HARDWICKE'S SCIENCE-GOSSIP. 



55 



sides after a shower of rain, but there did not appear 

 to be a variety amongst them. A lepidopterist can 

 do but little here, as only a few of the common 

 species of butterflies and moths have been noticed ; it 

 is possible, however, that something might be done in 

 Coleoptera. 



Following the path along the top of the chalk 

 cliffs, which gradually descend, we arrive at a place 

 called Cliffs End, which is correctly named, seeing 

 that at this place the cliffs do end, and we stand 

 nearly on a level with the bay itself. If we retrace 

 our footsteps a short distance, only this time walking 

 along the beach, instead of upon the cliffs, we shall 

 observe that the strata are here composed of a kind 

 of sandstone, of the formation known as Thanet 

 Sands, in which may be noticed a very interesting 

 layer of fossil shells. They appear to consist chiefly 

 of only two or three species, of which one, a species 

 of Cyprinidae, is by far the most common. From 

 the loose and friable nature of the strata, it is almost 

 impossible to obtain these fossils in a perfect condi- 

 tion. It is also to be observed that where masses of 

 the strata in question have fallen upon the beach and 

 become subjected to the action of the sea-water, they 

 have been converted into a very hard stone, without 

 any trace of the fossils, which are apparently 

 dissolved by the same action which hardens the 

 strata. 



Turning our attention to the beach itself, the 

 young collector may obtain many specimens of the 

 more common species of marine shells, but these are 

 unfortunately in most cases empty or dead shells. I 

 am informed that the spring months are the best 

 times in which to collect marine species round this 

 part of the coast. However, there is plenty to 

 occupy a youDg collector on this beach. 



Returning to Cliffs End, we proceed to make our 

 way round the bay. There is but little collecting to 

 be done until we reach a point where the river Stour 

 passes under the road to Sandwich ; here we turn 

 aside from the road, and crossing the river by a ferry 

 boat, follow a path through the fields, which after a 

 long and somewhat uninteresting walk, brings us to a 

 part of the beach called Shellness, where the young 

 conchologist may obtain a great variety of species of 

 marine shells, some of them rather rare ; the more 

 common species are very plentiful. For a full list of 

 the species to be taken here, I refer the reader to 

 Mr. S. C. Cockerell's interesting paper in Science- 

 Gossip for September 1883. Several species of 

 Coleoptera may be obtained on the sands, in particular 

 that rather local species Cicindela maritima, which 

 sometimes occurs in considerable numbers, flying 

 over and settling upon the hillocks of blown sand, 

 through which the scanty grass and herbage makes 

 its way. After proceeding a mile or more along the 

 beach, the lepidopterist may enjoy some sport. By 

 turning to the right he will find himself upon a wide 

 expanse of nearly level ground, known as the " sand- 



hills," covered with coarse grass and various low- 

 growing plants, where he may obtain several local 

 species of moths, such as Aspilates citraria, Euiolia 

 lineolata, and others, as well as the more common 

 species of butterflies, such as Lyccena agrestis, L. alexis, 

 Hesperia Hnea and others. After proceeding some 

 distance to the right, the collector will reach a road 

 or cart-track leading to Deal, on reaching which 

 collecting ceases for the present. By following the 

 track to Sandwich some good collecting in Lepidoptera 

 may be done, in particular near the brackish drains 

 or ditches where the herbage is most rank. Some 

 local species of Coleoptera may be obtained here. 

 The district near Deal has been, I believe, care- 

 fully worked of late years by several experienced 

 lepidopterists, particularly of a night, with good 

 results. The writer's ill-health has, however, 

 prevented him obtaining practical knowledge as to 

 the results of night-work ; if, therefore, the young 

 naturalist desires further information on this point, he 

 is referred to several papers on this subject which 

 have appeared from time to time in the pages of the 

 entomological and other magazines. As regards 

 botany there are many very interesting species to be 

 obtained in this district ; for lists of plants and other 

 information, see Science-Gossip for 1880. 



Part II. — Deal to Dover and Folkestone. 



After leaving Deal, the next good hunting-ground 

 for the naturalist is Walmer, where much collecting 

 may be done. The sloping chalk-banks on the right, 

 which extend to the village of Kingsdown, are 

 covered with various flowering plants, and on a fine 

 day seem alive with various kinds of insects, com- 

 prising Lepidoptera and Coleoptera in fair proportion. 

 Of the former, I have met with representatives of 

 nearly every family, some of the species being local, 

 such as Liparis chrysorrhcea, which flies freely at dusk, 

 the larvae web of the same being also found on the 

 stunted hawthorn and blackthorn bushes. Acidalia 

 ornata, Aspilates gilvaria, Emmelesia unifasciata, 

 and many more. On the bedstraw (Galium mollugo), 

 growing on the shingle, may be found the pretty 

 larvae of Macroglossa stellatarum, the "humming- 

 bird hawk -moth." In conchology most of the same 

 species of Helix as before mentioned occur here, with 

 the addition of Helix hispida var. nana under low- 

 growing plants, and H. hispida var. albida, once found 

 in the web of a moth, Liparis chrysorrhcea. 



On reaching Kingsdown the young naturalist will 

 no doubt require rest and refreshment, and for this 

 purpose he cannot do better than enter the " Rising 

 Sun," which stands close to the road, and is there- 

 fore convenient for those whose excited feelings 

 prompt them to run out every time they think they 

 see a rarity fly by. 



After leaving Kingsdown the cliffs begin to increase 

 in height till we reach the coastguard station, near 



