THE YOUNG NATURALIST. [Decembek 



COLLECTING AT LOCH RIDON, KYLES OF BUTE, 



IN JULY, 1889. 



All scarlet and purple ; the sun smiled a splendid adieu, spreading 

 gracious veils of gold gleams among the clouds as he journeyed away 

 to another land. Nature's mantle was decked in her choicest hues, 

 blended and sweetened after her own peculiar manner. 



It was about eight o'clock. I had just refreshed myself with a nice 

 tea after my journey from Glasgow, and was standing at the front of 

 the house taking stock of the surroundings. I had come to^ spend my 

 holidays with the family at Loch Ridon (a beautiful little loch) opening 

 into the Kyles of Bute, It is about four miles in length, and a mile 

 in breadth, very narrow at the mouth, which gives it more in appear- 

 ance to an inland lake than an arm of the sea. Upon both sides it is 

 bounded by hills varying from 1,000 to 1,500 feet in height, with 

 beautiful wooded sides and softly rounded summits. At the head of 

 the loch the river Ruel threads its way through a meadow, dotted with 

 woods of silver birch, oak, and alder. 



We were staying at Feorline, a pretty little cottage occupied by 

 Mr. Galbraith, the gamekeeper of the district. It was well situated 

 on the loch side and commanded a magnificent view. At one end of 

 the house were the kennels, with about a dozen dogs in them. Nailed 

 upon the woodwork were several specimens of Buzzards, Kestrels, and 

 Hooded Crows, also cats' and ferrets' tails, and other animals injurious 

 to game. 



Not much was done in the way of collecting, that evening, Satur- 

 day, 6th July. A few specimens of Eupithecia vulgata, E. satyrata, 

 Acidalia aversata, Covemia propugiiata, Cidarici populata, and one 

 Aplecta nebidosa, were all that fell to the net. Ruinia cratagata - and 

 Hepialus hiunuli were flying about the hedge at the foot of the garden 

 in considerable numbers. 



Sunday was pleasant, but rather showery, to venture far from the 

 house. Pieris brassica, P. rapce, and P. rapi were flitting about the 

 garden ; and Satyrus janira, Lyccena alexis, and Chortobius pamphilus, 

 were everywhere to be seen. 



