(32 " [August, 



June the gorse swarms with Eubolia palumharia, though difficult to obtain in good 

 condition. On the heather may be found in late autumn and early spring the beau- 

 tiful larva of Agrotis porphyrea, and the perfect insect may occasionally be taken 

 during the summer on the wing. The plantations on the west slope of the hill 

 produce, by beating the birch during September, the larvae of Notodonta dromedarius, 

 Lophopteryx camelina, and Amphidasis hetularia, though the perfect insects of these 

 species are seldom seen in the neighbourhood. The fir plantation on the east slops 

 produces Trachea piniperda, Etipithecia indigata, and Fidonia piniaria, besides 

 other species. Although " smoking is not allowed on the hill," some of the Liver- 

 pool collectors manage, in defiance of the notices, to take by smoking the gorse 

 bushes during early spring, Peronea mixtana and Depressaria umbellana in abund- 

 ance. The Coleoptera of Bidston Hill are not numerous. Cymindis vaporariorum 

 has occurred once, when I took two specimens, in October ; Bembidium lampros, var. 

 velox, occurs sparingly, and Bemhidium nigricorne rarely. Among the dead leaves 

 of heath may be found in September, and throughout the winter, Bradycellus 

 harpalinus and B. similis in abundance, and Dromius nigriveiitris occasionally. On 

 the heather, nearly all the year round, Adimonia suturalis is as abundant as it is 

 variable. Carabus catenulatus is occasionally met with about the hill, under stones, 

 and Hylobius abietis has attacked several of the firs in the plantations — on which 

 latter trees, too, Coccinella oblong o-gidtata and C. \%-guttata are common in 

 spring. Diptera are very numerous, especially in the plantations, though I have 

 never stayed to ascertain the species, being glad to get away from them as soon as 

 possible. 



Simmonswood Moss is a splendid locality for insects, but is, un- 

 fortunately, fast disappearing under cultivation. It would be oftener 

 visited by entomologists were it not for two reasons, viz., the long 

 distance from the nearest station, and, secondly, the close preservation 

 of game for the Earl of Sefton. To get to Simmonswood it is necessary 

 to take the train from the Exchange Station to Kirkby (pronounced 

 Kirby) ; leaving the station, turn to the left across the railway bridge, 

 again to the left a few yards further on, and keep the main road, which i 

 at a distance of about four miles terminates on the " moss." 



Here, in June, C hortobius Davus is abundant ; in September the small birches ■ 

 produce by beating, plenty of larvae, including : Notodonta dromedarius, Lophopteryx i 

 camelina, Leiocampa dictceoides, Acronycta leporina, Amphidasis betularia, Platy- ■ 

 pteryxfalcula, &c., &c. At the same time, by searching under the plants of heather, 

 Hydreecia nictitans and Celcena Haworthii may be found in plenty ; the larvse of 

 Saturnia carpini are tolerably common, but a little sooner in the year, on the flowers i 

 of the heath, the imagines being abundant in May, when I have known over 200 

 males to be taken in a single afternoon with a freshly emerged female. The moss 

 produces some good beetles, such as ; Carabus nitens (rarely), Anchomenus ericeti, 

 JElater balteatus (in June), Cryptocephalus bipustulatus (rarely), Coccinella hiero- j 

 glyphica, &c., &c. 



These are the more important of the entomological localities in this district, i 

 others there are which can scarcely find a place in such a sketch of the district as 1 



