LYCEZNA ARGIOLUS IN THE MIDLANDS. 31 
thereon afterwards. It is, however, very possible that it will 
eventually accustom itself to the former tree, which is fast multi- 
plying in the woods. 
L. argiolus seems once to have enjoyed a much wider range 
than it does at the present day. There are records of its having 
been taken in many localities in the Midland Counties of 
England (Harwich, Worcester and Stafford), where it has not 
been seen or heard of for many years. This is most probably 
owing to increased cultivation, most of the woods where holly 
formerly flourished having been destroyed. ‘This shrub is plentiful 
in most country lanes in the Midlands, but affords very little 
food for L. argiolus, as, being periodically cropped short, it is 
seldom allowed to flower. 
Ivy on trees is abundant and very luxuriant in many lanes. 
The butterfly may probably be still lingering in a few unrecorded 
and secluded spots in the Midlands where holly is abundant. 
The only other locality that I know of besides Sutton Park is 
Needwood Forest, near Burton-on-Trent, in East Staffordshire, 
where I believe the butterfly is tolerably plentiful. I believe 
there is only one wood there, as in Sutton Park, though I am 
not quite certain whether ivy is scarce or otherwise there, but I 
have heard that holly is extremely abundant. Perhaps some 
readers of the ‘ Entomologist’ will supply us with the necessary 
information respecting this point. Needwood Forest was once 
a very large tract of woodland, but is being fast cut up and 
intersected, and now only a few detached woods remain. It is 
evident that L. argiolus will not remain there much longer. 
It is more consoling to know that its extirpation is not likely 
to take place so rapidly in Sutton Park, which belongs to the 
Corporation of Sutton Coldfield, who are too fond of their 
pleasure-ground at present to allow it to be destroyed. It is, 
however, certainly doomed some day to be converted into coal 
mines, when, instead of the voice of the cuckoo will be heard the 
shriil scream of the steam engine and the clanking of the forge. 
The woods of Sutton Park have all been artificially made. 
They were planted probably about five or six centuries ago, so 
that I may safely assert that the introduction of Z. argiolus must 
have happened at a comparatively recent date, at a period when 
it was plentiful in adjoining districts. 
I may add that in seasons when the butterfly is very abundant 
