102 



The Naturalist. 



young fir-saplings, if such came from a nursery in Scotland or a 

 mountainous part of the north of England ; but in absence of proof 

 positive as to that, the relic-of-an-interglacial-period theory must be 

 held the most probable. 



The question is an interesting one, and I am sorry to leave it thus, 

 misty and unsettled : perhaps Dr. Parsons or others, who have 

 thought out the matter, will not object to give their opinions upon it 

 for the benefit, not merely of myself, but of all readers of the 

 Naturalist. I see many reasons in favour of such a Symposium of 

 Science as I suggest ; and I certainly think that, from time to time, 

 it would prove an attractive and instructive feature in any natural 

 history journal without a great command of original articles. It 

 would surely tempt an expression of opinion from many who 

 shrink from attempting more didactic contributions. 



Market-Rasen, Dec. 15th. 



A COLLECTING EXPEDITION TO THE NEW FOREST.-*^ 



By G. T. Porritt, F.L.S. 



So much has been said and written about the New Forest and its 

 natural history, that I am pretty sure to be assailed (in thought if 

 not in words) with a charge of plagiarism in again taking up your time 

 with the subject. Constantly hearing of the rare things taken there, 

 and of the glorious grandeur of the locality, I had for years felt a wish 

 to visit the spot for myself, but it was not until the present year that 

 my longing was gratified. Even after I had decided to go, one of my 

 friends, who knew the Forest well, wrote me that I had better delay 

 my visit for a year, as this was the worst season for lepidoptera ever 

 experienced by the Forest collectors. Notwithstanding the warning, 

 however, on the 30th July last I found myself en route for Hampshire, 

 and about eight o'clock in the evening arrived at Lyndhurst-road 

 Station. Here an omnibus was waiting to convey passengers to the 

 village of Lyndhurst, where we arrived after a drive of three miles 

 through what in the daytime and in a clear atmosphere would be most 

 lovely forest scenery ; but on this occasion it was getting dark, and 

 the ground was covered with a dense mist, which was anything but 

 agreeable as I sat on the outside of the 'bus. We were not long in 

 reaching the " Crown," a respectable hotel situated near the Church, 



- * Paper read before the Hudders field Scientific Club. 



