84 Entomological rambles in the midlands. 



dormant enthusiasm of even those most addicted to slumber. As surely 

 as the sap rises in the trees, causing them to put forth their leaves and 

 blossoms, so the mystic mercury rises in the soul of the entomologist and 

 forces him into activity. He watches with peculiar interest the develop- 

 ing spring, and longs for an opportunity to revisit some of his favourite 

 haunts, to see what insects are out, and what new facts and phases he 

 may be able to observe. 



In consonance with this feeling, let us avail ourselves of the first 

 suitable opportunity to go forth on an April expedition, in search of 

 insects, and thus resume our " Entomological Rambles in the Midlands.'' 



Nor need we wander far afield. "Within ten miles of Birmingham 

 there is ample scope for our entomological acumen, sharpened though it 

 be to its keenest edge by surrounding conditions. Leaving the "big" 

 localities — the "Forests" and the "Chases" — until the season is more 

 advanced, we willpay a visit to less pretentious, though not less beautifulor 

 interesting parts. Indeed, the district we propose to visit inspires consider- 

 able interest in both the Naturalist and the Archaeologist, and,although now 

 bereft of many of its ancient characteristics, bears sufficient traces of 

 having once been — in fact, as it is by tradition — the " Forest of Arden." 



The distance to be traversed would not be too much for good walkers, 

 but it will save time, at least, if we take advantage of the facilities for 

 reaching our ground afforded by the Great Western Railway. Leaving 

 the train at Olton, we cannot help looking longingly at the Canal Reser- 

 voir, and thinking of the probability of some rare Bembidia and Sten 

 being found upon its banks ; of uncommon bees and moths swarming 

 about the sallows, now in bloom, that margin it round ; and of hosts of 

 Hydropori and Corixce living unknown and undisturbed in its watery 

 expanse : but as it is "forbidden ground" we pass on, the only gratifica- 

 tion derived from its contemplation being " pleasures of the 

 imagination." 



Proceeding past the new church and the college, we pass into a 

 field-walk on the left which takes us in the direction of Solihull. On 

 the oaks in the lane we have just left the Lepidopterists of our party 

 found some interesting moths, including the handsome Amphydasti s 

 prodromaria, Phigalia pilosaria, Hybernia leucophearia, and Larentia 

 multistrigata . That queer object which a keen-eyed member of the party 

 has detected on an oak trunk is the female P. pilosaria: it is wingless and, 

 like the male, mouthless, and looks like anything but a moth. At the 

 margin of the wood skirted by the field-path we find, feeding on dandelion, 

 larva of the Golden Swift moth, Hepialus hectus, which, in the perfect state t 

 abounds here in June. 



Upon reaching the road, we turn to the left towards Cut-throat 

 Coppice, a startlingly horrible name truly, but the only thing at all 

 unpleasant about the locality is its name. In the hollow, growing beside 

 the brooklet, are some alders upon which we are lucky enough to find 

 two larva of the large Emerald moth, Geometra popilionaria, and amongst 



