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THE YOUNG NATURALIST. 



was there, and G. rhamni, C. pamphilns, H. tages, S, malvce, P. pMaas, and 

 P. atomaria, while one specimen of L. argiolus was also seen. Here, too, we 

 were delighted to see for the first time the lovely little P. anea, flitting about 

 the leaves and flowers of its food-plant, Polygala vulgaris, which was growing 

 plentifully along the edges of the ride. These pretty little moths, like some 

 butterflies, fly only when the sun is shining, and if it should pass behind a 

 cloud for a moment only, not one of them is to be seen. 



Passing out at the further end of the enclosure, we returned home round 

 its western side. Here we saw but few insects, and the only thing that 

 attracted our attention was a colony of digging bees. " Solitary " bees 1 had 

 almost said, and this would have been to a certain extent true, for though 

 there were many scores of them digging in a space a few feet square, each 

 was excavating an entirely separate hole. We saw very few Diptera all the 

 afternoon, though the sun certainly seemed warm enough to have brought 

 them out. Birds too, did not appear to be at all plentiful, either in the en- 

 closure or among the larger trees. Indeed the small number of birds in the 

 forest was one of its most noticeable feature, and we could not help thinking 

 that had they only been as numerous as in West Worcestershire, the ranks 

 of the Lepidoptera would soon have been thinned. 



In the evening one E. vulgata, one P. punctulata, and two A* lubricipeda 

 were taken trying to immolate themselves in the candles. 



Monday, the 7th, was a lovely day, and not too hot for walking, though 

 the sun shone continuously, except between one and two o'clock. We 

 started off soon after breakfast, provided with nets, an old umbrella for beat- 

 ing purposes, a portfolio for carrying plants, and a plentiful supply of chip- 

 boxes, hoping to do a good day's work. We walked first over Lyndhurst 

 Hill, and the crossing Hightand Water, and keeping along the road which 

 passes between Holidayshill and Holmshill enclosures, went past Bolderwood 

 grounds and farm to Bolderwood Green. This is a spot well worth a visit, 

 for the view which may be obtained from it is one of the finest in the Forest, 

 including many miles of heather and wood. 



On our way we passed over some heathy ground, where F. atomaria was 

 flying in abundance. By beating fir trees near Hightand Water, we obtained 

 five imagines of F. piniaria, besides several larvae of T. piniperda. Single 

 specimens of the following were also taken in the course of the day : — A. 

 mendica, V. maculata, E. trilinearia, C. temerata, L. pectiniiaria, and T. 

 lactearia. Diptera were somewhat scarce, but specimens of Syrphus bifasciatus 

 and Hippobosca equina were captured, and a number of Hilara maura and 

 interstincta with a few Cyrtoma nigra were taken flying over a small pond in 

 the heather. Hippobosca equina, the celebrated New Forest fly, is very fond 



