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Considering, therefore, that over the greater portion of the fen 

 there are no sheltered spots in which insects can congregate and be 

 therefrom disturbed,— that any hurried or incautious chase after one, 

 when trodden up, is extremely likely to result in a plunge to the waist 

 in water having a bottom of unfathomable mud (a mud not likely to be 

 disturbed by anyone troubled with sensitive olfactory nerves), — and that 

 from the soaked and spongy nature of the soil one's boots are generally 

 kept full of water, it will be readily seen that fen collecting possesses 

 difficulties in some degree commensurate with the value of its results. 



It would be pleasant, were I capable of doing it justice, to dilate 

 upon the flora of the place, so totally different to anything to be found 

 under ordinary conditions : e.g., the exquisitely lovely grass of Parnassus 

 (Parnassia palustris), and the scarce and handsome marsh-fennel 

 (Peucedanum palnstre), the food plant of Papilio Machaon ; Gladium 

 mariscus ten feet high or more in the drains ; Typha angustifolia as 

 plentiful as its congener ; the delicate marsh-fern (Lastrcea thelyp- 

 teris), so abundant that in many places it is impossible to avoid 

 constantly treading upon it (and that it is even mowed down for packing 

 purposes) ; and the usually insignificant Adders' tongue (OpMoglossum 

 vulgatum) growing a foot high among the long grass and Carex, &c. 



But I have to detail our operations on July 31st. Tt was then 

 rather late for some of the best insects, but by beating in a carr we 

 obtained a few Lithosia griseola and stramineola, and one or two mus- 

 cerda as well as Scotosia rhamnata ; and the fortunate capture of the 

 little Bohemannia quadrimaculella kept us working the alder bushes 

 for some hours. It was, however, excessively scarce, and so lively as to be 

 in no small degree trying to the patience, but we secured about a dozen. 

 This was one of those days on which insects seem endowed with 

 preternatural activity, while the eyes and hands that should secure them 

 are unequal to the task. 



As it got late in the afternoon a few more specimens of Sericoris 

 abscissana turned up on the open fen with Phoxopteryx siculana and 

 Coleoplwra discordella, and Gelechia atrella was common, and about as 

 easy to catch as a flash of lightning. 



Towards sunset, insects were stirring in greater plenty, and were 

 much more steady in their movements. 



Acidalia immutata and Scoparia pallida were common enough, and 

 Crambus uliginosellus and selasellus not scarce, and with early dusk 

 Nonagria despecta made its appearance in abundance, buzzing about 

 the bushes in the style of a Miana, and accompanied by Pionea 

 stramentalis, Herminea cribralis, and Chilo phragmitellus. 



