33 
REMINISCENCES OF WICKEN. 
(Read December 6th, 1910.— Dr. J. S. SEQUEIRA.) 
A good night at Wicken Fen, what pleasant memories does it 
recall! 
There are only two or three really good nights during the season, 
so say the local entomological oracles, Morley Houghton and his late 
respected father, and poor old Solomon Bailey, but there are plenty of 
fairly good nights which give a substantial reward to the entomologist. 
I should like to preface my remarks with a few r observations which 
I trust will be found useful to those of our members who have not yet 
paid a visit to Wicken. 
Wicken Fen, or as it is described in the local land registry, “ Sedge 
Fen,” is reached by the Great Eastern Railway to Soham, changing 
trains at Ely. From Soham is a two mile walk or a four mile drive 
to the village of Wicken. 
Now with regard to accommodation, there are many of the villagers 
who lay themselves out to provide accommodation for entomologists. 
I can, however, only mention a few, with whom I am personally 
acquainted, and whom I can recommend. 
First and foremost, Mr. and Mrs. John Bailey, at the Vicarage 
Farm, who, with their charming daughter, Hattie, have done every¬ 
thing in their power to make Mr. Turner and myself happy and 
comfortable on each of the eight occasions on which we have stayed 
at their Farm. 
There is also good accommodation to be had with Mr. and Mrs. Olley 
Bullman, where our late lamented friend, Mr. J. A. Clark, and I, have 
stayed many times. We first went about twenty years ago, and I 
believe our names are remembered principally by three little incidents 
which may serve to amuse my hearers. 
The first occurred at the Village Fete, where Mr. Clark and I 
purchased a quantity of apples and oranges, which we threw about 
the Green for the boys and girls to scramble after, which they did 
with a hearty good will, and concluded by cheering us vociferously. 
The next incident was a visit to the Alms Houses, where we gave 
a shilling to each of the inmates, and were rewarded by a multitude 
of thanks and blessings. 
The third incident occured when Clark and I were walking down 
Chapel Lane, and saw 7 a woman wildly gesticulating and beckoning to 
us. When w 7 e arrived at her cottage w 7 e found her husband lying on 
the ground. He had fallen from a ladder and fractured the upper 
part of his thighbone. We carried him into the cottage, and with 
Clark’s assistance I set it with the best appliances we could find, and 
told his w 7 ife to send to Soham for a Surgeon, w r ho, by the w r ay, did 
not arrive until next day. 
On one occasion I remember, w 7 e paid a visit to old Houghton, the 
Entomological shoemaker in the village, and found him seated in his 
room with a number of Sw 7 allow-tail Butterflies flying about the 
room. He said “ I like to see them and I can ahvays get more,” but 
he examined every specimen and if there was no notable variation he 
let it loose. But all this is a digression so “Revenous a nos moutons.” 
xx. 
