The main object of the excursion was the exploration of the Hut 

 Ponds and the surrounding woodlands. 



Arriving at Effingham Junction, about thirty members and their 

 friends started for the ponds. The first portion of the way lay along 

 roads between woods of oak, beech, birch, and ash, which would no 

 doubt, a month before, have afforded our ornithologists and oologists 

 plenty of sport. As it was the tall hedges and wide bush-covered 

 road-sides produced the nest of a bullfinch {Pyrrhula europcea, L.) 

 with four eggs, a brood of young whitethroats {Sylvia cinerea, Bech.), 

 and a most beautiful "cock's nest" of the wren {Troglodytes 

 parviilus, K.), surrounded with festoons of the honeysuckle {Lonicera 

 pendyjuenum, L.), forming a charming natural object. 



The ditch beyond the first cottage on the left was not searched, 

 but was stated to contain the molluscs Physa hypnorum, L.. and 

 Limncea palustn's, Mull., specimens of the former being remarkable 

 for their size. 



Until the first pond was reached very (e^ Lepidoptera were 

 observed, a few worn lodis laciearia, L., some aged Crambi, Scopula 

 olivalis, L., MimcBStoptilus pterodactylus, L., and Lomaspilis mar- 

 ginata, L., form a fair summary of what was seen. A number of 

 bushes of Rhatmius cathariicus, L., in a lane on the right were 

 searched in vairi for ova or larvae of Goiiopteryx rhamni, L. A dead 

 bird produced a few. ants, but no Coleoptera. The trees everywhere 

 showed the effects of the late frosts of spring ; the dead leaves, the 

 dark green older leaves, and the bright green young leaves of the 

 summer growth produced an unusual appearance. One insect I had 

 almost forgotten to mention, although obtrusively conspicuous, was 

 Tortrix viridana, L. On the left hand, near some gardens, a 

 laburnum tree was seen having a number of full-sized clusters of 

 blossoms along with bunches of the seed-pods from the May 

 flowering. Just before reaching this a number of spikes of Sedunt 

 reflexum, L., were picked, no doubt a garden escape. 



Our walk soon brought us to the fir woods, and ere long several 

 members were at the ponds, fishing for various treasures. One of 

 the first captures was a young pike {Esox lucius), and very soon 

 plenty of specimens of Planorbis cornetis, L., P. compla7iatus, Audt., 

 P. vortex, L., and P. albus, Mull., were obtained ; the first named 

 being so corroded and worn as to be useless for the cabinet. 

 Besides these, Physa fontijialis, L., and Succinea putris, L., were in 

 some numbers. Around this pond our Entomologists had an 

 opportunity to use their nets. Of the Odonata, of which Mr. Briggs 

 has taken no less than twenty species from this neighbourhood, only 

 two were seen, viz. : a few Lestes sponsa, and Agrion puella in some 

 numbers. 



Of the Neuroptera captured Mr. C. A. Briggs has kindly furnished 

 the following list : — Pa7iorpa germanica, L., Hemerobius concinnus, 

 Ste., H. inconspicuus, McL., H. nitidulus, H. limbatus, Wesm., 

 Chrysopa aspersa, Wesm., C. tenella, Schn. ; and of the Trichoptera, 



