246 



THE YOUNG NATURALIST. 



[December 



we should have a pic-nic on Saturday ; so, shortly after breakfast, we 

 set out towards the head of the meadow. Much amusement was 

 caused by several Vanessa nrtiece. Mr. Brownlie — who carried my 

 net — seemed to fancy their gay colouring as he pursued one which 

 took him over many a fence and burn before he affected its capture. 

 Two or three Lyccena alexis and Chortobius pampJiilus were taken, and 

 a few worn specimens of Erebia blandina. We pitched our camp by 

 the side of the Barons Burn, and then set out to enjoy ourselves, 

 leaving the old folks to prepare the eatables. There is a fine water- 

 fall here, which falls about thirty feet ; any quantity of ferns grow, 

 among which a few roots of the Holly Fern (Aspidium lonchUis) were 

 discovered. I may also mention here that my brother found Wilson's 

 Filmy Fern (Hymenophyllum Wilsoni) growing in two or three places 

 in the locality, while Beech Fern (Poly podium phegopteris), Oak Fern 

 {Poly podium dryopteris^) and Black Spleenwort (Asplcu ium adiantum 

 nigrum ), and half a dozen more were common. After tumbling about 

 the glen for some time we returned to lunch, which was got over not 

 without some annoyance from the quantity of wasps which were 

 attracted to the spot by the smell of jelly and something stronger. 



When we had refreshed ourselves we made for the heather, hoping 

 that some insects would be on the wing. Two or three Tortrix viber- 

 nana, Crambus margaritellus , Pterophoms trigonodactylus, and Catoptria 

 Jwhenworthiana were all that were caught. We then rejoined the 

 company, and after singing a few songs with good ringing choruses, 

 turned our faces homewards. By the roadside I found a freshly 

 emerged specimen of Crocallis elinguaria sitting on a grass stem. 



On Monday evening we revisited the meadow ; when going through 

 a clump of whins a bird flew out, and after a careful search the nest 

 was discovered, and turned out to be a Whitethroat ( Sylvia cinerea ) 

 with three eggs. A few more Phibalapteryx lignata were boxed ; 

 single specimens of Emmelesia albulata and E. alchemillata turned 

 up. Crambus pratellus, C. tristellus and Scoparia dubitalis were every- 

 where ; and some nice varieties of Cidaria immanata and Larentia 

 pectinitaria were captured. Triphana orbona and T. pronuba were 

 fairly common, and many others before mentioned. 



Tuesday evening we collected principally by the roadside near the 

 manse. Hepialus sylvinus was dashing about with great speed along 

 with its easier going relative H. hectus,; a few Acidalia bisetata were 



