THE YOUNG NATUEALIST. 



161 



this liking, but in addition to this, the picturesque beauty of the Island, adds 

 a peculiar charm to its entomological attractions. The entomologist is usually 

 well satisfied when he visits a spot where he can fill his boxes with species of 

 which he requires series, but when the spot is situated on the gentle slope of 

 a heather-clad hillside, from which a magnificent view of the Firth of Clyde 

 and the beautiful coast round about may be had, then I think such a place 

 affords more real delight to the naturalist, than one in which only a " series 

 may be had." Those of my readers who pass over this short paper away 

 down in the " Sunny South " can have little idea of the beauty and many 

 charms of our favourite collecting ground, in the wild and mountainous land 

 of the Celt. I can fancy some of my readers may think that we Scotchmen 

 are always too enthusiastic about everything. Well, in this particular in- 

 stance, no entomologist who has ever visited Arran, will find much fault with 

 my enthusiasm. Indeed, to enjoy one ramble over the Arran hills, in search 

 of insects, is enough in itself to induce again on a day's outing the most 

 thorough " stay at home " entomologist. 



Having thus explained some of the inducements which Arran offers to the 

 entomologist, it is not suprising that the entomological members of the 

 Clydesdale Naturalists Society, when the excursions for the season were being 

 arranged, should take good care that a visit to Arran be entered on the card 

 for July. 



J uly, that delightful month of bright sunshine and cloudless skies, came in 

 due time, and on the morning of Saturday, 3rd inst, several of the entomo- 

 logical members of the Society, left St. Enoch Station by the 8.40 a.m. train 

 for Arran, via Ardrossan. At the latter place we went on board the <£ Bro- 

 dick Castle/' which quickly conveyed to our destination. Landing at Brodick 

 we at once proceeded to the scene of onr operations, taking the road leading 

 round the edge of the hills, near the coast, to Lamlash. The day was lovely, 

 and had it not been for a rather stiff breeze, which made collecting on the 

 hills very difficult, we should have had a much more successful day's collect- 

 ing. The hills sloped down to the shore, and the wind blowing towards the 

 coast, caught up anything that rose from the heather, and in an instant carried 

 far beyond reach. We had, therefore, to be very watchful, and strike instant- 

 ly on a flutter of a wing being seen. 



Entering from the road into a grassy meadow, we here found a few Com- 

 mon Blues flitting about in company with numbers of the Small Heath. 

 Ascending the hill, towards the heather, Etibolia palumbaria was taken in 

 fine condition, along with a number of smaller things. Fidonia atomaria 

 was still on the wing, a few stray specimens being seen at times. The first 

 capture of any importance was a freshly emerged specimen of Chelonia 



