molluscs, which 

 are then so very abundant on the slopes and in the coppices. 



Unfortunately on this occasion the weather, which during the last 

 season was so extremely favourable, had at this date scarcely shown 

 a trace of the "genial spring." The time of spring had nearly 

 passed, and yet spring's beauteous face had been seen but seldom. 

 Summer was being ushered in by most unsummerlike weather. 



However, in spite of a most inclement week, Saturday, May 24th, 

 was mild and warm, even hot, and the sun on that day gave us more 

 than " a fitful gleam." But still the retarding influence of previous 

 weeks remained, and life — at any rate active, apparent life — -was 

 dormant, producing very little to satisfy the wishes of even the most 

 ardent and assiduous of our members. 



As is usual now, a section of those attending went down by an 

 early train, and these, getting out at Redhill Junction, worked the 

 more eastern part of the accessible hills. The main body were later 

 on to investigate the more western portion. 



It seemed an unfortunate day for keeping in touch with one 

 another, and complications early arose. Mr. Step, Mr. Montgomery, 

 and myself met at East Croydon and went together as far as Red- 

 hill, where we decided to get out, walk up the beautiful Linkfield 

 Lane to Wray Common, and go over that part of the hills near the 

 Suspension Bridge. By so doing we missed Mr. Carr, who had seen 

 us get in at Croydon, and fully expected to meet us at Reigate when 

 he alighted. However, he made the best he could of the loneliness, 

 and his list of species of Lepidoptera and larvte is much fuller than 

 ours. He reports the following : — 



'L^vWiOV'ni.vt.A.—Gonepteryx rha7?i>u', Vanessa poh'chloros, V. to, 

 Thn?iaos tages, Syi-ichthus malvie, Civnonympha pamphilus, Lyccena 



