Insects. 3345 



Norbury Park, with its beautiful plantations, is close to the village 

 of Mickleham ; and, until it recently passed into the hands of a new- 

 owner, was free for all to roam in at will, but now it is tabooed. "Tres- 

 passers will be prosecuted " meets the eye in all directions ; and it is 

 as difficult to catch an insect as a hare within its sacred precincts. 

 Here, in 1833, Mr. Walton rediscovered Dasycampa rubiginea, feed- 

 ing at night on the berries of the noble old yew-trees which grace the 

 slopes, (Ent. Mag. ii. 207) ; and though many collectors have followed 

 him, it still remains one of our rarest moths. Glorious days have I 

 spent in this locality, often in company with my lamented friend, 

 Edward Doubleday, whose early death Entomology has so much to 

 deplore; and many a time, seated on the verdant turf, under a wide- 

 spreading tree, have his varied knowledge and classic lore shed a new 

 charm over the beautiful scenes around. One of his numerous ready 

 quotations I have put at the head of this article. Thinking of these 

 times, I am reminded of the words of Shelley : — 



" It was the azure time of June, 

 When the skies are deep in the stainless noon, 

 And the warm and fitful breezes shake 

 The fresh green leaves of the hedge-row briar, 

 And there were odours there to make 

 The very breath we did respire 

 A liquid element, whereon 

 Our spirits, like delighted things 

 That walk the air on subtle wings, 

 Floated and mingled far away." 



Beyond Norbury Park is Fetcham Down, a fine open spot sur- 

 rounded by plantations. Here are several large birch-trees, upon 

 which, in October, the larvae of Pheosia Dictaeoides and Ennomos 

 illustraria feed. 



When collecting in this neighbourhood I have at times visited Lea- 

 therhead Common, situate about four miles from Mickleham, on the 

 road to Kingston. The soil is clay, and the surface is covered with 

 old pollard oaks, and a straggling growth of whitethorns and bram- 

 bles. Some of the captures here are noted below. 



The following Lepidoptera have occurred in this locality. 



Argynnis Lathonia. August 20, 1834 (Ent. Mag. iii. 416), in the 

 hilly field, Headley Lane. 



Lithosia complana. Headley Lane ; July. 

 „ helvola. Yew-trees, Boxhill ; June. 

 „ aureola. Beech-trees, Mickleham Downs ; June. 



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