118 



A SUEREY TEIR 



ByW. E. Tate. 



As one or two papers on local rambles of an interesting character liave 

 lately appeared in tlie Naturalist and as all sucli papers are contributions to 

 the Geograpby of onr Science, I am induced to forward a few notes on a 

 pleasant trip I lately made, in company with my friend Mr. Stacey, to the 

 neighbourhood of "Wisley, in Surrey. 



We left Vauxhall station on Saturday morning, July 29th, and arrived 

 at Walton about 8 o'clock, having noticed on our journey that the harvest was 

 already general. The first thing that strikes one in this part of Surrey is 

 the peculiar and very refreshing smell of the numerous fir plantations. 

 Almost immediately on leaving the station we found a few dewberries already 

 ripe in the hedges. A few yards further on we perceived a squirrel playing 

 among the fir trees ; often when I have surprised one feeding on the ground 

 it has merely run behind a tree, thinking that as it could not see me, I did 

 not know where it was ; I have twice all but caught one by throwing my 

 hand round the tree. The next noticeable thing we came to was a large sand 

 pit, in which were myriads of sand martins ; there were fewer than usual at 

 Weybridge in May, but I never before saw such a swarm of these pretty 

 little hirundines as were flying in and out of their holes in this pit. We 

 crossed a common on which were some gravel and sandpits, on the sides of 

 which we hoped to find La&erta agilis, but were disappointed. Passing 

 along between numerous plantations, with occasional corn fields interspersed, 

 we at length arrived at the beautiful heath by Pain's Hill, where we heard the 

 Golden Oriole. I know its voice, having once started one between Oakshade 

 and Claremont, in an unenclosed plantation. A few furlongs further, and 

 we were at Wisley Heath. This is a typical Surrey heath, and a spot more 

 delightful cannot be conceived. The ground at this season is covered with 

 heather blossom of all hues, from magenta to white; larch, and spruce fir trees 

 are dotted about ; numberless bees are gathering honey from the heath and 

 thymes ; Zootoca vivipara is now and then to be seen darting about the 



* It is worthy of notice, that these reptiles, after eating, lick their lips like cats. 

 Does tMs indicate that they possess the sense of taste in a high degree ? 



