248 



THE YOUNG NATUEALIST. 



it was here that the notorious Guy Eawkes planned the plot to blow up the 

 Houses of Parliament. This house had several shot marks, which it had re- 

 ceived from the cannon of Oliver Cromwell. We went one day to Cirencester 

 Park, the seat of the Earl of Bathhurst. This was the finest wood we saw, 

 and some of the rides reminded me of the New Forest, but as it was a con- 

 stant rain during the whole of our walk to and from the park, and while 

 there, I did nothing entomogically. This park contained Alfred's-Hall, 

 built of some stone with deep round holes in it, large enough to put your 

 two fists in, which gave it a very singular appearance. Outside the hall was 

 a curiously carved old fireplace, with its inscription in Latin " restored by 

 Alfred/' with the date " A.D. 1085, but the letters were distinctly modern 

 block letters, and I afterwards found out that the whole place was only a 

 good imitation of an ancient building, and was built about 1700 to 1750, 

 by Earl Bathhurst. 



1 have mentioned a few of the most interesting sights, but the neighbour- 

 hood is so full of curious old churches and other interesting objects that if I 

 attempted to describe them I might fill an entire part. We had the good 

 fortune to fall in with a gentleman who knew the district, and gave us inter- 

 esting anecdotes of all the antiquities around, it made us more thoroughly 

 enjoy our ten days stay at Chalford, in Gloucestershire. 

 143, Smithdown Lane, Liverpool. 



THE LEPIDOPTERA OF LONDON. 



By ERNEST ANDERSON. 



( Concluded from page 207.) 



Continuing our list of Noctuce we find that Xylophada lithoxylea (Light 

 Arches) and X. polyodon (Dark Arches) are both common, the latter some- 

 times being very abundant. Very little is known of these two species in the 

 earlier stages and a good account of their life history would be of considerable 

 value ; the perfect insects are found throughout the summer. The next on 

 our list is Mamestra brassica (Cabbage Moth), a species that will not require 

 any detailed description since it is too well known to everybody, the larvse 

 appear in the autumn and will eat almost anything, they vary very much being 

 found of all shades between green and black. Another common moth is 

 M. persicaria, the beautiful velvet green or brown larvae of which are also 

 found in the autumn, feeding on privet and many low plants, the moth is on 

 the wing in June and July and is very fond of sugar. Jpamea iasilinea is 



