THE YOUNG NATURALIST. 



IS 



and the following were taken on the days above mentioned : — Starting late 

 in the afternoon of August 9th, we found Cardui alighting on the Teasel 

 heads, and flying about freely in the second chalk pit, a mile or so down the 

 road, near the ferry called Norfolk Scours, where the river widens considera- 

 bly, but is very shallow. Tithonus, Sylvamis, Linea, and other Diurni were 

 also common, the result of an hour's work producing ten sorts of butterflies. 

 Everywhere Gamma were dodging about in the hedgerows, and threading their 

 way between the tall waving grasses. Returning through the church-yard, a 

 solitary Wavaria, with Lithoxylea, and a male ZJEseuli, were added to the con- 

 tents of the collecting box, while later on in the evening, after an attempt at 

 Roach fishing, which cannot be called successful, the net was again fitted out 

 for a look at the lamps. Sambucata, Aversata, Rhomboidaria, a male Potatoria, 

 Nola Cucullatella, Bisetata, and the irrepressible Xanthograplia were found on 

 the old bridge, but the dark windy night was not a favourable one The next 

 two days were not remarkable — about the same insects appeared, the weather 

 gradually becoming hotter, until August 15th was a scorching day, when all 

 hands were called from fishing for another expedition on the Warren. To 

 describe the appearance of Gamma would be simply impossible, they were here, 

 there, and everywhere, while a perfect swarm of Cardui, gladdened the sight. 

 The latter were bright, fresh specimens, averaging nine females to every male, and 

 a goodly series were duly captured. In a sheltered nook beyond the corn- 

 fields, the hill side was glistening with the pale blue forms of Corydon, the 

 males greatly predominating. Further away from the river, Galathea were abun- 

 dant, along with the common Ringlet, Hypcrantlius, the Diurni being twelve in 

 number this time. Beyond Mensuraria, Filipendula. some larvae of Jacolecs on 

 the ragwort, with a stray specimen of Galiata, Bisetala, Unidentaria, and a 

 couple of fine Rose chafers, nothing further was bagged before 6 p.m. In the 

 shades of evening, another walk was taken to the top of the high bank, close 

 to Caversham church, where three handsome villa residences now stand. 

 This was then a tangled patch of hazel, thorn, and other trees, a spot where 

 I have taken the little Blue P. Alsus, the small Pearl Bordered Fritillary, 

 (Selene), and an occasional P. Alomaria, which had evidently flown from the fir 

 plantation a little further down the Warren. We had no lamps, but managed 

 to see our game, while the light underwings of the moths were a little guide . 

 A couple of weasels chasing each other were the first objects of interest — the 

 little animals quickly disappearing down a rabbit burrow. The insects taken 

 were mostly in good condition, Cytisaria (3) were, however, a little discolored, 

 Mutata (common), Apiciaria (2), Testata (2), Sociata (common), Trigeminaia 

 (4), and Auriflua, were met with. 



A couple of that beautiful noctua T. Derasa, next claimed our attention ; 



